Vulnerability is a cyber-security term that refers to a flaw in a system that can leave it open to attack. A vulnerability may also refer to any type of weakness in a computer system itself, in a set of procedures, or in anything that leaves information security exposed to a threat.Vulnerabilities are what information security and information assurance professionals seek to reduce.Cutting down vulnerabilities provides fewer options for malicious users to gain access to secure information.Computer users and network personal can protect computer systems from vulnerabilities by keeping software security patches up to date. These patches can remedy flaws or security holes that were found in the initial release. Computer and network personal should also stay informed about current vulnerabilities in the software they use and seek out ways to protect against them.A vulnerability, in information technology (IT), is a flaw in code or design that creates a potential point of security compromise for an endpoint or network. Vulnerabilities create possible attack vectors, through which an intruder could run code or access a target system’s memory. The means by which vulnerabilities are exploited are varied and include code injection and buffer overruns; they may be conducted through hacking scripts, applications and free hand coding. A zero-day exploit, for example, takes place as soon as a vulnerability becomes generally known.The question of when to make a vulnerability disclosure public remains a contentious issue. Some security experts argue for full and immediate disclosure, including the specific information that could be used to exploit the vulnerability. Proponents of immediate disclosure maintain that it leads to more patching of vulnerabilities and more secure software. Those against vulnerability disclosure argue that information about vulnerabilities should not be published at all, because the information can be used by an intruder. To mitigate risk, many experts believe that limited information should be made available to a selected group after some specified amount of time has elapsed since detection.Both black hats and white hats regularly search for vulnerabilities and test exploits. Some companies offer bug bounties to encourage white hat hackers to look for vulnerabilities. Typically, payment amounts are commensurate with the size of the organization, the difficulty in hacking the system and how much impact on users a bug might have.