FAQ

CVE identifiers are assigned by a U.S. non-profit organization called the MITRE Corporation, which manages the CVE program on behalf of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). MITRE does not assign all identifiers itself: it relies on a network of partners known as CNAs (CVE Numbering Authorities).

A CNA can be a software vendor, a security provider, a CERT, or an organization specializing in vulnerabilities. Each CNA is authorized to assign CVE identifiers for vulnerabilities discovered in its own products or scope. This system speeds up the disclosure process while maintaining a centralized structure via MITRE.

The CVE publication process usually starts with a vulnerability report submitted to a CNA or directly to MITRE. If the flaw is confirmed to be legitimate, a CVE identifier is reserved. At this stage, the CVE may remain "reserved" for some time, pending technical validation, agreement from involved parties, or availability of a fix.

Once all the information is verified, the CVE is made public through MITRE’s official website (cve.org) and other platforms such as the NVD (National Vulnerability Database) or CVE Find. It includes a short technical description, publication date, affected products, and sometimes references to patches or security advisories.

A CVE is simply a public declaration that a flaw exists in a given product, whereas an exploited vulnerability means that an attacker is actively using that flaw to compromise systems. In other words, not all CVEs are exploited in real-world conditions—some may remain theoretical or technical.

Conversely, a vulnerability can be exploited without yet having received a CVE—this is known as a zero-day. To assess the real danger of a CVE, one should consult additional information such as CISA’s KEV data or the EPSS score, which indicate whether the flaw is actively used in cyberattacks. This information is available directly on our CVEFind website.

CVEs play a central role in vulnerability management. They provide a common language for all cybersecurity stakeholders to track and document flaws, enabling prioritization of patches, automation of analysis, and structured threat monitoring. Without CVEs, each vendor or researcher might describe a flaw differently, making coordination difficult.

They are also used by vulnerability scanners, SIEMs, SOCs, and CISOs to establish incident response policies. Their global adoption ensures that flaws are identifiable and that defenses can be activated more quickly and in a coordinated manner.

No, the existence of a CVE does not guarantee that a fix is available. A CVE may be published before a vendor has developed a fix, or even in cases where no fix is planned (e.g., for obsolete or unsupported software). In such situations, users must implement workarounds or disable certain vulnerable features.

It is therefore essential not to rely solely on CVEs, but also to check vendor advisories and databases like the NVD or the KEV list, which may indicate whether a patch exists and when it is expected. Good risk management takes into account both the severity of the flaw and the availability of solutions.

No, CVEs do not only apply to software. They can also cover vulnerabilities in hardware, firmware, IoT components, operating systems, or even insecure default configurations. For example, flaws in routers, processors, or industrial equipment can also receive CVE identifiers.

This broad coverage allows for consideration of the various attack vectors in a modern information system. The key is that the vulnerability must be documented, confirmed, and publicly reported to be included in the CVE program. This enables security teams to assess risks across the entire infrastructure.

A CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) is a unique identifier assigned to a known vulnerability in an information system, software, or hardware. It allows a flaw to be named and tracked precisely, even when addressed by different vendors, tools, or databases. Each CVE follows the format CVE-year-number, such as CVE-2023-12345.

The purpose of CVEs is to standardize communication about security flaws: instead of using inconsistent descriptions, all stakeholders can refer to the same identifier. This makes coordination easier between researchers, software vendors, security teams, and solution providers.