Security risks are often exploited to install malware, gain access to sensitive data, or run malicious code on a target system. Exposure is a security threat that provides attackers with access to systems and networks on the inside. A centralized database of publicly known vulnerabilities is the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE).
What is CVE?
To standardize the identification of known cyber threats, there is a catalog known as Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE). There are standardized names and CVE identifiers assigned to all potential threats included in the database. Information about CVEs provides valuable insight into designing a comprehensive security policy and creating periodic security reports.
Examples of CVE
- POODLE
POODLE (Padding Oracle on Deprecated Legacy Encryption) affects SSL 3.0 systems that use CBC ciphers and support HTTP 3.0. A hacker can eavesdrop on encrypted communications in such systems. Hackers can access cookies, passwords, and other sensitive information contained within encrypted packets. It has a low severity rating CVSS score of 3.4.
- Dirty Cow
CVE-2016-5195, or Dirty Copy-On-Write, affects every version of the Linux kernel from 2. x to 4.8. This vulnerability enables software to write into read-only files. An attacker can take advantage of this vulnerability to escalate privileges and access system memory. Due to its complete information disclosure, the vulnerability has a high CVSS score (7.8).
- Log4j CVE
Log4j is an open-source Java tool for logging information to assist in the debugging of applications. Several vulnerabilities have been discovered by security researchers and vulnerability researchers. This security flaw has a CVSS score of 8.8 due to the serious consequences of such attacks.
- Proxylogon
In Proxylogon, an attacker bypasses authentication systems on the Microsoft Exchange server and masquerades as an administrator to carry out the attack. This flaw allows malicious actors access to mailboxes, stored credentials, and sensitive files on the affected exchange server, which can be exploited in chain attacks.
Using Proxylogon, hackers can execute code remotely without logging or authenticating to the server, allowing them to execute code remotely. CVSS score of 9.8 reflects the critical nature of the vulnerability.
The aim of the CVE database
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, administers the CVE database. It contains a centralized list of publicly known security issues as well as severity and impact ratings. It is possible to cross-reference other vulnerability databases for technical information, including impact details and mitigation plans.
Frequently Asked Question
What is the source of CVE details?
Identifying and publishing cybersecurity vulnerabilities is the responsibility of a CVE Numbering Authority (CNA), a nonprofit organization. IBM Corporation and Adobe Systems are some prominent CVE numbering authorities.
How are CVE and CVSS different?
Known flaws and exposures in software systems are listed in the CVE database, which is created by the community. The CVSS, meanwhile, gives each CVE entry a numerical score to determine the degree of severity.
