Quantifying The Attacker’S First-Mover Advantage

This report analyzes the time gap between when a vulnerability exploit is made publicly available (Time to Exploit Availability or TtE) and when a vulnerability is first assessed by organizations (Time to Assess or TtA). The study highlights the “first-mover” advantage attackers have, as in 76% of cases, attackers can exploit vulnerabilities before defenders even become aware of them. The analysis of 50 prevalent vulnerabilities shows that attackers typically gain a window of opportunity, with a median of 7 days before defenders can act. The report stresses the importance of continuous vulnerability assessments and adaptive vulnerability management models to reduce this exposure gap.

For organizations aiming to close the gap and defend against potential exploits, continuous vulnerability assessments and real-time updates are critical. Shifting to a Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) approach for vulnerability management can significantly improve response times. Download the full report now to learn how adopting continuous vulnerability assessments can help reduce exposure and protect against rapidly evolving cyber threats.