What is what does exploit mean?

Exploit generally refers to taking advantage of a vulnerability or weakness in a system or program to gain unauthorized access, control, or data. This could involve using a security flaw, software bug, or social engineering technique to bypass security barriers, steal sensitive information or hijack a system for malicious purposes. Exploits are often used by hackers, cybercriminals and other attackers to compromise computer networks, steal data and money, and cause widespread harm. In the context of cybersecurity, the term exploit also refers to the software tools and techniques used to discover and exploit vulnerabilities in target systems.