Adam: “Hey did you patch that vulnerability that got detected recently?”
Eve: “Which one? The remote-code execution one?”
Adam: “No, the XYZ software one.”
Eve: “Yeah, I think that was the one I was talking about as well.”
Now that was a totally unrealistic and confusing conversation between two CISOs trying to talk about patching a particular vulnerability. But it’d be real if we didn’t have the CVE database.
In this blog, let’s dig into the A to Z of CVEs and everything about them, including what does CVE stand for, how the CVE program works, and how to leverage the available CVE database will drastically improve and transform your vulnerability management efficacy and combat risks that matter!
Understanding CVE: A Deep Dive
History of CVE
To help understand CVEs and vulnerabilities better, let’s go back in time. It’s the year 1999, and the CVE system was created by the MITRE Corporation, a non-profit organization. But why was it introduced?
Different organizations named and reported the same vulnerability, leading to complete chaos. Standardization was missing.
The introduction of CVE meant that it became a simple, uniform standard everyone could follow, and over time, it became popular globally, too!
CVE Structure Explained
The CVE structure simplifies the naming and understanding of CVEs. So, every CVE contains 3 components:
- CVE Prefix: Identifies it as part of the CVE database (e.g., CVE-2023).
- Year: Indicates the year the vulnerability was discovered or published.
- Numeric Identifier: A unique number that distinguishes the particular vulnerability (e.g., CVE-2023-12345).
CVE vs CVSS: Understanding the difference
CVEs and CVSS scores are often confused and used interchangeably. But that’s wrong. Let’s clear up the confusion.
| CVE | CVSS |
| CVE is a method to catalog security risks. | CVSS is a method to quantify how dangerous a security risk is. |
| CVE contains 3 parts separated that look like this: CVE-2023-12345 | CVSS ranges from 0-10 numerical values. |
| CVE: Common Vulnerabilities & Exposures | CVSS: Common Vulnerability Scoring System |
How does the CVE program work?
New vulnerabilities are detected every day. But you need a simple, streamlined approach to identify, check, and then assign the CVE names.
The CVE program leverages a network called CVE Numbering Authority or CAN for short. These CNAs are responsible for testing, identifying, assigning and publishing the CVE information.
Here’s what the process looks like:
- Discovery: Discovering the risk isthe first step, and can be done by anyone in the world. But typically, risks are discovered by security researchers, vendors and organizations.
- Submission: In the next step, the detector submits the risks and its details to the CNAs for further analysis.
- Analysis: Once submitted, the CNA reviews the submission and also checks if the risk was already submitted to ensure duplications don’t exist.
- Assignment: Once the analysis is complete, the CNA assigns a CVE ID, and the risk is published in the CVE database.
- Notification: Lastly, the CVE is then notified and shared with the community to ensure enterprises around the world remediate the risk.
Who maintains CVE?
The MITRE Corporation manages the CVE system, with support from the CNAs. The CVE system also includes a CVE Board, which includes members from different backgrounds. Members include cybersecurity researchers, government officials, and private industries.
Key Challenges in the CVE system
No system is perfect, and this applies to the CVE system as well. The CVE system has revolutionized how security risks are documented, but here are a few key challenges and limitations of the system.
- Report Overload: Security risks are rising every year, and with the strict cataloging process, delays occur in publishing CVEs, and that can lead to cyberattacks.
- Missing Security Risks: The CVE database will not have all the security risks in the wild. While it is not exactly a fault, the CVE database is often considered as the baseline and can restrict security leaders from checking out other risks.
- Lack of Information: The database provides very limited information on the vulnerability, and researchers must scramble around for valid and authentic information.
How do you Report a CVE?
As stakeholders in the cybersecurity space, reporting CVEs is an important step we all must take to ensure the vulnerability database and awareness continue to increase.
Here’s a simple 4-step process you should keep in mind if you think you’ve detected a security risk.
- Check for Duplicates: Sometimes, a vulnerability might be detected that might be reported by someone else and added to the database. Ensure that you check the CVE database first, as it’ll minimize wasted efforts from you and the authority.
- Prepare the Details: Like how you report a bug, create a clear-cut report on the vulnerability with as much detail as possible to ensure it’s easy for the CNA to check it.
- Submit to CNA: Any CNA will take in your request, but select the CNA of your country, and submit all the details required.
- Prepare for Response: Once the request is submitted, the CNAs might contact you for additional information before assigning CVE.
Once the due diligence is done, the CVE will be published and added to the global list.
Difference Between CVE & CWE
Now that you have a good idea of what CVE is, let’s try to understand a relatively new concept that goes hand in hand with CVE.
CWE, or Common Weakness Enumeration, is a newer system that is used to describe common flaws that could lead to vulnerabilities instead of individual vulnerabilities themselves.
Leveraging CVE for Impactful Vulnerability Management
CVEs are a powerful tool that you can leverage to take your vulnerability management to the next level and reduce your attack surface. The CVE data will streamline communication with your team, simplify risk prioritization, and improve your overall vulnerability management efficacy.
Here are some key benefits that’ll convince you to leverage CVEs:
- CVEs Centralize Information Exchange: Since the key purpose of CVEs is to standardize vulnerability data, the CVE system also acts as a single language of communication that you can leverage to operate between teams better.
- CVEs Improve Response Times: Closely linked to the first benefit, faster information exchange means teams can respond to each other better and improve your enterprise’s security system.
- CVEs Simplify Integration: Everybody in the world uses the CVE system, and that includes vendors. As it is the standard, you can easily work with different tools out of the box!
Conclusion
The CVE system is a wonderful addition to the cybersecurity space and is beneficial to each and every stakeholder. While its not exactly perfect, it’s the best we have at the moment, and we can contribute more to ensure the system can get even better.
So, what does CVE stand for? Apart from the full form, it also stands as a testament to the years of hard work and research of people all over the world trying to stop cyberattacks.
