The tragedy of low-level exploitation

The blog post discusses the challenges and realities of pursuing a career in low-level exploitation within cybersecurity. It highlights that while low-level exploitation is a technically complex and rewarding field, job opportunities are limited and often integrated into broader roles. The author emphasizes that most companies prefer to invest in skills that provide immediate benefits, leading to a scarcity of positions focused solely on low-level exploitation. The post outlines various roles in cybersecurity, such as penetration testers and internal security teams, noting that they typically rely on existing exploits rather than developing new ones. The author also mentions that law enforcement and military roles do not primarily focus on exploit development, while intelligence agencies may engage in such activities, albeit in a morally ambiguous context. The goal of the post is to inform aspiring professionals about the realities of the field, encouraging them to consider their career paths thoughtfully rather than naively.

- Low-level exploitation is technically complex but has limited job opportunities.

- Most cybersecurity roles involve using existing exploits rather than developing new ones.

- Companies prioritize skills that provide immediate benefits, impacting the demand for low-level exploitation expertise.

- Intelligence agencies may engage in low-level exploitation, but this often involves ethical dilemmas.

- Aspiring professionals should carefully consider their career paths in cybersecurity.