Unified Vulnerability Scoring via Covariate Vectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing and prioritizing application vulnerabilities lack consistency and accuracy, leading to discrepancies in risk measurement and inefficient resource allocation for mitigation.
Innovation Solution
A method that ingests data from multiple sources, transforms it into covariate vectors, extracts keywords, statistically measures relevance, and uses statistical classification models to generate threat levels for application vulnerabilities, enabling effective prioritization and mitigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple vulnerability scoring systems (CVSS, CWE) are used to quantify risk, then more comprehensive vulnerability assessment is achieved, but terminology discrepancies and inconsistency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple vulnerability scoring systems (CVSS, CWE, and other taxonomies) into a unified machine learning model that processes diverse input features from different scoring systems. The model merges these heterogeneous data sources to generate a single, consistent risk score, eliminating terminology discrepancies while preserving the comprehensive assessment capabilities of individual systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal vulnerability scoring framework that can handle multiple input formats and scoring systems through a single machine learning model. This multi-functional system accepts diverse vulnerability data (CVSS scores, CWE classifications, exploit availability, patch status) and produces standardized risk assessments, making the system adaptable to various vulnerability types and scoring methodologies.
2Measurement precision
If manual review of vulnerability results is performed to ensure accuracy, then scoring precision is improved, but processing time and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service vulnerability assessment system where the machine learning model automatically processes vulnerability data, generates risk scores, and prioritizes findings without requiring manual analyst intervention. The model trains on historical vulnerability data and autonomously applies learned patterns to new vulnerabilities, maintaining high accuracy while eliminating time-consuming manual review processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual vulnerability review with an automated machine learning system. Instead of human analysts manually evaluating each vulnerability, the system uses trained algorithms to automatically assess risk, prioritize findings, and generate remediation recommendations, dramatically reducing assessment time while maintaining or improving accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive vulnerability data from multiple sources is collected, then assessment accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms diverse vulnerability data from multiple sources into standardized numerical features suitable for machine learning processing. The system converts qualitative information (vulnerability descriptions, exploit availability, patch status) into quantitative parameters that can be processed by the model, simplifying the handling of comprehensive data while maintaining assessment accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment includes a method of application vulnerability assessment and prioritization. The method includes ingesting modelling data from data sources for application vulnerabilities. The method includes transforming at least a portion of the modelling data to covariate vectors. The method includes extracting keywords and phrases from the modelling data and statistically measuring relevance of files of the modelling data based on the extracted keywords and phrases. The method includes generating threat levels of the application vulnerabilities based on the covariate vectors and the measured relevance. The method includes outputting the threat levels to a network management system. The method includes implementing, at a first endpoint device of the network, a first patch to address one of the application vulnerabilities.


