Data explorer

CISA KEV and CISA : Safeguarding
the Digital Frontier

Explore the data behind the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in safeguarding the digital landscape identifying exploits and vulnerabilities used in ransomware. Dive deep into the intricacies of the KEV catalog, understand the vast realm of vulnerabilities, and discover how CISA’s proactive and comprehensive approach ensures that the nation remains a step ahead in the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. From specific case studies to general threat categorizations, this article offers a holistic view of the cyber defense strategies championed by CISA.

What is CISA?

CISA works with partners to defend against today’s threats and collaborate to build a more secure and resilient infrastructure for the future.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, commonly known as CISA, stands as a pillar of the U.S. government’s efforts to bolster national cyber and physical infrastructure. CISA and CISA KEV can be used to prioritize vulnerabilities and provide a reputable source of verified exploits. CISA was established to defend against the increasing cyber threats, CISA has become synonymous with resilience, protection, and digital integrity.

CIS, CISA KEV, Application Security, Vulnerability management

Understanding the CISA KEV Catalog

CIS, CISA KEV, Application Security, Vulnerability management

Cataloging Known Exploits:

The CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog is a testament to CISA’s proactive approach. It is a consolidated repository detailing vulnerabilities that have been frequently exploited. This invaluable resource aids organizations in prioritizing their defense measures against high-risk threats. Explore more in depth analysis here 

The KEV Edge and Top Vulnerabilities

By highlighting known exploited vulnerabilities, CISA’s KEV catalog empowers businesses, institutions, and government agencies with actionable intelligence, directing their focus to vulnerabilities that are not just potential threats but actual, documented points of exploitation. Boost your vulnerability management and application security program with Phoenix Security CISA-KEV Integration

CISA also publish a publication (Top Routinely Exploited Vulnerabilities) that helps identifying the vendor and product routinely explotied.

The Function & Significance of CISA

Beyond Just Cybersecurity:
CISA’s function extends beyond mere cybersecurity. While its primary mission is safeguarding the nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber threats, it also delves into risk management, infrastructure resilience, and capacity building, shaping a cohesive defense strategy against both digital and physical threats.

Phoenix security can measure patterns and alignment with OWASP top 10

CISA Has also recently started publishing wich data can be linked to ransomware to boost your vulnerability management and application security program. See here how EPSS and CISA KEV can streamline vulnerability management programs 

CIS, CISA KEV, Application Security, Vulnerability management

Vulnerabilities & Threat Landscape

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CISA KEV Vulnerability:

CISA KEV was enstablished in 2021 and started providing an invlauable source of vulnerable data.
The team at CISA Publish exploits that are verified, have known patches.
Accelerate your application security and vulnerability management program identifying which vulnerability is exploited in the wild (epss) and what library or host might have a vulnerability that is explotiable

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Types of Vulnerabilities:

CISA monitors vulnerabilities of all type from Physical, Technical, Organizational, and Human.
CISA Monitors also which vulnerabilities are used in ransomware (see related diagrams)
Streamline your application security and vulnerability management program leveraging what vulnerability has an available fix.

Top 10 and top 30 Vulnerabilities and Vendor in CISA KEV:

CISA, through its KEV catalog and other resources, often emphasizes certain vulnerabilities that are deemed high-risk due to their exploitation and being targeted by national state.
CISA other than KEV publish other element related to exploit used in ransomware and exploits used at scale and frequently in their Top exploited vulnerabilities

Demystifying KEV Vulnerabilities

KEV: A Closer Look

KEV vulnerabilities, as highlighted by CISA, stand out due to their known exploitation in the wild. They represent the actual battlefront of the cyber world, where hypothetical risks translate into tangible threats. By emphasizing these vulnerabilities, CISA ensures that the cyber community remains a step ahead, preparing and defending against real-world cyberattacks.

Accelerate your application security and vulnerability management program by identifying which assets are affected by top exploited vulnerabilities and CISA KEV 

CIS, CISA KEV, Application Security, Vulnerability management

Analyzing CISA KEV Through Data Visualization:

Unlocking Vulnerability Management with CISA KEV: CISA KEV, through interactive data visualizations such as CISA KEV Bubble and Market Cap, empowers organizations to pinpoint vulnerabilities that pose significant risks.

Harnessing the power of data visualization, this section transforms raw statistics into compelling visuals, making complex vulnerabilities both accessible and comprehensible. Through vivid charts, graphs, and infographics, witness the prevalence, impact, and evolution of these cyber risks, offering insights pivotal for every organization’s cybersecurity strategy

CISA, Top Exploitable Vulnerabilities, 2022, Vulnerability management, CVE, EPSS, Top 2022 Exploitable Vulnerabilities, exploits, exploit
CISA, CISA KEV, CVE, EPSS, Top 2022 Exploitable Vulnerabilities, exploits, exploit ransomware cwe

CISA KEV Data Explorer

The CISA KEV (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Key Executive Vital Information Program) is a key asset for vulnerability management and application security. It specializes in identifying vulnerabilities with a high likelihood of being exploited. Utilizing metrics like the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), CISA KEV helps organizations prioritize vulnerabilities that require immediate attention. The platform's data visualization features offer a quick, yet comprehensive, view of the exploit landscape, aiding in effective decision-making. For application security, the KEV catalogue cross-references its data with other datasets, providing a multi-dimensional perspective on software vulnerabilities. This enables security teams to focus on fortifying applications against the most probable exploits. In essence, CISA KEV serves as a centralized hub for exploit identification, streamlining vulnerability management and bolstering application security by pinpointing vulnerabilities most likely to be exploited.

CISA, CISA KEV, CVE, EPSS, Top 2022 Exploitable Vulnerabilities, exploits, exploit ransomware cwe

CISA KEV Composition analysis via Sankey Chart

The CISA KEV catalogue is a cornerstone for vulnerability management and application security, offering a rich dataset for exploratory analysis. This analysis is pivotal in identifying the methods of attacks, such as phishing, malware injection, and ransomware exploits. By leveraging metrics like the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), the catalogue helps in pinpointing vulnerabilities that are prime targets for specific attack methods. The exploratory analysis allows security professionals to dissect the anatomy of these attacks, providing actionable insights for preemptive measures. For application security, understanding the method of attacks in the CISA KEV catalogue aids in fortifying software against the most probable exploits. In summary, CISA KEV’s exploratory analysis capabilities serve as a strategic tool for identifying the vulnerabilities most susceptible to specific methods of attacks, thereby enhancing both vulnerability management and application security.

VULNCHECK KEV DATA EXPLORER

VULNCHECK KEV Data Explorer

The VULNCHECK KEV is a an alternative and key asset for vulnerability management and application security. It specializes in identifying vulnerabilities with a high likelihood of being exploited. Utilizing metrics like the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), VULNCHECK KEV helps organizations prioritize vulnerabilities that require immediate attention. The platform's data visualization features offer a quick, yet comprehensive, view of the exploit landscape, aiding in effective decision-making. For application security, the VULNCHECK KEV catalogue cross-references its data with other datasets, providing a multi-dimensional perspective on software vulnerabilities. This enables security teams to focus on fortifying applications against the most probable exploits. In essence, VULNCHECK KEV serves as a centralized hub for exploit identification, streamlining vulnerability management and bolstering application security by pinpointing vulnerabilities most likely to be exploited.

cisa top exploited vulenrabilities CISA KEV vulnerabilities used in ransomware for vulnerability management and application security program

CISA top Exploited Vulnerabilities

The CISA KEV catalogue is a critical tool for vulnerability management and application security, particularly when it comes to identifying the top exploited vulnerabilities over the years. By aggregating and analyzing historical data, CISA KEV provides a "Top Exploit Report," which outlines the vulnerabilities most frequently targeted. This report is invaluable for organizations, as it highlights not only the vulnerabilities but also the sectors and organizations that have been most exploited. For vulnerability management, this data helps prioritize which vulnerabilities to patch first, based on historical exploit trends. In the realm of application security, understanding the top exploited vulnerabilities informs better coding practices to mitigate these high-risk areas. In summary, CISA KEV's focus on top exploited vulnerabilities and targeted organizations over the years offers a strategic advantage in tailoring more effective and focused security measures. Phoenix Security can help identifying which vulnerability is in cisa kev and used in ransomware campaigns

CISA KEv vulnerabilities used in ransomware for vulnerability management and application security program

CISA and Vulnerabilities used in ransomware

The CISA KEV catalogue has evolved to become a crucial resource for vulnerability management and application security, especially with its Ransomware Vulnerability Warning Pilot. This feature identifies vulnerabilities that are commonly associated with known ransomware campaigns. By comparing this data with the CVE database, organizations can gain a historical perspective on the most exploited vulnerabilities over the years. This is invaluable for vulnerability management, as it helps prioritize patching efforts for vulnerabilities known to be used in ransomware attacks. In the realm of application security, this information guides coding practices to mitigate the risk of ransomware exploits. The catalogue even includes a specific column titled "known to be used in ransomware campaigns," providing immediate insights into the vulnerabilities most likely to be exploited. This collaboration between cisa and known ransom used in the campaign. Phoenix Security can help identifying which vulnerability is in cisa kev and used in ransomware campaigns

CISA KEV Data explorer CWE

CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) and CISA KEV (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Key Executive Vital Information Program) are linked through their shared mission of enhancing cybersecurity resilience. The application of intelligence can help in your application security program and vulnerability management. CWE offers a comprehensive framework for identifying and categorizing software vulnerabilities and weaknesses, serving as a foundational resource for understanding security risks. CISA KEV, on the other hand, focuses on providing key executives with critical cybersecurity information. The relationship between these two lies in the mapping of CWE entries to vulnerabilities that may impact the vital information and security of key executives. This mapping ensures that CISA KEV participants have access to vital insights about software weaknesses that could pose significant security risks, allowing for informed decision-making and proactive mitigation strategies.

CISA KEV and top organization Market Cap

The CISA KEV catalogue and the NVD serve as indispensable tools for vulnerability management and application security. One intriguing aspect is the correlation between the top exploited vulnerabilities and the market cap of targeted organizations. High-market-cap organizations often become prime targets for exploits, given their valuable data and extensive digital footprint. Both CISA KEV and NVD provide historical and real-time data on vulnerabilities, allowing for a nuanced analysis of which exploits are most commonly aimed at large-cap companies. For vulnerability management, this correlation helps prioritize patching and security measures based on not just the severity of the vulnerability but also the organization's market cap. In the realm of application security, understanding this correlation informs coding practices to mitigate risks that are statistically more likely to impact larger organizations.

More details on CISA KEV

Dive into the world of vulnerability exploitability with insights from CISA KEV, enhanced by powerful data visualizations and a deep dive into dominant vendors.
Francesco Cipollone
With cyber threats growing in sophistication, understanding exploitability has become crucial for security teams to prioritize vulnerabilities effectively. This article explores the key factors that influence the likelihood of exploits in the wild, including attack vectors, complexity levels, privileges required, and more. You’ll learn how predictive scoring systems like EPSS are bringing added dimensions to vulnerability analysis, going beyond static scores. We discuss the importance of monitoring verified threat feeds and exploiting trends from reliable sources, instead of getting distracted by unverified claims and noise. Adopting a risk-based approach to prioritization is emphasized, where critical vulnerabilities are addressed not just based on CVSS severity, but also their likelihood of being exploited and potential business impact. Recent major exploits like Log4Shell are highlighted to stress the need for proactive security. Equipped with the insights from this guide, you’ll be able to implement a strategic, data-backed approach to focusing on the most pertinent risks over the barrage of vulnerabilities.
Francesco Cipollone

Welcome to Peace of Mind

Trusted by more than 1000 users and 380 organizations

Derek Fisher

Head of product security at a global fintech

Derek Fisher – Head of product security at a global fintech. Speaker, instructor, and author in application security.

Derek is an award winning author of a children’s book series in cybersecurity as well as the author of “The Application Security Handbook.” He is a university instructor at Temple University where he teaches software development security to undergraduate and graduate students. He is a speaker on topics in the cybersecurity space and has led teams, large and small, at organizations in the healthcare and financial industries. He has built and matured information security teams as well as implemented organizational information security strategies to reduce the organizations risk.

Derek got his start in the hardware engineering space where he learned about designing circuits and building assemblies for commercial and military applications. He later pursued a computer science degree in order to advance a career in software development. This is where Derek was introduced to cybersecurity and soon caught the bug. He found a mentor to help him grow in cybersecurity and then pursued a graduate degree in the subject.

Since then Derek has worked in the product security space as an architect and leader. He has led teams to deliver more secure software in organizations from multiple industries. His focus has been to raise the security awareness of the engineering organization while maintaining a practice of secure code development, delivery, and operations.

In his role, Jeevan handles a range of tasks, from architecting security solutions to collaborating with Engineering Leadership to address security vulnerabilities at scale and embed security into the fabric of the organization.

Jeevan Singh

Founder of Manicode Security

Jeevan Singh is the Director of Security Engineering at Rippling, with a background spanning various Engineering and Security leadership roles over the course of his career. He’s dedicated to the integration of security practices into software development, working to create a security-aware culture within organizations and imparting security best practices to the team.
In his role, Jeevan handles a range of tasks, from architecting security solutions to collaborating with Engineering Leadership to address security vulnerabilities at scale and embed security into the fabric of the organization.

James Berthoty

Founder of Latio Tech

James Berthoty has over ten years of experience across product and security domains. He founded Latio Tech to help companies find the right security tools for their needs without vendor bias.

Christophe Parisel

Senior Cloud Security Architect

Senior Cloud Security Architect

Chris Romeo

Co-Founder
Security Journey

Chris Romeo is a leading voice and thinker in application security, threat modeling, and security champions and the CEO of Devici and General Partner at Kerr Ventures. Chris hosts the award-winning “Application Security Podcast,” “The Security Table,” and “The Threat Modeling Podcast” and is a highly rated industry speaker and trainer, featured at the RSA Conference, the AppSec Village @ DefCon, OWASP Global AppSec, ISC2 Security Congress, InfoSec World and All Day DevOps. Chris founded Security Journey, a security education company, leading to an exit in 2022. Chris was the Chief Security Advocate at Cisco, spreading security knowledge through education and champion programs. Chris has twenty-six years of security experience, holding positions across the gamut, including application security, security engineering, incident response, and various Executive roles. Chris holds the CISSP and CSSLP certifications.

Jim Manico

Founder of Manicode Security

Jim Manico is the founder of Manicode Security, where he trains software developers on secure coding and security engineering. Jim is also the founder of Brakeman Security, Inc. and an investor/advisor for Signal Sciences. He is the author of Iron-Clad Java: Building Secure Web Applications (McGraw-Hill), a frequent speaker on secure software practices, and a member of the JavaOne Rockstar speaker community. Jim is also a volunteer for and former board member of the OWASP foundation.

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