Vulnerabilities exist in every piece of software. Vendors release patches to fix them. Yet organisations consistently fail to apply these patches promptly, leaving themselves exposed to attacks that could have been prevented.
The time between vulnerability disclosure and exploitation has shrunk dramatically. Attackers now weaponise vulnerabilities within hours of patch release. They reverse engineer patches to understand the underlying vulnerability, then develop exploits faster than organisations can deploy fixes.
Testing patches before deployment seems prudent. In practice, it creates delays that attackers eagerly exploit. The balance between stability and security proves difficult. Critical security patches need different processes than routine updates.
Legacy systems complicate patch management enormously. Ancient software running on unsupported operating systems can’t be patched. These systems often handle critical business functions, making retirement difficult. They sit on networks, accumulating known vulnerabilities. Comprehensive vulnerability scanning services identify unpatched systems across your environment before attackers find them.
Change the window restrictions when patches can be deployed. Production systems can’t go down for maintenance during business hours. By the time the next maintenance window arrives, attackers may have already exploited the vulnerability.
William Fieldhouse, Director of Aardwolf Security Ltd, observes: “Unpatched vulnerabilities represent the easiest attack vector for most threat actors. When we conduct vulnerability scanning services, we consistently find critical patches missing months after release. There’s no excuse for this.”
Patch management tools help organisations track and deploy updates. These systems inventory software versions, identify missing patches, and automate deployment. However, tools only work if organisations use them consistently and prioritise security updates appropriately.
Reboots required for patch installation create resistance. Server administrators postpone reboots to avoid disrupting services. Those postponements stretch from days to weeks to months. Meanwhile, vulnerabilities remain unpatched and exploitable.
Third-party applications create blind spots in patch management. IT teams focus on operating system patches but overlook Adobe Reader, Java, browsers, and countless other applications. These applications contain vulnerabilities just as critical as OS flaws.
Firmware updates frequently get neglected entirely. Network devices, storage systems, and servers all run firmware that requires updates. Vulnerabilities in firmware can be devastating, yet many organisations have no process for tracking or applying firmware updates.
Virtual patching provides temporary protection when proper patching isn’t feasible. Web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can block exploits of known vulnerabilities, buying time for proper remediation. This approach shouldn’t replace actual patching, but can bridge gaps. Professional external network penetration testing reveals which unpatched vulnerabilities attackers could realistically exploit.
Testing patches in controlled environments catches incompatibilities before production deployment. However, testing must happen quickly to minimise the window of exposure. Streamlined testing processes balance thoroughness with speed.
