TERM

attack surface

The set of ways in which an adversary can enter a system and potentially cause damage.

Updated

Jan 06, 2026

Senses

Sense 1

The set of ways in which an adversary can enter a system and potentially cause damage. An information system's characteristics that permit an adversary to probe, attack, or maintain presence in the information system.

The set of ways in which an adversary can enter a system and potentially cause damage.

An information system's characteristics that permit an adversary to probe, attack, or maintain presence in the information system.

NICCS (CISA) Cybersecurity Vocabulary

Bibliography

NICCS (CISA) Cybersecurity Vocabulary
Accessed Jan 06, 2026Quoted
NICCS glossary export (CSV)
https://niccs.cisa.gov/rest/vocab/export-csv
NICCS is a CISA (DHS) program. Individual glossary entries include a "From" attribution (e.g., CNSSI 4009, NIST SPs, NICE Framework). Treat "From" values as upstream provenance and verify before quoting large portions of text.
Source: NICCS (CISA) Cybersecurity Vocabulary (niccs.cisa.gov).