CVE, or Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures, is a standardized system of identifying software weaknesses. The reference point allows different security tools and databases to correlate vulnerabilities, leading to better coverage and a more secure system.
It also encourages the public sharing of information about vulnerabilities, which helps accelerate prevention efforts.
Boosts Security Posture
The CVE program brings standardization and sharing to vulnerability management activities by cataloging vulnerabilities in software and firmware in a free dictionary with standardized I.D.s. These common identifiers enable linked tools, services and databases oriented toward cybersecurity and facilitate comparisons between them.
A vulnerability is a mistake in programming that can give attackers direct access to systems and networks. This can lead to data breaches and leaking of personal information to the dark web for sale.
By tracking these mistakes, CVE enables businesses to mitigate them with specific tools and procedures. This can help reduce the risk of a cyber attack and increase security posture.
The CVE and associated scoring systems like the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) also encourage coordination and collaboration among vendors and security researchers. This helps cultivate secure coding practices and prevents the proliferation of vulnerabilities across systems and environments.
The CVE system is supplemented by the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE), which tracks programming errors that lead to cybersecurity threats. CVE and CWE provide businesses with the tools, context and guidance to implement the best security measures. This ensures that a business’s investments in cybersecurity solutions are protected and can be trusted. For example, a firewall compatible with CVE and CVSS can help protect against known security threats.
Reduces Costs
One of the benefits of CVE-compatible products and services includes identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities are the foundation of a security posture that prevents attackers from successfully infiltrating an organization’s systems, networks and data. As a result, cybersecurity and IT operations teams spend up to 10% of their budgets on these efforts. However, if a vulnerability goes undetected for too long, it can lead to significant consequences and expose sensitive information to hackers.
Fortunately, there is a way to speed up the process and mitigate risks. Vulnerability naming schemes like CVE enable security and IT operations teams to quickly find, prioritize, and address threats.
The CVE dictionary gives common names to openly known security issues and vulnerabilities, which makes it easier to share information across different databases and provides a standard point of reference for evaluating security tools. MITRE, a non-profit corporation and part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, maintains the dictionary. The CVE Board incorporates individuals from various cybersecurity-related associations globally, including industry bodies, research organizations and other security specialists.
CVEs are a valuable resource for I.T. and security professionals, but it’s crucial to use products and services that are CVE-compatible. Ensure your products and services are CVE-compatible by including them in your CI/CD pipelines or by using them to perform automated code and library vulnerability scanning.
Boosts Reputation
The CVE system provides a standard dictionary of known vulnerabilities and exposures. The database helps security professionals keep track of flaws so they can fix them before attackers do. The program also makes it easy for different tools and services to work together by providing a common reference point for identification.
A vulnerability is a weakness that cyberattackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access, run code or perform other unauthorized actions on a computer system. Attackers can use these weaknesses to steal, modify or destroy sensitive data. A vulnerability can be discovered through various means, including a scan or attack by an adversary.
Using CVE-Compatible products and services helps organizations avoid potentially devastating cybersecurity incidents and protect against reputational damage. CVE is a voluntary program that operates federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies. The CVE program relies on collaboration from the international cybersecurity community to identify and catalog vulnerabilities.
The CVE program includes many stakeholders, including commercial security tool vendors, researchers, security experts and other industry organizations. These include the CVE Working Groups, the CVE Board and other committees, the CVE Numbering Authority, and the CVE Information Center. The program’s open nature means it can address problems and improve effectiveness.
Facilitates Better Comparisons
One of the biggest challenges in deploying security products and services is understanding the capabilities of different tools. CVE compatibility helps to reduce this difficulty by creating a common reference point. This standardization also facilitates comparisons between security products, allowing you to select the best options for your business.
A vulnerability is a weakness in computer software that allows unwarranted access. Typically, vulnerabilities enable attackers to take control of systems and networks. Attackers can use this access to steal sensitive, customer, and proprietary data. The CVE program aims to provide a standard method for identifying these vulnerabilities and facilitating their sharing.
Once a vulnerability is discovered, it’s added to the CVE list by a CVE Numbering Authority (CNA), which can be software vendors, open source projects, coordination centers, bug bounty service providers and research groups.
CVE does not include all vulnerabilities, as the numbering process is very extensive. There are some estimates of how many vulnerabilities are missing from the CVE database, but they all vary. Despite their limitations, CVE listings provide an identifier number, status indicator, brief description and references to related vulnerability reports and advisories. The U.S. National Vulnerability Database (NVD) includes additional technical information, including risk, impact and fixes for identifiers on the CVE list.
