ZeroDayExploits

Zero-day exploits are vulnerabilities in software that are unknown to the vendor and for which no patch exists at the time of discovery. When attackers craft and use an exploit to take advantage of such a vulnerability, the attack is described as a zero-day exploit. The term reflects the fact that defenders have zero days of warning before it can be exploited in the wild.

Discovery often comes from independent researchers, bug bounty programs, or intelligence gathering. Responsible disclosure programs coordinate with vendors to develop patches. Public disclosure may follow after patches are produced or after a coordinated embargo period; vulnerability identifiers such as CVE IDs are used to track the issue in databases and advisories.

Impact and exploitation: Zero-day exploits can enable remote code execution, privilege escalation, or data leakage, among other outcomes. Attacks typically leverage zero-days before patches are available, and thus pose a high risk to affected systems. Mitigations include defense-in-depth measures, rapid application of vendor patches once released, and practices such as strict access controls and anomaly detection.

Markets and ethics: An illicit market exists for trading or selling zero-day exploits, while legitimate security research and defensive programs operate under responsible disclosure policies. Organizations should implement defense-in-depth, monitor for unusual activity, and maintain asset inventories to reduce exposure.

Legal and policy: Many jurisdictions regulate exploit trading and disclosure; CERTs and security communities encourage prompt reporting and coordinated remediation. Ongoing research and transparency help reduce the time between discovery and mitigation.