exploit

Etymology

From Old French esploit (noun), esploitier (verb).

noun

1. A heroic or extraordinary deed.
2. An achievement.
   The first trek to the summit of Mount Everest was a stunning exploit.
3. (computing) A program or technique that exploits a vulnerability in other software.
   One of the more publicized cases that involved a zero-day exploit concerned the compromise of some U.S. military web servers. The attack involved exploiting a buffer overflow vulnerability in a core Windows component; […] 2004, Rob Shein, Zero-Day Exploit: Countdown to Darkness, Syngress, page xxi
   For example, you can create PE files that are valid PDF exploits or valid ZIP files, valid JPG files, and so on. 2015, Joxean Koret, Elias Bachaalany, The Antivirus Hacker's Handbook, page 148
4. (by extension, Internet, video games) An action or technique that takes advantage of the conditions of a video game to gain an advantage, or to disadvantage others.

verb

1. (transitive) To use for one’s own advantage.
   However, exploiting their 110mph capability will initially only be possible north of Bedford, pending an upgrade of the overhead wires between Bedford and St Pancras by Network Rail to make them suitable for use by electric trains at over 100mph. 2019 October, Tony Miles, Philip Sherratt, “EMR kicks off new era”, in Modern Railways, page 53
2. (transitive) To forcibly deprive (someone) of something to which she or he has a natural right for one's own benefit.
   Materialistic people who exploit others will come to a bad end.