Critical security breaches pose a threat to companies in all sectors. Many organizations only realize they were vulnerable when it's too late, facing data breaches, financial losses and reputational damage. In February 2025, CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) issued a global alert about critical vulnerabilities that were being actively exploited, reinforcing the need for a more proactive approach to digital risk management.
This scenario raises an essential question: how can companies identify and correct critical flaws before they are exploited by cybercriminals?
What are critical security flaws and how do they arise?
Critical security flaws are serious vulnerabilities which, when exploited, can compromise the integrity, confidentiality and availability of corporate systems. They pose high risks, as they allow cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access, execute malicious code or interrupt essential operations.
Companies are dealing with a dynamic threat landscape, where new vulnerabilities are discovered on a daily basis. According to CVE Details, 26,447 vulnerabilities were reported in 2023, a significant portion of which remain unpatched for months or years. This exposes organizations to attacks such as ransomware and digital espionage.
Below, we explore the main ways in which these flaws arise and why they continue to be a major challenge for corporate security.
Flaws in software development and vulnerable code
One of the main origins of critical vulnerabilities lies in software development. Mistakes made during the creation of systems can open loopholes that are exploited by cybercriminals. Problems such as SQL injection, buffer overflows and remote code execution are frequently detected in web applications and corporate platforms.
One of the most notorious examples of this problem was the Log4Shell vulnerability, discovered in 2021. Even in 2024, 12% of Java applications still use vulnerable versions, showing how critical flaws can remain open for years.
The lack of a secure development cycle (Secure SDLC) and automated security testing, such as SAST (static code testing) and DAST (dynamic testing), exacerbates the problem.
Inadequate configuration of systems and infrastructures
A company's security depends not only on the systems' code, but also on how they are configured. Configuration errors can expose sensitive data and create serious security breaches.
Among the most common problems are:
- Exposure of unnecessary ports and services on the internet
- Use of standard credentials in critical systems
- Lack of restricted access to databases and servers
- Excessive permissions granted to unauthorized users
According to IBM Security, 80% of data breaches occur due to incorrect configurations, allowing attackers to exploit these loopholes without the need for advanced techniques.
Lack of updates and patches
Patching vulnerabilities is one of the most essential practices for cyber security, but many companies fail to do so. Delays in applying security patches can leave systems exposed for long periods, making them easy targets for attacks.
According to a report by Tenable, 70% of companies take more than 60 days to apply critical patches, allowing attackers to take advantage of these loopholes before they are fixed.
Cases such as the EternalBlue vulnerability, exploited by the WannaCry ransomware in 2017, show how a lack of updates can be catastrophic. Even with a patch available, thousands of companies failed to apply the fix in time, resulting in a wave of attacks that affected more than 200,000 machines in 150 countries.
Use of obsolete software and unsupported systems
Another major problem faced by companies is their dependence on old systems that no longer receive security updates. Obsolete software represents a significant risk, as any new vulnerability discovered will not be corrected by the manufacturer.
This problem is especially serious in sectors that use legacy systems, such as banks, hospitals and industries. Maintaining unsupported systems is an invitation for attacks, as cybercriminals know their weaknesses and exploit these loopholes without difficulty.
A recent example occurred with companies that were still using Windows Server 2012 and Windows 7, both discontinued by Microsoft. Without security updates, these platforms became easy targets for attackers who exploited vulnerabilities that had been known for years.
Third-party integration and vulnerable dependencies
With the growing adoption of software as a service (SaaS) and cloud infrastructure, many companies depend on external solutions to operate. This interconnectivity can introduce new risks, as vulnerabilities in third-party suppliers can impact the entire security chain.
The lack of a careful assessment of integration risks can lead to the exposure of critical data. Recent attacks show how cybercriminals are exploiting vulnerabilities in APIs and third-party services to access sensitive information from companies they believed to be protected.
In addition, widely used libraries and frameworks can contain critical flaws that affect thousands of organizations simultaneously. The Log4Shell vulnerability mentioned earlier demonstrated how a simple flaw in a popular library can have a global impact.
Social engineering and credential exploitation
Although many critical flaws are technical, one of the most common attack vectors remains human manipulation. Cybercriminals use social engineering to trick employees and gain access to critical systems.
Phishing, deepfake and credential theft attacks allow hackers to overcome security barriers without having to exploit complex technical flaws. According to the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report 2024, more than 60% of data breaches involve stolen or compromised credentials.
This reality reinforces the need for practices such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), restricting privileged access and continuous security training for employees.
The main mistakes companies make when patching vulnerabilities
Although critical flaws represent a major risk, many companies fail to correct them, either due to inefficient processes or the wrong choices when prioritizing vulnerabilities.
A common mistake is to prioritize based solely on the criticality of faults, often using only the CVSS score as a criterion. Although this metric is important, it does not take into account the real context of the company. One vulnerability may have a high CVSS score but be barely exploitable in the specific environment, while another, with a lower score, may represent a much greater risk depending on the infrastructure and exposure of the system.
Another recurring problem is the lack of automation in vulnerability management. Many organizations still rely on manual processes to identify, assess and correct flaws, which increases the time needed for mitigation and leaves gaps open for longer. Forrester's 2024 report points out that companies that use automation are able to reduce the time it takes to fix vulnerabilities by up to 60%, significantly improving overall security.
In addition, some companies adopt a reactive approach, only patching vulnerabilities after an attack has taken place. This puts the organization at constant risk, as cybercriminals exploit known flaws quickly. A more effective approach requires the implementation of a continuous monitoring and remediation process, ensuring that threats are neutralized before they are exploited.
Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM)
In the face of evolving cyber threats, an innovative approach is gaining prominence in the market: Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM). This concept, coined in 2024, proposes a dynamic strategy for identifying, prioritizing and mitigating risks, allowing companies to continuously assess their attack surfaces.
Unlike traditional approaches, CTEM doesn't just focus on identifying vulnerabilities, but on simulating real attacks, providing a more accurate view of the loopholes exploitable by attackers. Solutions such as Cymulate and Dynatrace use this methodology to test, validate and strengthen companies' cyber defenses in real time.
Implementing STEM helps organizations to:
- Identify risks before they are exploited
- Simulate attacks to proactively evaluate defenses
- Prioritize corrections based on real business impact
Companies that adopt this strategy significantly increase their cyber resilience and reduce incident response times.
How can companies respond efficiently to critical failures?
Correcting critical flaws requires more than simply applying patches and tightening security controls. To mitigate risks efficiently, companies need to adopt a structured approach that involves continuous monitoring, agile incident response and long-term mitigation strategies.
Continuous monitoring and early detection
An effective response begins with the ability to identify flaws and suspicious activities before they are exploited. Tools such as Security Information and Event Management Systems (SIEM) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR/XDR) are essential for providing real-time visibility into potential vulnerabilities.
According to Gartner (2024), companies that invest in continuous monitoring reduce incident response times threefold, preventing attacks before they cause significant damage.
Intelligent prioritization of vulnerabilities
Fixing all the flaws at the same time is unfeasible. Many companies still use generic classifications, such as CVSS, without considering the real risk of each vulnerability. However, the best approach is to prioritize flaws based on a combination of impact, accessibility and likelihood of exploitation.
According to a report by CISA (2025), 57% of companies prioritize the wrong vulnerabilities, leaving critical gaps open while correcting less relevant flaws. Implementing risk-based management allows security teams to focus on what really matters, reducing exposure without wasting resources.
Automation in the application of patches and corrections
The delay in applying patches continues to be one of the main problems in mitigating critical flaws. Many organizations still rely on manual processes to manage security updates, which can take months to complete.
According to Forrester (2024), companies that automate patching reduce the time it takes to fix vulnerabilities by up to 60%. Automated patch management solutions allow companies to apply security updates efficiently, without compromising operations.
Incident response and threat containment plan
Even with preventive measures, incidents can happen. Having a well-structured Incident Response Plan is essential for minimizing damage and restoring operations quickly.
An efficient response should include:
- Quick detection of suspicious activity.
- Isolation of compromised systems to prevent lateral movement of the attack.
- Correction and mitigation of the exploited vulnerability.
- Post-incident analysis to prevent recurrences.
Companies that have a well-defined plan are able to mitigate attacks three times faster than those without a structured process, according to a 2024 IBM Security study.
Continuous training and safety culture
Cyber security doesn't just depend on technology. Regular training and an organizational culture focused on security significantly reduce the chances of successful attacks.
Studies show that 60% of data breaches involve human error or access policy failures (Verizon DBIR, 2024). Promoting regular training on social engineering, phishing and good security practices strengthens the internal line of defense and reduces exploitable vulnerabilities.
Cyber security requires a rapid and strategic response
An effective response to critical failures requires continuous monitoring, intelligent prioritization, automated patching and a structured incident response plan. Companies that adopt this approach not only prevent attacks, but also guarantee resilience and operational continuity in the face of increasingly sophisticated threats.
Asper's role in protecting against critical failures
Asper acts as a strategic partner for companies that need an efficient and proactive approach to vulnerability management, threat detection and incident response. With a specialized team and advanced technology, the company offers solutions that guarantee greater visibility of critical risks and reduce response times to exploitable flaws.
One of the main advantages of relying on Asper is its continuous monitoring capacity, which allows vulnerabilities to be identified and mitigated before they are exploited. Its Security Operations Center (SOC) operates 24/7, analyzing threats in real time and ensuring that any anomalies are dealt with swiftly.
In addition, Asper offers vulnerability management services, helping companies to prioritize flaws according to their real impact, and not just on the basis of generic classifications. This process avoids wasting resources on minor fixes and ensures that the most critical vulnerabilities are dealt with first.
Another differential is the specialized support for incident response. When a flaw is exploited or a threat is detected, Asper's team helps with containment, remediation and recovery, ensuring that the company's operation suffers the least possible impact.
Cyber security requires more than just tools; it needs a well-defined strategy and ongoing support. With Asper, companies can strengthen their security posture and reduce the risk of attacks that exploit critical flaws.
Do you want to understand how Asper can help your company mitigate critical failures? Visit our website and get in touch with our team!
Is your company prepared to prevent and respond to critical failures?
Critical security breaches represent a constant risk for companies, but the damage can be avoided with a proactive and well-structured approach. Adopting practices such as continuous monitoring, risk-based prioritization and automation in the correction of faults are essential to reducing exposure to attacks.
More than just identifying vulnerabilities, companies need to ensure that they are prepared to respond quickly to incidents and minimize any impact. With a specialized partner like Asper, it is possible to strengthen digital security and prevent critical flaws from becoming a real threat.
Your company's security depends on the actions you take now. It's time to assess whether your protection strategy is sufficient to face the most advanced threats in the current scenario.
