What Is Vulnerability?
A weakness in a system that can be exploited by an attacker to perform unauthorized actions. Vulnerabilities can exist in code, configuration, infrastructure, or processes. They range in severity from informational to critical.
In Laravel Applications
Laravel vulnerabilities include SQL injection (when using raw queries), XSS (when using {!! !!} with user input), exposed .env files (server misconfiguration), and debug mode in production (APP_DEBUG=true).
Example
An exposed .env file is a critical vulnerability because it gives an attacker your database credentials, APP_KEY, and all third-party API keys.
Related Terms
Exploit
A piece of code, technique, or sequence of actions that takes advantage of a vulnerability to produce unintended behavior. Exploits turn theoretical vulnerabilities into actual security breaches.
CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures)
A standardized identifier for publicly known security vulnerabilities. Each CVE entry includes a unique ID (e.g., CVE-2024-1234), a description, and severity rating. The CVE system is maintained by MITRE and used globally to track and reference vulnerabilities.
Attack Vector
A specific method or path an attacker uses to exploit a vulnerability and gain unauthorized access to a system. While the attack surface is the total collection of entry points, an attack vector is the specific technique used against one of those entry points.
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