Software vulnerability exploitation surpasses stolen passwords as top corporate breach method in 2026

For the first time in nearly two decades, exploiting software vulnerabilities has overtaken stolen passwords as the primary way hackers breach corporate networks.

Verizon's 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report claims the exploitation of vulnerabilities now accounts for 31% of all confirmed data breaches.

Stolen credentials, once the dominant entry point, have dropped to just 13% of reported incidents this year.

The report analyzed over 31,000 security incidents across 145 countries, revealing how the threat landscape has fundamentally changed.

Employees using unauthorized AI tools are quietly creating massive new security risks inside companies worldwide every single day.