A vulnerability database is a collection of information about security checks and patches. An efficient vulnerability management solution needs a comprehensive vulnerability database with many security checks that can precisely help discover maximum vulnerabilities.
The goal of having a vulnerability database is to create a framework that detects vulnerabilities, device compliance, asset inventory, performs remediation, and more. Such a framework also describes the known vulnerability, assesses the potential impact of a cyberattack, and mitigates it. This framework regularly checks for emerging security flaws to overcome cybercrimes.
A vulnerability management solution is as good as the vulnerability database backing it up. In this article, we will learn how the number of checks determines your vulnerability management program and how many checks you need to call your vulnerability database strong.
The Bane of Using Open-source Vulnerability Database in Vulnerability Management Program
Many open-source vulnerability databases like NVD, OSVDB, security advisories are available with all collective information of security flaws. Even though open-source vulnerability databases are readily available, they have some sets of challenges.
Consider the NVD database, it receives vulnerabilities directly from CVE, and if these vulnerabilities reported to the CVE, it will not make it to NVD. Consequently, enterprises relying on this database will not get security updates on time.
One more challenge is that many enterprises are not aware of the open-source components for their products. Hence, when they write APIs to get updates from NVD, they still have to go through their product to confirm if these components are relevant. Therefore, it is challenging to discover a vulnerability in open-source and patch the same immediately.
Hence, monitoring open-source databases and combining them with a vulnerability management program becomes difficult. It leads to a delay in the whole vulnerability management process. Therefore, open-source databases are chaotic, with a scattered view of vulnerabilities.
We can overcome this challenge by integrating a well-built vulnerability database with your vulnerability management tool. Moreover. A well-built vulnerability database should be extensive and exhaustive enough to maintain a comprehensive list of security checks. More security checks determine the efficiency of the vulnerability management program. You would need the database to be updated regularly to keep track of all vulnerabilities because even old vulnerabilities might be exploited anytime.
It becomes easy when everything is sorted and is in one place. All security checks in one repository will reduce the security gap between identifying and remediating vulnerabilities. In addition to this, security checks help in risk analysis of the threat surface with making necessary comparisons of exploit with recurrence probability. It also leads to predictive analysis of risks, thus increasing the efficacy of the vulnerability management program.
Additionally, refer to SecPod’s SCAP feed to know more about building a good vulnerability database.
SecPod SCAP Repository
SecPod SCAP feed provides the world’s largest vulnerability database with more than 160,000+ security checks. It supports natural language-based search, and it is also a web service interface that binds with any SCAP-based scanner. It hosts SCAP content like OVAL, CVE, CPE, XCCDF, CCE, CWE, CVSS. However, this content helps detect vulnerabilities, device compliance, asset inventory, malware characterization, and remediation.
Security Content and Intelligence of SecPod SCAP Repository
The security intelligence hosts the following content:
- Security content statistics
- OVAL definitions platform coverage
- OVAL definitions class-wise and family-wise distribution
- Application and OS remediation coverage
- Compliance benchmark coverage
- List of vulnerability to exploit/malware mapping covered in SanerNow
- List of indicators of attack
Additionally, Here are security content platforms statistics that help get an overview of the content covered.
However, To know more about the content hosted at the SecPod SCAP repository, follow link:
SanerNow Documentation | SecPod
Features of SecPod SCAP Feed
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Search for SCAP content
The search of SCAP content is based on SCAP ID, it is a string in the metadata, or it can be any intelligent query. Some examples are ‘today’s CVE’, ‘CVEs that matter’.
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SCAP Content subscription
SecPod SCAP feed provides subscriptions with authenticated access for single-click content download. Also, it supports web service interface access through password-less authentication and authorization schemes.
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SCAP Content download
It supports subscribed content downloading with or without related SCAP entities. The download is either SCAP data stream or XML.
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Metadata view for all SCAP entities.
SecPod SCAP feed facilitates gaining details of CVE, CCE, CWE, CPE, OVAL, and XCCDF.
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An Asset-based view
It gives the asset-based views where you get all SCAP content related to an asset. Asset identifiers are mapped to SCAP entities. Further, you can search for specific CPE and find all the vulnerabilities, corresponding OVAL definitions, and XCCDF benchmarks. It will help you to create reports for an asset.
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REST-based APIs for automated integration
REST-based APIs provide easy access to SCAP content for automated integration to any SCAP-enabled security solution.
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RSS-based Alerts
You can create an RSS-based alert for any of the search queries. An alert can be created by clicking on the Alerts link on the results page to save an alert. The saved alert will allow you to subscribe to the alert using any RSS client.
Impact of SecPod Vulnerability Database on Your Vulnerability Management Program
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Accurate scanning and detection of vulnerability
SanerNow vulnerability management works on the Agent-Sever model. Hence, the server continuously syncs with the SCAP feed, updating the latest vulnerabilities. Agents for scanning at the endpoints receive all management tasks from the server. It leads to accurate detection as the SCAP feed is constantly updated.
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Predictive analysis on vulnerability exploits
Different SCAP entities and custom reports help analyze the risk with historical vulnerability data to find the probability of any risk exploitation.
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Reduced false positives
SecPod SanerNow produces near-zero false positives because of the sync of the vulnerability scanner with the extensive database.
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Effective prioritization
SCAP entity CVSS help in prioritizing the vulnerabilities. It will lead to remediation of high critical vulnerabilities first in the huge pile of known vulnerabilities.
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Faster remediation
When you integrate a well-built vulnerability database with the vulnerability management program, there is a reduction of the security gap. With SanerNow, you can instantly detect vulnerabilities and remediate them with corresponding patches.
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Create and manage reports
You can create a chart and a CSV downloadable report based on any search queries. A report can then be downloaded by manipulating the charts. Filters can be applied filters to fine-tune the search query.
So, get a subscription to the SecPod SCAP feed and schedule a demo to see SecPod’s vulnerability management in action.