Understand What a Zero-Day Attack Is and How to Prevent It from Happening on Your Website

You need to know what a zero-day attack is so you don’t panic when it happens, as the cyber world continues to evolve. A zero-day attack is a type of cyberattack that targets security vulnerabilities on a website.

So, what exactly is a zero-day attack? How can you prevent this type of cyberattack? Read the full explanation below so you won’t panic if you’re hit by one.

What Is a Zero-Day Attack?

A zero-day attack is a cyberattack carried out by exploiting security vulnerabilities on a website. The term “zero-day” means the developer has absolutely no time to address the issue, as these attacks are typically launched without their knowledge.

A website that has just been launched—or is even still under development—usually has several vulnerabilities or bugs that are still being investigated, and the developer hasn’t yet created a fix or patch for them. It is these “vulnerabilities” that are exploited in a zero-day attack.

In some cases, zero-day attacks typically occur due to two possibilities. First, the developer is actively identifying any existing flaws or bugs on the website. Second, the developers are unaware of any security vulnerabilities on the website.

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Typically, zero-day attacks are carried out by hackers seeking financial gain or attention, or who wish to showcase their skills. Additionally, corporate spies are sometimes the masterminds behind these attacks, aiming to obtain information from competitors. Furthermore, a nation-state may also launch a zero-day attack to target another country’s cybersecurity infrastructure.

How Do Zero-Day Exploits Typically Unfold?

Zero-day attacks usually occur when a hacker discovers a vulnerability in a website’s security system. Hackers typically exploit this opportunity to deploy malware even before developers have had time to patch the security system.

Usually, the result of a zero-day attack is the theft of data—such as personal identities or other information—stored on the website. Later, the stolen data is sold to third parties who need it and is often misused for their own gain.

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What Are Some Examples of Zero-Day Attacks?

Here are some examples of zero-day attacks that have occurred on major websites in recent times:

1. Google Chrome (2021)

In 2021, Google Chrome experienced a zero-day attack. This attack caused a bug in Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine, leading the company to release several updates.

2. Zoom (2020)

Another example of a zero-day attack occurred on Zoom in 2020. At that time, the attack originated from users running an outdated version of Zoom. This allowed hackers to remotely access users’ computers and, if the user was an administrator, even access all files on the system.

3. Apple iOS (2020)

In 2020, two separate zero-day attacks also targeted Apple iOS. Similar to the Zoom incident, these attacks enabled hackers to remotely access Apple iOS users’ smartphones.

4. Eastern European Government Agencies, Microsoft Windows (2019)

In 2019, several government agencies in Eastern Europe were hit by zero-day attacks stemming from local privilege escalation—a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. These attacks were carried out to execute arbitrary code, install applications, and view and modify data within compromised applications.

Once the attacks were identified, the findings were reported directly to the Microsoft Security Response Center. Subsequently, a patch was developed and released to prevent similar attacks from occurring again.

5. Microsoft Word (2017)

In 2017, Microsoft Word was used to launch a zero-day attack that allowed hackers to access users’ personal bank accounts. The victims of this attack were individuals who unknowingly opened a malicious Microsoft Word document.

The malicious document contained a “load remote content” prompt that displayed a pop-up window asking users to grant external access to another program. When victims clicked “yes” on the pop-up window, malware capable of stealing their banking information was installed on their devices.

How to Prevent Zero-Day Attacks?

To prevent zero-day attacks, there are several measures you can take, such as penetration testing, using a firewall, and deploying security applications. Let’s take a look at the full explanation below:

1. Penetration Testing

Penetration testing is a series of tests conducted to identify vulnerabilities in a website’s security system. This is necessary so that developers can quickly identify bugs and apply patches as soon as possible. As a result, zero-day attacks cannot be launched.

2. Using a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) can protect you from various types of cyberattacks 24 hours a day, nonstop. All traffic within the system is inspected by the WAF. If any traffic shows signs of being a threat, the WAF will block access.

If you’re interested in using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to prevent zero-day attacks, you can use Waffle from Cloudmatika. Waffle is a cloud-based Web Application Firewall (WAF) that can accurately and quickly block various web attacks using logic based on analysis and detection technology.

3. Using Security Applications

In addition to the methods above, you can also prevent zero-day attacks by using security applications that include antimalware protection and vulnerability scanning features. Both of these are crucial for protecting your devices from cyberattacks.

Antimalware protection is a feature that detects and removes malware threats such as viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, ransomware, adware, and so on. Meanwhile, vulnerability scanning is a feature that identifies vulnerabilities or weaknesses in a system.

To prevent zero-day attacks using security software, you can use Cyber Protection from Cloudmatika. Cloudmatika Cyber Protection is a cybersecurity and backup solution that can be integrated with your system, thereby enhancing data protection against cyberattacks.

If you’re interested in using Waffle or Cyber Protection from Cloudmatika, you can get more information by contacting us here. We hope the information we’ve provided about zero-day attacks has been helpful to you.