Exploits are tools used by cybercriminals to take advantage of vulnerabilities in various software programmes, like those from Microsoft, to commit illegal activities, such as gaining unauthorised access or stealing data. More than half of the dark web posts (51%) offered or sought to purchase exploits for zero-day or one-day vulnerabilities. Zero-day exploits target undiscovered vulnerabilities that software vendors have not identified and patched yet, while one-day exploits focus on systems that do not have the patch installed.
“Exploits can target any programme, but the most desirable and expensive ones often focus on enterprise-level software. These tools enable cybercriminals to carry out attacks, which equate to substantial gains for them, such as stealing corporate information or spying on an organisation undetected. However, some exploit offers on the dark web may be fake or incomplete, meaning they don’t function as advertised. Additionally, a significant portion of transactions are likely to occur in private. These two factors complicate the assessment of the actual market volume for functional exploits,” explains Anna Pavlovskaya, Senior Analyst at Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence.
This year, the peak level in exploit sales and purchases occurred in May, with 50 relevant posts, compared to an average of about 26 per month in the period surrounding the surge. “Peaks in the exploit market’s activity are unpredictable and hard to link to specific events. Interestingly, in May, the dark web witnessed the sale of one of the most expensive exploits during the analyzed period – allegedly, for a Microsoft Outlook zero-day vulnerability priced at nearly two million US dollars,” elaborates Anna Pavlovskaya. “Overall, the exploit market remains stable; while activity fluctuates, the threat is always present. This highlights the need for cybersecurity hygiene practices, such as the regular patching and monitoring of digital assets on the dark web.”
The dark web market offers a wide array of different types of exploits. Two of the most widespread are those for RCE (Remote Code Execution) and LPE (Local Privilege Escalation) vulnerabilities. According to an analysis of over 20 listings, the average price for RCE exploits is around $100,000, while LPE exploits typically cost about $60,000. RCE vulnerabilities are considered more dangerous, as they allow attackers to take control of a system or its components, or confidential data.
To counter threats related to vulnerabilities and exploits, the following measures are effective:
- Use Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence to monitor the dark web market for any relevant cyberthreats.
- To protect your company against a wide range of threats, use solutions from the Kaspersky Next product line. It provides real-time protection, threat visibility, investigation and the response capabilities of EDR and XDR for organisations of any size and industry.
- Conduct regular security assessments to identify and patch vulnerabilities before they become an entry point for attackers.
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[1] Some offers can be repetitive
