N-Day Vulnerability Trends: Decreasing Exposure Windows and the Emergence of “Turn-Key” Exploits

The Escalating Battle: N-Day Vulnerabilities and Cybersecurity

The race between defenders and threat actors has drastically shifted into a more chaotic phase, mainly driven by the rapid exploitation of N-day vulnerabilities. Unlike zero-days, which are undiscovered and unpatched vulnerabilities, N-days are known security flaws that have been publicly reported but remain unaddressed in many organizations’ systems.

Historically, many enterprises relied on a "patching grace period," which allowed time for vendors to test and deploy fixes before declaring systems non-compliant. This grace period is shrinking, as Flashpoint reports that N-days now account for over 80% of all Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEVs) tracked over the last four years, signaling an urgent need for improved security protocols.

The Collapse of the Time to Exploit (TTE) Window

Arguably the most alarming trend for security operations (SecOps) teams is the rapid reduction in Time to Exploit (TTE)—the duration from a vulnerability’s disclosure to its first observed exploitation. In 2020, the average TTE stood at 745 days. By 2025, that figure is predicted to drop sharply to an alarming 44 days.

This contraction showcases a fundamental shift in attacker methodology. Instead of waiting for elaborate, customized exploits, adversaries are now rapidly weaponizing public vulnerability disclosures.

N-Days Provide a “Turn-Key” Exploit Advantage

The speed at which researchers release Proof-of-Concept (PoC) code gives attackers a “turn-key” solution. When a fully functional exploit is available right alongside a vulnerability disclosure, even minimally skilled attackers can utilize internet-wide scanning tools, such as Shodan or FOFA, to launch mass exploitation campaigns in mere hours.

The BlackBasta ransomware group provides a clear example of this trend. Analyzing their internal communications showed that out of 65 CVEs discussed, 54 were already acknowledged as KEVs. Instead of investing resources into developing original zero-day exploits, these threat actors are capitalizing on known, yet unpatched, vulnerabilities.

Defensive Software as Prime Targets for N-Days

Interestingly, the very firewalls, VPN gateways, and edge networking devices intended to shield enterprises are among the most targeted by both N-day and zero-day exploits. Because these cybersecurity tools need internet access to function effectively, they expose a constant attack surface ripe for exploitation.

In 2025, Flashpoint noted 37 N-days and 52 zero-days specifically aimed at security software, emphasizing the need for vigilance. Attackers have learned that exploiting vulnerabilities within defense mechanisms offers a path to wider system access.

Attribution Challenges in N-Day Attacks

While understanding the “how” of an attack is crucial, pinpointing responsibility remains a complex challenge. This difficulty often arises from naming fatigue, where different vendors assign their own unique labels to the same group of threat actors. Take the notorious Lazarus group, for instance; it has over 40 distinct names including “Diamond Sleet” and “Guardians of Peace.”

Despite this complexity, clear patterns in global activity are emerging. Notably, China continues to lead as the most active nation-state in vulnerability exploitation, consistently outperforming Russia, Iran, and North Korea in the scope and scale of their operations.

Obstacles for Enterprise Security: Asset Blindness and the CVE Dependency Trap

Why are many organizations lagging behind in the race against N-days? Surprisingly, the key issue isn’t a lack of resources but a significant visibility gap.

The Asset Inventory Gap

A complete asset inventory is arguably the most critical breakthrough for enterprises. Unfortunately, many large organizations struggle to accurately account for even 25% of their assets. Consequently, vulnerability scans can take extensive time—sometimes weeks—to return results, often falling behind the exploits already being employed by attackers.

The CVE Blindspot

Furthermore, most conventional security tools heavily rely on the CVE framework. However, thousands of vulnerabilities get disclosed annually without receiving an official CVE ID. These “missing” vulnerabilities create substantial blind spots for standard scanners. Organizations must adopt an intelligence-led exposure management strategy, extending beyond the CVE ecosystem to proprietary databases like Flashpoint’s VulnDB™, which tracks over 105,000 vulnerabilities that public sources often overlook.

Move Towards Intelligence-Led Exposure Management Using Flashpoint

To stand resilient against adversaries capable of weaponizing vulnerabilities within just 24 hours, organizations must transition from reactive patching to a threat-informed, proactive security approach. This entails:

• Prioritizing by Exploitability and Threat Actor Activity: Focus on vulnerabilities marked as remotely exploitable and coupled with known public exploits, rather than solely relying on high CVSS scores.

• Adopting an Asset-Inventory Approach: Shift from slow, periodic asset scans to continuous mapping that facilitates immediate response.

• Operationalizing Intelligence: Integrate real-time threat data into SOC and incident response workflows, minimizing the “mean time to action.”

The strategy behind effective exposure management is to see your organization through an adversary’s lens. By understanding which N-days are actively discussed and weaponized, defenders can close the exposure window before compromise can occur.

If you’re ready to elevate your security strategy, consider requesting a demo today to access quality vulnerability intelligence designed for effective, intelligence-led exposure management.