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Attack Vector

What is Attack Vector?

The method or pathway used by a threat actor to gain unauthorised access to a target system. Common attack vectors include phishing emails, unpatched software vulnerabilities, and compromised credentials.

Information Security

What the standards actually require on attack vector

Requirements naming attack vector across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.

ISO/SAE 214343 controls

Where the attack-vector-based method is chosen, the rating should come from assessing which attack vector dominates the attack path (Annex G.4); this method fits early phases, before the specific paths are known.

iso-sae-21434::RC-15-14 · [RC-15-14] Attack-vector-based approach →

Where several configuration settings are needed to comply with a single SRG requirement the author inserts additional rows by duplicating the requirement's row and updating the specific content, each new row keeping the original IA control, CCI, SRG ID, SRG re...

disa-security-technical-implementation-guides-stigs::REQ-11 · REQ-11 Additional rows: one row per setting or attack vector, and CCI-000366 for best practice →
NERC CIP1 control

Notify the E-ISAC and, for entities under United States jurisdiction, the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC, now within CISA) or its successor, of Reportable Cyber Security Incidents and attempts to compromise, unless prohibit...

nerc-cip::CIP-008 R4.1 · CIP-008-6 R4.1: Notification content: functional impact, attack vector, level of intrusion →

CSF 2.0 outcome: threats, vulnerabilities, likelihoods and impacts are used to understand inherent risk and inform risk response prioritization. Priority High.

nist-sp-800-61-rev-3::ID.RA-05 · ID.RA-05 Existing risk estimation mechanisms used for incident response →
API 11641 control

The plan must require a catalogue of the threats identified against IAC segregated environments with consistent criteria for identifying them and for assessing and categorising them (type, credibility);

api-1164::ID.RA-3 · ID.RA-3 Threat catalogue with consistent identification and categorisation by vector and actor →

For each threat condition the applicant identifies the threat scenarios that could lead to it: the threat source (attacker and attack vector), the vulnerabilities exploited, the operational conditions, the events by which the target is attacked and the threat...

do-326a-ed-202a::3.2.2 · Threat scenario identification →

Questions people ask about attack vector

What is Attack Vector?
The method or pathway used by a threat actor to gain unauthorised access to a target system. Common attack vectors include phishing emails, unpatched software vulnerabilities, and compromised credentials.
Why is Attack Vector important for compliance?
Attack Vector is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding attack vector helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 1,016 frameworks with 316K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Attack Vector?
Attack Vector appears in the requirement text of ISO/SAE 21434, DISA Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs), NERC CIP, NIST SP 800-61 Rev. 3, API 1164. Across these standards we have identified 9 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Attack Vector?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how attack vector applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 1,016 frameworks.

See how Attack Vector applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 1,016 frameworks with 316K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.