Reston, Virginia – The cybersecurity community faces a potential crisis as the federally funded organization MITRE warns of the imminent expiration of its contract to maintain the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) program. This program, crucial for identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities in software and hardware, is traditionally funded by the Department of Homeland Security every year. MITRE’s Vice President Yosry Barsoum highlighted the looming deadline of April 16, raising concerns about the future of the CVE program.
The CVE program assigns unique tracking numbers to tens of thousands of reported security flaws in software, providing a standardized way to catalog and address these vulnerabilities. With hundreds of authorized organizations responsible for assigning CVE numbers, MITRE plays a central role in maintaining a repository of critical information on software vulnerabilities. This information is essential for organizations to identify and patch security holes before potential threats exploit them.
The potential disruption to the CVE program raises significant concerns within the cybersecurity community. Matt Tait, Chief Operating Officer of Corellium, emphasized the vital role of CVE lists in assessing the severity of defects and providing essential information on vulnerable products that require updates. Without MITRE’s continued support, there could be detrimental impacts on national vulnerability databases, incident response operations, and overall critical infrastructure.
As the deadline approaches, the cybersecurity industry faces uncertainty about the future of the CVE program. MITRE’s warning about a possible break in service has prompted calls for urgent action to ensure the program’s continuity. Former CISA Director Jen Easterly likened the CVE program to the Dewey Decimal System for cybersecurity, underlining its importance in standardizing how vulnerabilities are categorized and communicated across the industry.
John Hammond, a principal security researcher at Huntress, expressed frustration and concern over the potential loss of the CVE program, highlighting its significance in fostering a common language and framework to address cybersecurity challenges. The disruption to the CVE program could lead to confusion and inefficiencies in addressing security vulnerabilities, ultimately leaving organizations vulnerable to cyber threats.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the CVE program’s funding, efforts are underway to secure MITRE’s continued involvement in supporting the program. The cybersecurity community remains hopeful that a resolution will be reached to prevent the CVE program from becoming obsolete and losing its effectiveness in identifying and addressing security risks. Without this critical resource, organizations may face heightened risks of cyber attacks due to delays in addressing vulnerabilities and updating susceptible software.
