Dynamic Vulnerability Exclusion Renewal Prioritization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vulnerability scan tools do not provide a risk awareness score for exclusion records or identify the priority for renewal, making it difficult to manage the increasing number of excluded vulnerability records effectively.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that determines vulnerability factors associated with exclusion records, generates vulnerability factor scores based on risk levels, and calculates a vulnerability score to prioritize renewal records dynamically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If vulnerability exclusion records are reviewed manually on a yearly basis, then comprehensive evaluation can be performed, but the process becomes increasingly difficult and time-consuming as the number of excluded records grows

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevaluation completenessVSAvoidreview time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs self-evaluation of exclusion records by computing risk scores based on vulnerability data, exclusion reasons, and system information without requiring manual human review for each record. The prioritization framework enables the system to serve itself by identifying which records need human attention and which can be automatically managed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary risk assessment and prioritization before human review, pre-calculating risk scores and ranking records so that human reviewers only need to focus on high-priority cases rather than evaluating all records from scratch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If all exclusion records are evaluated with equal priority, then simplicity is maintained, but critical vulnerabilities may be overlooked amidst the growing number of exclusions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidsecurity risk detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different exclusion records are assigned different priority levels and evaluation depths based on their specific risk characteristics. High-risk records receive intensive review while low-risk records undergo lighter evaluation, allowing the system to focus resources where they are most needed rather than treating all records uniformly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts evaluation parameters such as risk thresholds, review frequencies, and prioritization weights based on the specific characteristics of each exclusion record, including vulnerability type, system criticality, and exclusion reason, enabling differentiated handling of different risk scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If manual renewal processes are performed without prioritization, then human judgment can be applied, but the burden of managing increasing numbers of exclusion records becomes overwhelming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual process capabilityVSAvoidrenewal processing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The large set of exclusion records is segmented into priority groups based on risk scores, with high-priority records requiring immediate human attention and low-priority records that can be handled through automated processes or deferred review, dividing the overwhelming task into manageable segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The automated prioritization framework acts as an intermediary between the large volume of exclusion records and human reviewers, filtering and ranking records so that human judgment is applied selectively to the most critical cases rather than all records, thereby maintaining human oversight while improving overall efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12326941B2Dynamic prioritization of vulnerability exclusion renewals
Publication Date: 2025.06.10 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
  • US12326941B2 patent drawing
  • US12326941B2 patent drawing
  • US12326941B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for prioritizing exclusion renewal records is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes determining vulnerability factors associated with a vulnerability exclusion record. The computer-implemented method further includes generating a vulnerability factor score for each vulnerability factor associated with the vulnerability exclusion record based, at least in part, on a level of risk associated with the vulnerability factor. The computer-implemented method further includes generating a vulnerability score for the vulnerability exclusion record based, at least in part, on the vulnerability factor score for each vulnerability factor. The computer-implemented method further includes updating a previous vulnerability score of the vulnerability exclusion record.