Operating system vulnerabilities: Common types and origins (Part 1 of 2)

Modern businesses depend on operating systems to ensure their computers and devices function efficiently. However, as everyone knows, operating systems can have flaws. These flaws, also referred to as vulnerabilities, are what cybercriminals continually seek to exploit.

Fixing vulnerabilities is a particularly vital concern for businesses in the Greater Seattle metropolitan area. That’s because Seattle is a major hub for technology and innovation, making local businesses a prime target for cyberattacks. Enterprises of all sizes, from multinational corporations to small startups, should be aware of operating system vulnerabilities.

What is a vulnerability?

A vulnerability is a weakness in the design, code, or configuration of an operating system that can be exploited by a malicious actor to gain unauthorized access to a computer system or network. These vulnerabilities can be found in the operating system kernel, device drivers, and applications.

Common types of operating system vulnerabilities

Look out for the following vulnerabilities in your business’s operating system:

• Buffer overflow vulnerabilities: These vulnerabilities occur when a program tries to write more data to a buffer (a temporary storage area) than it can hold. This can cause the program to crash or overwrite other parts of the operating system’s memory, which could then allow a malicious actor to execute arbitrary code.
• Stack overflow vulnerabilities: These vulnerabilities are similar to buffer overflow vulnerabilities with one key difference: they occur in the stack, which is a temporary storage area used by programs when they function. Stack overflow vulnerabilities can also allow a malicious actor to execute arbitrary code.
• SQL injection vulnerabilities: SQL, which stands for Structured Query Language, is used for managing and querying relational databases. SQL injection vulnerabilities are security flaws that allow attackers to manipulate an application’s database queries by inserting malicious SQL code into the query to steal data, modify data, or take control of the database server.
• Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities: These vulnerabilities occur when an application includes untrusted user input in its output without properly sanitizing it. When that happens, bad actors can inject malicious code into the output, which can then be executed by other users who view the output.
• Privilege escalation vulnerabilities: Privilege escalation vulnerabilities are security flaws that allow attackers to gain elevated access to system resources or data (e.g., administrative control, sensitive files, or confidential user information) exceeding their authorized permissions. These vulnerabilities allow a low-privileged user to access higher privileges on a system to install malware, steal data, or damage the system.

Origins of vulnerabilities

Several different factors can cause operating system vulnerabilities, including:

• Programming errors: Sometimes, vulnerabilities are caused by simple programming errors. For instance, a programmer might forget to properly check the length of user input before using it in a program, which could create a buffer overflow vulnerability.
• Design flaws: In some cases, vulnerabilities are caused by design flaws in the operating system or application. For example, an operating system might allow users to execute code with too many privileges, which could create a privilege escalation vulnerability.
• Misconfiguration: Operating system or application misconfiguration can also cause vulnerabilities. One common example is when an administrator accidentally disables a security feature, which could make the system more vulnerable to attack.
• Legacy code: A code that’s been written many years ago, called legacy code, is often a source of vulnerabilities. Why? The legacy code may not have been designed with security in mind, and it may be difficult or impossible to update it to address modern security threats.

Awareness is key

Vulnerabilities in operating systems pose a significant risk to computer security. Cybercriminals are constantly looking for new ways to exploit them, and it is important to be aware of these system flaws and their origins. In our next blog post, we will discuss how to mitigate these vulnerabilities and keep your systems safe.

Here’s the good news: managed services provider Interplay IT can help you safeguard your systems. Our experts provide comprehensive IT support, including vulnerability assessments, patch management, and ongoing security monitoring that can help keep your operating systems up to date and secure. 

By partnering with us at Interplay, we’ll help ensure your business can address system vulnerabilities and minimize the risk of cyberattacks. If you’re in the Greater Seattle area, contact us today — you can even ask for a free quote.