Verizon DBIR 2026: Vulnerability Exploitation Overtakes Credential Theft as Top Breach Vector
Vulnerability exploitation was the most common access vector for data breaches in 2025, the latest installment of Verizon’s annual Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) shows.
The number of analyzed security incidents has increased to 31,000. Of these, more than 22,000 were confirmed breaches, nearly double compared to last year’s 12,195 confirmed breaches.
Approximately 31% of the breaches were the result of unpatched vulnerabilities being exploited. Credential abuse, which was the top entry point in last year’s DBIR, accounted for 13% of the breaches.
According to Verizon’s researchers, threat actors are leveraging AI to accelerate vulnerability exploitation, and the window for defense has decreased from months to hours.
“The rapid weaponization of known vulnerabilities by AI can create a capacity crisis for security teams, underscoring the urgent need to prioritize fundamental security and risk management practices,” Verizon says.
The Verizon 2026 DBIR (PDF)also shows that organizations continue to struggle...
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