👉 Certificate Missiles are advanced cyberattack capabilities developed by state-sponsored actors, particularly those from China and Russia, that exploit vulnerabilities in internet protocols to rapidly and stealthily infiltrate networks. These attacks generate large volumes of certificates—digital credentials used for secure communications—to overwhelm target systems with fake, malicious certificates, effectively "certificate flooding." By mimicking legitimate servers or services, they trick systems into accepting these forged certificates, allowing attackers to intercept sensitive data (e.g., login credentials, financial information) or inject malware. Unlike traditional malware, certificate missiles operate covertly, often remaining undetected for extended periods, making them a potent tool for espionage, data exfiltration, or disrupting critical infrastructure. Their speed and scale distinguish them from conventional cyber threats.
