Path discovery is the process of finding routes through identities, tools, permissions, and systems that can be chained into action. Instead of asking only what an account or agent is allowed to do, defenders ask what it can ultimately reach by combining several legitimate steps.
This matters because many security failures are not caused by a single overpowered permission. An attacker, or an autonomous AI agent, may use valid access to explore workflows, retry actions, invoke connected services, and pivot across systems until an unintended outcome becomes possible. In real attacks, this maps closely to attack-path analysis and lateral movement. In defense, path discovery helps reveal hidden exposure that a flat permission review misses. Security teams use it to map reachability, limit tool access, separate duties, and add approval gates where chained actions would be risky.