security en
Vulnerability
security
Plain-language definition
Plain-language definition
A weakness that could be used to harm a system or its data.
Why it matters
Finding a vulnerability is only the start; severity, exposure, remediation, and verification determine the actual response.
Technical detail
A vulnerability is a flaw in design, implementation, configuration, process, or dependency that a threat can exploit under relevant conditions.
Examples
- An outdated library contains a flaw that allows unauthorized code execution.
Related terms
Sources and review
Reviewed July 12, 2026 by [email protected]. Next review due January 11, 2027.
- Glossary of Key Information Security Terms — National Institute of Standards and Technology Accessed 7/11/2026
See something we should improve?
Suggest a correction to “Vulnerability.” Suggestions are reviewed before the published definition changes.