Looking Ahead to the End of 2024:
Vulnerability Management and Future Perspectives
Throughout 2024, there has been a significant increase in detected vulnerabilities. Reports from various sources highlight the extent of this increase, emphasizing both the growing importance of managing vulnerabilities and the rising challenges in doing so.
According to Skybox Security’s 2024 Vulnerability and Threat Trends Report, the number of detected vulnerabilities worldwide exceeded 192,000 in 2022, and this figure is expected to rise by 30%, surpassing 250,000 by the end of 2024.
Meanwhile, the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) focuses more on software vulnerabilities. According to NVD data, the number of recorded vulnerabilities exceeded 25,000 throughout 2023, with expectations that this number will surpass 30,000 by the end of 2024.
Why Are There So Many Vulnerabilities?
The rapid increase in vulnerabilities is primarily due to factors such as accelerated software development processes neglecting security testing, the widespread adoption of complex systems like IoT and cloud technologies, cybercriminals exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities with advanced techniques, software supply chain attacks, and human errors like inadequate security training. These factors collectively contribute to the rise in security gaps, making vulnerability management increasingly challenging.
For more detailed insights, you can read our blog post here .
The Impact of New Technologies and Trends on Vulnerabilities
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, IoT, and OT devices has played a significant role in the increase of vulnerabilities. In particular, security gaps in these technologies can be quickly discovered and exploited by attackers. For example, AI-assisted attacks are used to identify system vulnerabilities more quickly and exploit them automatically. At the same time, the expansion of cloud computing services creates a broader attack surface for cyberattacks, leading to the emergence of more vulnerabilities.
For more detailed insights, you can read our blog post here
Are the Number or the Nature of Vulnerabilities More Important?
While a large number of vulnerabilities may seem significant, their ease of exploitation and widespread impact—i.e., their criticality level—are the most important aspects in the vulnerability management process. Looking at vulnerabilities that have had major impacts worldwide, it becomes clear that not just the quantity but the quality of vulnerabilities is critical.
For example, the Log4Shell vulnerability (CVE-2021-44228) affected millions of systems globally and caused serious security issues across various sectors. This vulnerability, with its critical issue of remote code execution (RCE), allowed attackers to take control of systems, making it highly impactful. Many systems are still known to be vulnerable to this flaw, indicating that Log4Shell remains a critical threat.
Another example is the MOVEit Transfer vulnerability (CVE-2023-34362). This vulnerability affected tens of thousands of organizations, leading to global data leaks and significant financial losses. Such vulnerabilities clearly illustrate the potential scale of supply chain attacks and their impact on businesses.
Thus, it is far more important to focus not only on the sheer number of vulnerabilities but also on understanding which ones pose a greater threat to your business and prioritizing them accordingly.
For more detailed insights, you can read our blog post here
Key Tools and Approaches in Vulnerability Management
In 2024, proactive approaches in vulnerability management have taken center stage. Strategies like continuous exposure management focus on reducing risks by continuously monitoring threats. Additionally, AI/ML-based vulnerability management tools have become more prevalent. These tools assist in identifying and prioritizing critical vulnerabilities by analyzing large datasets. At the same time, DevSecOps approaches have fostered closer collaboration between security teams and software developers, enabling vulnerabilities to be identified and resolved before software is released to the market.
You can find more detailed information in our blog post here
The Impact of Vulnerabilities on Business Continuity
Critical vulnerabilities pose significant risks, especially to business continuity. For example, critical vulnerabilities found in devices like Ivanti Secure and Cisco ASA can disrupt business operations through remote attacks. To minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities, it is essential to have not only effective vulnerability management but also a robust business continuity and disaster recovery plan in place.
For more detailed insights, you can read our blog post here
The Human Factor in Vulnerability Management
Vulnerability management is not limited to technical solutions alone. Human error and insufficient security training still play a major role in the emergence and management of vulnerabilities. The continued increase in social engineering attacks reminds us each year of the need to enhance employees’ security awareness. Without making a “security culture” an integral part of corporate culture, it seems unlikely that this issue will be fully resolved.
For more detailed insights, you can read our blog post here.
Looking Ahead
The increase in both the number and severity of vulnerabilities throughout 2024 highlights how complex threats have become and the necessity of security management for all organizations. In the future, as cyberattacks become more sophisticated and technology continues to evolve, vulnerability management is expected to become even more challenging. However, the integration of innovative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning into security processes will enable the development of more effective vulnerability management strategies. Additionally, the growing adoption of proactive approaches like continuous exposure management will help businesses become more resilient to threats.
In conclusion, to be prepared for the future, businesses need to strengthen their security culture, not overlook the human factor, and bolster their defenses with continuously updated vulnerability management tools. The world of cybersecurity is rapidly changing, and adapting to this dynamic environment requires developing stronger, more flexible, and more integrated strategies.
Stay One Step Ahead in Security with IncidentProof
In this era, where cyber threats are becoming increasingly complex and vulnerability management is more critical than ever, IncidentProof provides businesses with comprehensive and integrated solutions to enhance their security processes.
With various modules such as vulnerability management, incident response, and system monitoring, IncidentProof enables businesses to take proactive measures against cyber threats.
