What distinguishes a vulnerability from a threat?

A vulnerability is defined as a weakness or flaw in a system, application, or network that can be exploited by an adversary to gain unauthorized access or cause harm. On the other hand, a threat refers to any potential harmful event that could exploit a vulnerability to cause damage or disruption. Therefore, the distinction lies in the fact that vulnerabilities are inherent weaknesses that exist within systems, while threats are the possible occurrences that exploit those weaknesses, resulting in potential harm.

Understanding this difference is crucial for effective risk management in cybersecurity. Identifying vulnerabilities enables organizations to strengthen their defenses, while recognizing threats allows them to anticipate and mitigate potential attacks. This distinction guides professionals in prioritizing their security measures and ensuring robust protection against various forms of cyberattacks.

In contrast, the other options misrepresent the relationship between vulnerabilities and threats or incorrectly classify them. For instance, describing a vulnerability as a potential harmful event confuses the definition and misrepresents its nature as a weakness. Similarly, the concepts of malware and network devices do not pertain to the vulnerabilities and threats directly, thereby leading to confusion.