Compounding the challenge was a crisis within the NVD (National Vulnerability Database) and the broader CVE ecosystem. For the first time, vulnerabilities piled up faster than they could be analyzed, creating a backlog of 20,000 entries and leaving organizations in the dark. With 2025 approaching, this backlog and the relentless growth in vulnerabilities mean one thing: businesses must act now to prepare for what lies ahead.
Recap: The 2024 Cyber Vulnerability Landscape
The year brought to light key structural challenges in the way vulnerabilities are identified, tracked, and prioritized. The Common Vulnerability Enumeration (CVE)—a system conceptualized in 1999 to standardize and document security flaws—was overwhelmed in 2024.
Originally created to number and uniquely identify vulnerabilities, maintain neutrality and openness, and serve as a single, authoritative source, the CVE system’s mission now faces growing strain. With over 38,000 new CVEs expected this year, the process broke under its weight. Organizations with CNA (CVE Numbering Authority) status are driving the rapid increase, submitting vulnerabilities at unprecedented rates—sometimes even bulk-uploading entire bug trackers.
The result? The NVD fell massively behind. By November 2024, NIST officially acknowledged it would not clear the backlog before the fiscal year’s end. For the cybersecurity community, this raises difficult questions about the reliability and timeliness of vulnerability data moving forward.
Why Should Organizations Start Preparing for 2025 Vulnerabilities Now?
Several key vulnerabilities defined the year and highlighted the importance of timely patching and proactive defense:
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- PHP Remote Code Execution (CVE-2024-4577): Exploited by ransomware groups like TellYouThePass, this flaw compromised over 1,000 publicly exposed servers, leading to widespread file encryption and disruptions.
- TeamCity Authentication Bypass (CVE-2024-27198): More than 1,400 instances were compromised, allowing unauthorized user creation and access to sensitive development environments.
- Windows NTLM Spoofing (CVE-2024-43451): A low-interaction vulnerability actively exploited to steal user credentials and gain unauthorized access.
- Ivanti Connect Secure Command Injection (CVE-2024-21887): Exploited across 1,700 devices globally, this vulnerability enabled attackers to breach organizations and move laterally.
- PAN-OS Remote Code Execution (CVE-2024-3400): A severe flaw that enabled reverse shells and lateral movement across critical networks.
These incidents resulted in massive financial losses, damaged reputations, and an erosion of trust. With 70+ critical vulnerabilities exploited in 2024 alone and the cost of a U.S. data breach averaging $9 million, the stakes are clear: waiting is no longer an option.
What to Expect: Top Cyber Vulnerability Predictions for 2025
Cybercriminals are evolving, using advanced tactics like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to automate and sharpen their attacks. However, the overarching trends remain familiar:
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- Zero-Day Exploits in Popular Software
Zero-day vulnerabilities will remain a priority for attackers. Operating systems, enterprise software, and web browsers will continue to be targeted, allowing hackers to breach systems before patches are available. - Supply Chain Attacks
Supply chain vulnerabilities are a growing threat. The zx utils incident in 2024—where an attacker inserted a backdoor into a trusted library—demonstrated the catastrophic risks of third-party compromises. Expect similar attacks targeting widely-used software updates and components. - IoT and IIoT Devices
Poorly secured IoT devices are increasingly weaponized for DDoS-for-hire services, as seen with the Mirai botnet resurgence led by the “Matrix” group. The rise of industrial IoT (IIoT) only expands this risk. - Ransomware Exploiting Known Vulnerabilities
Ransomware groups like Lockbit continue to exploit unpatched vulnerabilities. For instance, Windows CLFS (CVE-2024-49138) remains a go-to for ransomware campaigns, reflecting poor patch adoption across enterprises. - Mobile Exploits and Spyware
Mobile operating systems and apps remain lucrative targets. Tools like Pegasus will persist as leading spyware solutions, while reverse-engineering vulnerabilities will fuel fraud campaigns. - AI and Machine Learning Risks
While AI vulnerabilities—such as data poisoning and adversarial attacks—are headline-worthy, we anticipate a limited number of real-world incidents in 2025. - File Transfer Applications
File transfer solutions will remain a focal point, particularly after the Cleo file transfer zero-day (CVE-2024-50623), exploited for data theft and lateral movement by ransomware gangs. - Edge Devices
Firewalls, routers, and VPN appliances remain prime targets. Vendors like Fortinet, Cisco, and Palo Alto saw significant vulnerabilities exploited in 2024, and this trend will undoubtedly continue.
- Zero-Day Exploits in Popular Software
Strategies for Mitigating Vulnerabilities in 2025
Organizations need to adopt a proactive, risk-based approach to vulnerability management. Here’s how:
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- Build and Maintain an Asset Inventory. Catalog all hardware, software, IoT devices, and cloud assets to identify critical systems and prioritize security updates.
- Implement Continuous Vulnerability Assessments. Use automated tools for ongoing scanning and analysis. Pair this with periodic deep scans for comprehensive coverage.
- Prioritize Based on Risk. Combine CVSS scores, exploit availability, and business impact to prioritize patching efforts effectively.
- Streamline Patch Management. Automate the patching process and ensure timely updates to minimize exposure.
- Reduce the Attack Surface. Implement the principle of least privilege, close unused ports, disable unnecessary services, and remove redundant software.
- Enhance Application Security. Integrate security into development workflows (DevSecOps), conduct static/dynamic analysis, and perform regular code reviews.
- Fortify the Software Supply Chain. Hold vendors accountable for security practices and include risk-mitigation clauses in contracts.
- Hire Ethical Hackers. Leverage penetration testing, red team exercises, and bug bounty programs to identify and mitigate weaknesses before attackers can exploit them.
- Increase Attack Complexity. Make systems harder to breach by isolating infrastructure, segmenting networks, encrypting data, and deploying deceptive systems to slow attackers and increase detection chances.
In a threat landscape that shows no sign of slowing down, the message is simple: act now, or risk falling behind.
About Action1
Action1 reinvents patching with an infinitely scalable, highly secure, cloud-native platform configurable in 5 minutes — it just works and is always free for the first 100 endpoints, with no functional limits. Featuring unified OS and third-party patching with peer-to-peer patch distribution and real-time vulnerability assessments with no VPN needed, it enables autonomous endpoint management that preempts ransomware and security risks, all while eliminating costly routine labor. Trusted by thousands of enterprises managing millions of endpoints globally, Action1 is certified for SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
The company is founder-led by industry veterans Alex Vovk and Mike Walters, who founded Netwrix, which has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry-leading cybersecurity company.
