attack surface and attack vector

a real-life, non-technical example to illustrate the concepts of attack surface and attack vector

Attack Surface Example: A House:

Imagine your house as a system that you want to secure. The attack surface would be all the potential entry points.

Doors and Windows: If your doors and windows are often left open or poorly secured, this becomes part of the attack surface.

Attack Vector Example: Social Engineering:

Now, consider the attack vector, imagine someone as a utility worker or delivery person:

Attack Vector — Social Engineering: The attacker comes to your door, claiming to be a utility worker needing access to check something urgently. This is the specific method (attack vector) used to exploit a vulnerability in your “human trust.”

Attack Surface Impact: If you trustingly allow the person in without verifying their identity, the attacker has exploited a vulnerability in your “front door” (part of the attack surface) to gain unauthorized access.