Attackers hit vulnerabilities hard last year, making exploits the top entry point for breaches

Exploits have become the primary entry point for breaches, with a significant surge in vulnerability exploitation observed in the past year. According to Verizon's Data Breach Investigations Report, which analyzed over 22,000 breaches, exploited vulnerabilities accounted for 31% of all initial access vectors, up from 20% the previous year¹. This increase highlights the ongoing challenge of vulnerability management, as attackers continue to capitalize on existing flaws. The report's findings, based on data from a one-year period ending in October 2025, underscore the importance of prompt patching and remediation. As a result, security practitioners must prioritize vulnerability management to prevent exploits from becoming the most common initial access vector. This shift in attacker tactics matters to security teams, as it emphasizes the need for proactive vulnerability management to stay ahead of emerging threats.