Description

Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) is a standardized system for identifying and cataloging known software vulnerabilities to improve security awareness and facilitate vulnerability management.

Features

• Unique Identifiers: Provides unique identifiers for each known vulnerability.
• Centralized Database: Maintains a centralized repository of publicly disclosed vulnerabilities.
• Standardized Reporting: Ensures consistency in vulnerability reporting across different platforms and services.
• Searchable Index: Allows users to search for specific vulnerabilities by identifier or description.
• Collaboration: Facilitates information sharing among security professionals and organizations.

Limitations

• Public Disclosure: Only includes publicly disclosed vulnerabilities, missing some private or undisclosed issues.
• Update Frequency: May not have real-time updates for newly discovered vulnerabilities.
• Scope: Focuses on known vulnerabilities, not providing information on zero-day exploits.
• Accuracy: Relies on external submissions, potentially leading to inaccuracies or incomplete data.

Use Cases

• Patch Management: Organizations use CVE to identify and prioritize patches for known vulnerabilities in their software and systems.
• Security Audits: Security professionals reference CVE entries during audits to ensure all known vulnerabilities are addressed.
• Risk Assessment: Companies utilize CVE data to assess the risk posed by specific vulnerabilities in their infrastructure and to implement appropriate mitigation strategies.