Worm

nounverified·updated May 9, 2026

A self-replicating, self-propagating, self-contained program that uses networking mechanisms to spread itself. See Malicious Code.

polysemousMWENISTIR 7298: Glossary of Key Information Security Terms, Revision 2

Senses

SANS Glossary of Security Terms

A computer program that can run independently, can propagate a complete working version of itself onto other hosts on a network, and may consume computer resources destructively.

National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS) Cybersecurity Lexicon

A self-replicating, self-propagating, self-contained program that uses networking mechanisms to spread itself.

ISACA Cybersecurity Glossary

A programmed network attack in which a self-replicating program does not attach itself to programs, but rather spreads independently of users’ action

Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) IT Examination Handbook Infobase, Glossary

A self-replicating malware computer program. It uses a computer network to send copies of itself to other nodes (computers on the network) and it may do so without any user intervention. This is primarily because of security vulnerabilities on the target computers.

Wordset Dictionary

any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes

Wordset Dictionary

screw thread on a gear with the teeth of a worm wheel or rack

Wordset Dictionary

a software program capable of reproducing itself that can spread from one computer to the next over a network

Wordset Dictionary

a person who has a nasty or unethical character undeserving of respect

Classifications

Entity Type

Threat90%rule-basedr:entity.threat.attack.v1
?unassignedlast reviewed

Sensitivity

unclassified

Information Class

unclassified

Variants

synonym
dirt ballinsectlouse
plural
Worms
possessive
Worm's
pluralpossessive
Worms'