How it works

In today’s interconnected digital landscape, identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities is critical for maintaining the safety and integrity of IT systems. One of the key methods for this is CVE scanning—a process that helps organizations detect and manage vulnerabilities in their systems by identifying known vulnerabilities listed in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database.
What is a CVE?
A CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) is a publicly disclosed security vulnerability or weakness in software or hardware. Each CVE is assigned a unique identifier (e.g., CVE-2023-12345), making it easier to track, assess, and share information about vulnerabilities. The CVE database, maintained by the MITRE Corporation, is a widely-used resource for security professionals, providing standardized information about these vulnerabilities.
How CVE Scanning Works
CVE scanning is the process of systematically searching for vulnerabilities listed in the CVE database across a network, system, or application. It helps organizations identify security weaknesses they need to address. The process typically involves several steps, which we'll outline below:
  1. Scanning Tools and Software
    CVE scanning relies on automated tools known as vulnerability scanners. These scanners are designed to probe systems for specific vulnerabilities. Popular tools include Enginsight, Nessus, OpenVAS, and Qualys, which access the latest CVE data and analyze systems for matching vulnerabilities.
  2. Database Updates
    Vulnerability scanners maintain up-to-date databases of known CVEs by regularly pulling data from the CVE database or other vulnerability repositories. This ensures that the scanner is always capable of identifying the latest vulnerabilities.
  3. System and Network Discovery
    Before starting a CVE scan, the tool must understand the network or system it's inspecting. This involves discovery—mapping out the environment by identifying IP addresses, open ports, and active services. This allows the scanner to know what parts of the system to check for vulnerabilities.
  4. CVE Matching
    Once the discovery process is complete, the scanner compares the system’s configuration and software versions against known CVEs. It checks installed software, services, and configurations for specific vulnerabilities. This step often includes analyzing software versions, looking for outdated patches, or identifying misconfigurations that may expose a system to known vulnerabilities.
  5. Severity and Scoring
    Each CVE has an associated CVSS score (Common Vulnerability Scoring System), which rates the severity of the vulnerability from 0 (low) to 10 (critical). The scanner not only detects whether a vulnerability exists but also classifies its severity. This helps system administrators prioritize which vulnerabilities to address first. In addition to CVSS scores, some scanners incorporate EPSS scores (Exploit Prediction Scoring System), which estimate the likelihood of a vulnerability being exploited in the real world. This further refines prioritization by focusing on vulnerabilities that pose an immediate threat
  6. Reporting and Analysis
    Once the scan is complete, the scanner generates a report detailing: Detected vulnerabilities (CVE identifiers). Severity of each vulnerability. Possible exploit methods. Recommendations for fixing or mitigating the vulnerabilities. Security teams can then use this report to prioritize their efforts, focusing first on critical vulnerabilities that are most likely to be exploited.
  7. Remediation and Rescanning
    After the vulnerabilities are identified, the next step is remediation. This typically involves applying patches, updating software, or reconfiguring systems to eliminate the identified risks. Once fixes are implemented, a follow-up scan (rescan) is conducted to ensure that the vulnerabilities have been successfully resolved.