// THREAT DETECTION AND DATA PRIVACY TERM
Logic Bomb
A logic bomb is a hidden piece of malicious code within a software system that remains dormant until a specific condition is met, at which point it activates and executes its harmful payload, such as deleting files or corrupting data.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
A logic bomb is a type of malicious software component or code segment intentionally embedded within a legitimate program or system, designed to remain inactive until triggered by a predefined logical condition (e.g., a specific date, time, event, or user action), upon which it executes a destructive payload, such as data corruption, system shutdown, or unauthorized data access.
BACKGROUND
Computer security is a subdiscipline within the field of information security. It focuses on protecting computer software, systems, and networks from threats that can lead to unauthorized information disclosure, theft, or damage to hardware, software, or data, as well as to the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Time bomb
- Slag code
- Hostage code
- Conditional malware
- Programmed threat
USAGE NOTE
Logic bombs are often planted by disgruntled employees or state-sponsored actors for targeted sabotage and can be extremely difficult to detect before their activation.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Logic Bomb.
CrowdStrike's Falcon platform provides industry-leading endpoint detection and response (EDR), threat intelligence, and proactive hunting services designed to identify and neutralize advanced persistent threats (APTs) and sophisticated malware, including those that may employ logic bomb functionalities.
Mandiant specializes in advanced threat intelligence, incident response, and security validation. Their expertise helps organizations detect, analyze, and remediate sophisticated attacks, including those involving embedded malicious logic that could act as logic bombs, often through post-breach analysis and threat hunting.
Through their Cortex XDR platform and broader enterprise security solutions, Palo Alto Networks provides capabilities for endpoint protection, network security, and cloud security, which are crucial for detecting anomalous behavior and code execution indicative of logic bomb activation or presence.
Microsoft leverages extensive threat intelligence and a wide array of security products (e.g., Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Azure Security) to detect, prevent, and respond to advanced malware, insider threats, and malicious code, thereby addressing the mechanisms by which logic bombs operate.
As a major provider of software integrity solutions, including Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Software Composition Analysis (SCA), Synopsys tools are used to identify vulnerabilities and malicious code, including potential logic bombs, within application source code and third-party libraries during development.
Sophos offers a comprehensive portfolio of cybersecurity solutions including endpoint protection, extended detection and response (XDR), and threat intelligence. These technologies are designed to detect, analyze, and block advanced malware and suspicious activities that could indicate the presence or activation of a logic bomb.
DARPA funds and oversees advanced research into cybersecurity defense mechanisms, including automated program analysis, vulnerability detection, and resilient systems design, which directly contribute to capabilities for identifying and neutralizing sophisticated threats like logic bombs in critical systems.