Zero-click attack
A zero-click attack is a type of cyberattack that allows an attacker to compromise a device or system without any action or interaction from the victim. Unlike traditional attacks that require the user to click on a malicious link, open an attachment, or install a rogue app, zero-click attacks exploit vulnerabilities in software or hardware to execute malicious code automatically, often just by receiving a specially crafted message, call, or file. These attacks are often used against high-value targets such as journalists, activists, government officials, and business executives.
Zero Day
A zero day in cybersecurity refers to a security vulnerability in software, hardware, or firmware that is unknown to the vendor or anyone capable of mitigating it. The term “zero day” highlights that the developers have had zero days to address or patch the flaw because it has just been discovered—often by malicious actors—before any fix or defensive measures are available.
Key Concepts
• Zero-Day Vulnerability:An undiscovered or unaddressed security flaw in a system that is not yet known to the vendor or the public. Because there is no patch or fix, systems remain exposed and vulnerable to attack.• Zero-Day Exploit:The method or technique used by an attacker to take advantage of a zero-day vulnerability. This could involve malware, code injection, or other tactics to gain unauthorized access or cause harm.• Zero-Day Attack:An attack that occurs when a threat actor uses a zero-day exploit to compromise a system before the vendor has had a chance to develop and release a patch. These attacks are particularly dangerous because traditional security defenses are not prepared for them.
Why Are Zero Days Dangerous?
Zero-day vulnerabilities are especially threatening because:• There is no available fix or patch at the time of discovery.• Attackers can exploit the vulnerability before anyone is aware of it, leaving users and organizations defenseless.• Detection is difficult, as signature-based security tools cannot recognize the new threat.
Notable Examples
• The Stuxnet worm (2010) used multiple zero-day vulnerabilities to sabotage Iran’s nuclear program, demonstrating the significant impact such exploits can have.• The Zoom vulnerability (2020) allowed attackers to gain remote access to users’ computers before a patch was released, affecting millions of users during the rise of remote work.
Zip manipulationZip manipulation generally refers to the process of creating, modifying, extracting, or otherwise handling ZIP files—compressed archive files that bundle multiple files or folders into a single, smaller package for easier storage or transfer. In software development and IT contexts, zip manipulation includes actions such as:
• Creating new ZIP archives from files or directories• Extracting files from existing ZIP archives• Adding or removing files within a ZIP archive• Reading metadata or file lists from ZIP archives• Updating or merging ZIP files with new content
Programming libraries like Python’s zipfile module or tools such as minizip-ng provide these capabilities, allowing developers to automate and manage ZIP files efficiently.
