Which scenario reflects a gray hat hacker's action?

The scenario in which a gray hat hacker finds a vulnerability and reports it without permission is accurate because gray hat hackers operate in a space that lies between ethical and unethical hacking. They often exploit vulnerabilities to identify security weaknesses but do so without explicit authorization from the system owner. Gray hat hackers do not have malicious intent as their primary goal is usually to improve security; however, their actions can be viewed as violating ethical boundaries due to the lack of permission.

In contrast, breaking into a system to steal data exemplifies a clear-cut malicious act typically associated with black hat hackers. Conducting a security audit for a company is an ethical practice performed by professionals with consent and generally falls into the realm of white hat hacking. Creating malware for profit is also indicative of black hat activities, as it involves the intention to cause harm or financial gain at the expense of others. Therefore, the action of finding a vulnerability and reporting it without permission encapsulates the essence of gray hat hacking.