Ground Zero: An In-Depth Analysis of 2022's Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

Varadharaj Varadhan Krishnan

Abstract: A zero - day vulnerability is a vulnerability in software or hardware that is typically unknown to the vendor and there is no patch or fix is available. Zero - day vulnerabilities present a significant challenge to an organization?s cyber defense team. In 2022, the quantity of Zero - Day exploits significantly reduced compared to 2021. Zero days are still actively pursued by cybercriminal groups; they either actively find these vulnerabilities or buy them from the dark web. This article presents a thorough review of the Zero - Day vulnerabilities identified and exploited in 2022. This study analyzes trends, attack vectors, and the top targeted software platforms using public data sources such as Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG), MITRE's CVE database, and Zero - Day. cz. A statistical analysis is performed to find trends and patterns. This study aims to offer insights from the zero - day vulnerabilities exploited in the wild in 2022 and serve as a valuable knowledge document for security teams responsible for security operations.

Keywords: Cybersecurity, Zero - day, Vulnerability Management, Cyber Defense, Security Incident Response