While software bugs are a primary source of vulnerabilities, the cyber security landscape is far broader. Understanding system and network vulnerabilities is crucial for a comprehensive grasp of how attackers exploit weaknesses. These vulnerabilities often lie not just in the code itself, but in the configuration, deployment, and interconnectedness of various components within a system or network.
Think of a building's security. It's not just about weak locks on doors (software vulnerabilities). It also includes poorly designed entrances, blind spots in surveillance, insecure ventilation systems, or even unauthorized access to blueprints (system and network vulnerabilities).
Let's break down some key areas beyond software flaws:
Many systems and network devices come with default settings that are often insecure. Attackers exploit these predictable default credentials or overly permissive access controls. This could range from a web server running with default administrative passwords to a firewall with ports unnecessarily open to the internet.
A common example is a database server accessible from the public internet with the default 'admin' user and an empty password. This is a catastrophic configuration error.
Protocols are the rules that govern how data is transmitted across a network. Older or poorly implemented protocols can have inherent weaknesses. For instance, protocols that transmit data in plain text (unencrypted) are vulnerable to eavesdropping. This allows attackers to intercept sensitive information like usernames, passwords, or confidential communications.
Examples include FTP (File Transfer Protocol) which transmits credentials in plain text, or older versions of SSL/TLS that have known cryptographic flaws.