An exploit is a technique, program or piece of code designed to take advantage of a vulnerability in software, a system or an IT device. It allows a cybercriminal to use a security flaw to carry out an action that would normally be prohibited.
A vulnerability is therefore the weakness itself, while an exploit is the method used to take advantage of that weakness.
Take a simple example: a company uses software containing a vulnerability that allows certain commands to be executed without authorisation. An attacker can develop or use an exploit specifically designed for that flaw in order to gain access to the system.
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Depending on the vulnerability being exploited, the consequences can vary considerably. An exploit may allow an attacker to take control of a computer, access confidential data, gain additional privileges on a system or install malware. It can also serve as an initial step before deploying ransomware or carrying out a larger attack.
Exploits are not limited to newly discovered vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals also target companies that still use outdated software or have not installed the latest security patches, allowing them to exploit flaws that are already known and have been fixed by vendors.
This is why vulnerability management and the regular installation of security patches are essential. The faster a vulnerability is identified and fixed, the less time cybercriminals have to exploit it.