A financial institution's database contains critical customer financial data. During a routine security review, a vulnerability is discovered that could lead to unauthorized data access. How should this vulnerability be addressed to maintain database security?

The vulnerability should be addressed by applying the latest security patches and updates to the database software. This helps in fixing known vulnerabilities and reducing the risk of unauthorized data access. Increasing network perimeter defenses and performing regular backups are essential security practices but do not directly address the identified vulnerability. Penetration testing is important for identifying other potential vulnerabilities but does not constitute an immediate response to the discovered vulnerability.