Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE)

A publicly known list of security vulnerabilities and exposures.

Understanding CVEs

The CVE system standardizes vulnerability tracking across different security platforms, allowing businesses, security researchers, and IT professionals to coordinate their efforts in patching security flaws. Each CVE entry contains a unique ID, description, and references to public security advisories.

Types of CVEs

Software Vulnerabilities

Bugs in operating systems, applications, or firmware that can be exploited by attackers.
Example: CVE-2021-44228 (Log4Shell vulnerability) in Apache Log4j.

Network Vulnerabilities

Weaknesses in network protocols, configurations, or encryption methods.
Example: Vulnerabilities in Wi-Fi WPA2 encryption (KRACK attack).

Hardware Vulnerabilities

Security flaws in CPUs, memory modules, or IoT devices.
Example: Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities affecting modern processors.

Common Applications

Vulnerability Management: Organizations use CVEs to patch security flaws.
Penetration Testing: Ethical hackers exploit CVEs to assess system security.
Threat Intelligence: Security teams monitor CVE databases for emerging threats.
Regulatory Compliance: CVE tracking is required for compliance with ISO 27001, NIST, PCI-DSS, and HIPAA.