Automated Pentesting Tools Hit "PoC Cliff" Leaving Critical Attack Surfaces Untested

Automated pentesting tools initially deliver strong results but quickly plateau, leaving major attack surfaces untested due to a phenomenon called the "PoC cliff." Picus Security identified this validation gap, which creates security risks by failing to assess critical vulnerabilities beyond initial proof-of-concept (PoC) coverage. The issue arises as tools rely on pre-defined exploit scripts, missing evolving threats and complex attack chains. No specific CVEs, dates, or numerical data were provided regarding affected systems or tools. The impact includes incomplete security assessments and potential exposure to undetected vulnerabilities.