Adaptive Vulnerability Prioritization Using Environmental Scoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cybersecurity solutions are inadequate in prioritizing and remediating security vulnerabilities in computer networks, as they rely solely on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) scores without considering environment-specific factors, leading to overwhelming numbers of vulnerabilities and potential critical ones being left unresolved.
Innovation Solution
A cybersecurity solution that uses adaptive scoring by incorporating environmentally-dependent factors such as network connectivity, criticality, confidentiality, integrity, availability, and urgency, alongside CVSS scores, to prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities based on a calculated prioritization score.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If CVSS scores alone are used to prioritize vulnerabilities, then the prioritization process is simple and fast, but the accuracy and relevance to specific network environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the single CVSS score parameter into a multi-parameter scoring system that includes environmental factors (network connectivity, criticality, confidentiality, integrity, availability, urgency). This parameter expansion allows the system to adapt vulnerability prioritization to specific network environments, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and accuracy by making the system configurable rather than fundamentally complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The vulnerability scoring system is segmented into distinct components: base CVSS score, environmental factors, and weighted prioritization score. Each component serves a specific function and can be independently configured. This segmentation allows organizations to adjust the weight of different factors based on their specific needs without redesigning the entire system, maintaining ease of use while improving accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If environmental factors are incorporated into vulnerability scoring, then the relevance to specific network environments improves, but the computational complexity and processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining environmental factors and their weightings before vulnerability assessment begins. Organizations can configure their specific environmental context ahead of time, so when vulnerabilities are discovered, the system can quickly apply the pre-established scoring model without needing to analyze environmental factors in real-time, thus reducing assessment time while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The environmental factor framework is designed as a universal model that can be applied across different network environments and vulnerability types. The same six environmental factors (network connectivity, criticality, confidentiality, integrity, availability, urgency) serve multiple purposes and can be configured with different weightings to suit various organizational needs, reducing the need for environment-specific customization and speeding up assessment.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive environmental factors are analyzed, then the prioritization accuracy improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service operation by automatically collecting environmental factor data and calculating prioritization scores without requiring manual intervention. The vulnerability management platform integrates with existing infrastructure to gather information about network connectivity, asset criticality, and other environmental factors, then automatically applies the scoring model and generates prioritized vulnerability lists, making the comprehensive assessment process as simple as initiating a scan.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between vulnerability detection and remediation that automatically processes environmental factors and calculates prioritization scores. This intermediary scoring system acts as a mediator that translates complex environmental data into actionable prioritization recommendations, shielding operators from the complexity of analyzing multiple environmental factors while maintaining high accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, a method, and a computer program for remediating a vulnerability on a computing resource asset located in a computer network that has a plurality of other computing resource assets each having at last one vulnerability, where a Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score is determined for the vulnerability. Vulnerability scanning results data corresponding to the computing resource asset can be analyzed and an environmental factor weighting score value determined for each of a plurality of environmentally-dependent factors. The environmental factor weighting score values and CVSS score can be aggregated and an adjusted environmental factor weighting score aggregate value generated. A prioritization score value for the vulnerability on the computing resource asset can be determined based on the adjusted environmental factor weighting score aggregate value and the vulnerability remediated on each of the computing resource assets according to the prioritization score value.