Mandiant's 2026 findings report that the average Time-to-Exploit (TTE) has reach...
Verdict: TRUE
Verdict details
Confidence: 76%
Evidence quality: PUTERNICĂ
**What was analyzed:** The claim that average Time-to-Exploit (TTE) dropped sharply from around 63 days in 2018 to -7 days according to Mandiant's 2026 M-Trends data, showing that exploits routinely happen before patches exist. **What sources confirm:** Industry reports citing Mandiant's M-Trends 2026 report confirm that the mean time to exploit dropped to negative seven days, compared to approximately 63 days recorded in 2018, indicating active exploitation before public disclosure or patch release. **Limitations:** The metric represents Mandiant's observed frontline incident response dataset rather than an exhaustive global census of all vulnerabilities. **Conclusion:** The statement accurately conveys the findings published in Mandiant's M-Trends 2026 report. (Source Quality: STRONG)
Sources consulted
| Source | Domain | Date | What it says |
|---|---|---|---|
| M-Trends 2026: Data, Insights, and Strategies From the ... | cloud.google.com | 2026-03-23 | M-Trends 2026 reveals that the mean time to exploit vulnerabilities dropped to an estimated -7 days, meaning exploitation is routinely ... |
| M-Trends 2025 Report | services.google.com | 2025-01-01 | Based on the evidence available at the time, Mandiant was unable to determine a motivation for the final 35% of groups. Actor Graduations and Merges. In 2024 .. |
| National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026 | cyber.gc.ca | 2024-10-15 | The time it takes threat actors to exploit these vulnerabilities continues to decrease, with attacks starting within days after their disclosure ... |
| Vulnerability Exploitation Trends H1 2026 | brandefense.io | 2026-06-03 | Mandiant's M-Trends 2026 published a figure that reframes how vulnerability management must work: the mean time to exploit is now negative seven days. Not seven |
| ESET PROTECT MDR | eset.ro | — | Managementul patch-urilor și vulnerabilităților. Urmărirea și remedierea automată a vulnerabilităților. |
| Twenty-Two Seconds to Hand-Off: Inside Mandiant's M- ... | complexdiscovery.com | 2026-03-26 | M-Trends 2026 shows 22-second access hand-offs, recovery-denial ransomware, and AI-driven threats—and what that means for security, ... |
| Attackers are handing off access in 22 seconds, Mandiant ... | helpnetsecurity.com | 2026-03-24 | The Mandiant M-Trends 2026 report reveals fast attacker hand-offs, rising dwell times, ransomware operators targeting backup infrastructure. |
| SecureWatchAI — Pitch Deck | swai.ro | — | Mandiant · Vector #1 · 5 ani consecutivMandiant · Vector #1 · 5 consecutive years. 33%. din intruziuni încep prin exploatarea vulnerabilităților. of intrusions |
Recommended next steps
- Review the full methodology section in the official Mandiant M-Trends 2026 publication for sample size and outlier handling.
- Compare with a primary source (document/report) for the key figure/statement.
- Check the date and context: if the claim was valid only during a period or for a specific region.
Analysis limitations
- The metrics are specific to Mandiant's incident response dataset (M-Trends 2026) and methodology for tracking known exploited vulnerabilities.
- TTE figures represent an aggregate mean, which is heavily influenced by zero-day exploitation campaigns.
- A formal retraction or correction from Mandiant regarding the -7 days figure in M-Trends 2026.
View full analysis on Justifact
How to cite this
In-text citation: Justifact, „Mandiant's 2026 findings report that the average Time-to-Exploit (TTE) has reached -7 days.", 2026-10-13, https://justifact.eu/en/analysis/the-claim-that-average-time-to-exploit-tte-dropped-sharply-from-around-63-days-i-0d0453e8-5a94-49b1-b910-d9892e38e767
License: Verdicts and aggregate figures may be quoted freely with attribution and a link to Justifact.