Best Practices for Implementing CVE-Compatible Products and Services is our today’s topic. The CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) program has cataloged software vulnerabilities for 18 years. This free “dictionary” helps organizations detect and mitigate threats.
Each vulnerability is unique in its detail, attack vector and impact/relevance to the software. Scanners, security services and security advisories use this information.
It also facilitates interoperability between cybersecurity tools and data sources.
Best Practices for Implementing CVE-Compatible Products and Services
Use a CVE ID for Every Vulnerability.
CVE is an identifier system that standardizes how vulnerabilities and exposures are identified. It’s like a dictionary for cybersecurity, categorizing software vulnerabilities and acting as a common reference point.
A CVE entry includes a standard identifier number, brief description, and references to vulnerability advisories and reports. It does not include detailed technical data such as risks, impacts, or fixes. However, those details appear in other databases, such as the U.S. National Vulnerability Database, the CERT/CC Vulnerability Notes Database, and commercial lists maintained by vendors.
The CVE Program is a federated system with a single catalog managed by several authorized organizations called CNAs (CVE Numbering Authorities). They can be software vendors, open source projects, coordination centers, research groups, and bug bounty service providers.
One of the advantages of CVE-compatible products and services is using CVE IDs for all vulnerabilities helps organizations prioritize and fix quickly, reducing their overall risk posture. It also provides a baseline for evaluating security tools so they can provide accurate coverage for known vulnerabilities. This allows organizations to select the best device for their needs.
Use a Centralized Repository.
The CVE system, operated by MITRE Corporation and funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, catalogs and tracks computer security vulnerabilities. The CVE database allows information to be shared between different systems and tools, reducing time spent tracking new threats.
A vulnerability is a weakness in software that threat actors can exploit to gain unwarranted access. This can lead to the compromise of sensitive data, confidential user information, or other proprietary information. In addition, it can also lead to the theft of valuable resources like servers and storage.
Many organizations need help with tracking vulnerabilities across their product portfolio. This is often due to manual, siloed processes and multiple scanners that need a central repository.
A centralized repository is essential for improving visibility and collaboration across development teams. While this may seem like a solution for larger companies, it can benefit groups of all sizes.
Use a Centralized Database.
Identifying and tracking vulnerabilities is essential to fortifying your organization’s security posture. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system is a standardized identification method for cyber threats that helps organizations manage vulnerability tracking.
When a vulnerability is discovered by a researcher, security expert, or vendor in a software or hardware system, it may be added to the CVE database in several ways, including manual analysis, automated tools, and bug bounties. The vulnerability details are then compiled into a CVE entry by a member of the CVE community called a CVE Numbering Authority or CNA.
Many CNAs exist, including commercial cybersecurity tool vendors, open-source projects, coordination centers, and bug bounty service providers. The CNAs work together through a federated system to identify and assign a CVE ID to a newly discovered vulnerability. The CVE program is also overseen by the CVE Board, which consists of representatives from many different cybersecurity-related organizations, commercial security tool vendors, academia and research institutions, government departments and agencies, and end-users. All CVE Board discussions and meetings are publicly available.
Use a CVE-Searchable Interface.
The CVE system is an important initiative that allows organizations to use a common language to identify software and hardware components vulnerabilities. It also will enable organizations to quickly look up those vulnerabilities in public databases, saving them time and money. However, there are some important considerations when using the CVE system.
A common vulnerability is a mistake in software code that allows attackers to access a computer, network, or service. It can include flaws like a buffer overflow, stack overflow, or arbitrary code injection. There are many common vulnerabilities, but each has a unique name and description used by the CVE database to identify them.
The CVE system is an important tool for cybersecurity professionals, but it cannot be easy to find the necessary information promptly. That’s why using a CVE-searchable interface, such as Debricked, is important. This software can help you find the details to make informed decisions about which software and hardware components to use in your environment.
Use a CVE-Compliant Tool.
When cybersecurity tools use CVE as their reference point, it helps ensure they can communicate. This enables them to identify vulnerabilities similarly and reduces an organization’s overall cybersecurity risk posture.
CVE was created in 1999 when most cybersecurity tools used their databases and different names for vulnerabilities. These differences made it difficult for products and services to interact with each other, creating gaps in security coverage.
As a result, it’s important to choose CVE-compliant products and services that will help protect your organization against cyber threats. Understanding the CVE process and how to leverage it to lower your cybersecurity risk posture is also essential. This includes practicing vulnerability management—a repeatable process to identify, classify, prioritize, and remediate vulnerabilities in your unique environment.
It also means understanding your deployments and validating that a CVE applies to the applications, modules, and configurations in those environments. By doing so, you’ll be able to prioritize the vulnerabilities that need fixing most urgently. This will help prevent a single exposure from becoming a major threat to your security posture.
