In cybersecurity, an exploit is a piece of software, a chunk of data, or a sequence of commands that takes advantage of a bug, glitch, or vulnerability in order to cause unintended or unanticipated behavior to occur on computer software, hardware, or something electronic. It often includes gaining control over a computer system, allowing privilege escalation, or a denial-of-service attack. Exploits are a fundamental component of many cyberattacks, using vulnerabilities in applications, operating systems, or networks to gain access or control.