In the first quarter of 2025, 159 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) were flagged as exploited, marking an increase from the previous quarter’s 151 CVEs. Of these, 28.3% were exploited within 24 hours of their disclosure, with 45 security flaws weaponized in real-world attacks immediately following the CVE release. Another 14 vulnerabilities were exploited within a month, while 45 more were used within the span of a year. This fast pace of exploitation underscores the growing urgency for swift response to vulnerabilities in cybersecurity.
A significant portion of the vulnerabilities exploited were found in content management systems (CMS), followed by network edge devices, operating systems, open-source software, and server software. Microsoft Windows products were the most exploited, with 15 CVEs affected, followed by Broadcom VMware and Cyber PowerPanel. The rapid exploitation of these vulnerabilities highlights a trend of increasing targeting of popular software and hardware products. Additionally, on average, 11.4 Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEVs) were disclosed weekly, underscoring the high frequency of security flaws in the ecosystem.
The impact of these exploits on data breaches has also increased, as reported by Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report.
Exploiting vulnerabilities for initial access in data breaches grew by 34%, making up 20% of all intrusions. Mandiant’s findings confirm that exploits have consistently been the most common initial infection vector for five consecutive years, with stolen credentials surpassing phishing as the second most frequent access method.
Despite the rise in exploits, cybersecurity defenders are improving their detection capabilities. The median dwell time—the period from compromise to detection—has risen to 11 days globally, marking an increase of one day from 2023. This data indicates that while attackers continue to advance their techniques, defenders are adapting, making progress in identifying and responding to intrusions more efficiently.
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