Which tool is commonly used by threat actors to exploit software vulnerabilities and spread malware?

An exploit kit is commonly utilized by threat actors to take advantage of software vulnerabilities and propagate malware. These kits are sophisticated tools designed to automate the exploitation process, making it easier for cybercriminals to execute attacks without requiring highly technical skills. They typically include a collection of exploits for known vulnerabilities in various software and applications, allowing the attacker to effectively target multiple systems and environments.

When attackers deploy an exploit kit, it usually targets visitors of compromised websites or phishing pages. When a user unknowingly visits a malicious site, the exploit kit scans their system for known vulnerabilities. If a vulnerability is found, the kit triggers the exploit, ultimately resulting in the delivery of malware, such as ransomware, trojans, or spyware, to the victim's device.

This makes exploit kits particularly dangerous because they can quickly spread malware across a wide array of targets, often with very little effort from the attacker. In contrast, tools like a root kit are primarily designed for maintaining persistent access and control over a compromised system, rather than actively exploiting vulnerabilities to distribute malware. Other options provided, such as a vulnerability kit and a script kiddie kit, are either mischaracterizations or less commonly recognized terms that do not accurately describe tools specifically tailored for exploiting software vulnerabilities on a broad scale.