Zero-day exploits are among the most dangerous cyber threats organizations face today. These are vulnerabilities in applications that are unknown to the software vendor, so there are no patches or fixes to address them.
According to research from Google, there has been a substantial increase in zero-day exploits, with 97 incidents in 2023, which is 50% more compared to the year before. Governments and financially motivated actors are the main perpetrators, targeting software of all types.
Let’s explore the dangers of zero-days in more detail and explain exactly why runtime protection is the go-to security measure for defending against them.
Threats Posed by Zero-Day Vulnerabilities
The reason zero-day attacks are so dangerous is, the victim generally has no idea they’ve been attacked until it’s over. In one recent zero-day incident, attackers were able to exploit a vulnerability for 18 months before Microsoft finally patched it, as reported by Dark Reading.
This gives hackers a huge advantage, as they can either do damage quickly before they’re found out or try to establish persistent access to the system by setting up a backdoor. In the example above, the hackers used the vulnerability to deploy information-stealing malware onto the victims’ systems and extract sensitive information.
Google found that commercial surveillance vendors (CSVs) and browser third-party components and libraries are some of the main drivers of zero-day vulnerabilities.
CSVs sell high-end tech to governments around the world, which exploit vulnerabilities in consumer applications. CSVs were responsible for 75% of known exploits against Google products and Android devices in 2023. Browser components like plugins are also high-risk, as their developers tend to overlook basic security best practices.
How Runtime Protection Addresses the Issue
In a world where new vulnerabilities are discovered seemingly every day, often without the knowledge of vendors, periodic static analysis to test application resilience is not enough.
Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP) is an advanced security technology that detects vulnerabilities and blocks attacks in real time by analyzing data within the software. By utilizing instrumentation – the process of inserting additional code into an application to monitor and analyze its behavior during runtime, a runtime protection solution protects against common threats, whether they’re known or zero-day.
Since runtime protection is embedded in the application’s code, it operates within the context of the app’s execution, allowing it to differentiate between normal and malicious behavior. That’s exactly the capability which allows RASP to be so effective against zero-day attacks. Rather than relying on known threat signatures, runtime protection relies on the application’s behavior as its primary source of truth.
So when a zero-day attack occurs, the RASP solution will identify and block the unusual behavior (for example, an attempt to execute unauthorized code), log detailed information about the incident, and notify admins who can take further action if needed.
Implementing Runtime Protection Effectively
Aside from being a highly effective security solution, RASP is also easy to deploy. You can implement it into your existing app stack without significant changes to the codebase.
Here are some best practices to consider when incorporating runtime protection into your application security strategy:
- Conduct a security assessment to map your critical applications, understand their architecture, and identify potential vulnerabilities.
- Select the right RASP solution that works well with your existing technology stack.
- Test in a staging environment to make sure RASP functions correctly without impacting app performance before moving it to production.
- Train your team on how to use the RASP solution effectively, respond to alerts, and manage incidents.
Integrating Runtime with Existing Security Measures
As great as RASP is, most cybersecurity experts will tell you that it’s best to adopt a multi-layered approach to protect critical assets. A recent report from CrowdStrike found that 90% of security professionals use three or more tools to detect and mitigate application threats.
Pairing RASP with another security tool, such as a Web Application Firewall (WAF) will offer protection against a broader range of threats, on both the application and network levels. The firewall acts as a shield by filtering out malicious traffic before it reaches the application, while RASP is the spear, fending off threats that slip through the cracks.
Another big aspect of avoiding zero-day exploits is making security a priority during the development process. This involves using secure coding practices and libraries, followed by rigorous code reviews and regular security assessments. When security is integrated into every stage of the development lifecycle, there is a far lesser chance of vulnerabilities surfacing down the road.
Conclusion
Zero-day vulnerabilities present a significant threat to organizations of all sizes. They can strike when you least expect them, resulting in significant disruptions and financial loss.
Due to the dynamic nature of cyber threats, businesses need proactive security measures to detect unusual behavior in their applications and respond in real time. That’s precisely what runtime protection does and why it’s so essential for maintaining robust security at all times.
