What is referred to as a path or route used by an adversary to gain access to a target?

An attack vector is recognized as the method or pathway through which an adversary can exploit a system, network, or application to gain unauthorized access to a target. This could involve various means such as malware, phishing, social engineering, or exploiting security vulnerabilities. Understanding attack vectors is critical for cybersecurity professionals as it enables them to identify potential weaknesses in the system and fortify defenses effectively.

The other options represent different concepts in cybersecurity:

An audit trail refers to a record of actions or changes made within a system, typically used for monitoring and tracking user activity. Bandwidth pertains to the data transmission capacity of a network, often discussing the speed and volume of data transferred over a network connection. Bastion refers to a secure computer or network component designed to withstand attacks, often serving as a fortified point in a network architecture, but it does not specifically denote a pathway for attacks like the attack vector does.