National Vulnerability Database (NVD) (2024)

FAQs

What is the NVD national vulnerability database? ›

The NVD is the U.S. government repository of standards based vulnerability management data represented using the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP).

Defining CVSS, CVE and NVD

CVE – Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) is a list of publicly disclosed vulnerabilities and exposures that is maintained by MITRE. NVD – The National Vulnerability Database (NVD) is a database, maintained by NIST, that is fully synchronized with the MITRE CVE list.

The NVD serves as the U.S. government repository of publicly disclosed cybersecurity vulnerabilities. NIST maintains the database to enable improved security in both government and commercial applications.

1. National Vulnerability Database. NVD is the U.S. government repository of standards-based vulnerability management data represented using the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP). This data enables the automation of vulnerability management, security measurement, and compliance.

The NVD is a product of the NIST Computer Security Division, Information Technology Laboratory.

Who maintains the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)? The NVD is maintained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

You would use the CVE list when you need to reference a specific vulnerability by its unique ID or when simply identifying vulnerabilities. On the other hand, you would use the NVD when you require a deeper analysis of the vulnerabilities, including their impact and how they can be mitigated.

NVD is updated on an hourly basis on normal United States Government business days. We do not update the database on weekends and on United States Government holidays."

The compliance process

The NIST CSF is designed as a guide, whereas ISO 27001 is designed as a standard. The difference here is that NIST CSF serves as an instruction manual and ISO 27001 is more of a test that requires certain measures to pass. In the NIST CSF, there is no certification or audit process.

On which is the national vulnerability database primarily built open? ›

The National Vulnerability Database (NVD) (National Vulnerability Database (NVD), 2022) is one of the influential vulnerability databases. It was created based on the list of Common Vulnerability and Exposures (CVE) (CVE, 2022) entries.

Provides standard DoD-wide methodology for assessing DoD contractor implementation of the security requirements in NIST SP 800-171. Directs development of a standard methodology to recognize industry cybersecurity readiness at a strategic level.

Major vulnerability databases such as the ISS X-Force database, Symantec / SecurityFocus BID database, and the Open Source Vulnerability Database (OSVDB) aggregate a broad range of publicly disclosed vulnerabilities, including Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE).

CVE is designed to allow vulnerability databases and other tools to be linked together. It also facilitates comparisons between security tools and services. Check out the US National Vulnerability Database (NVD) that uses the CVE list identifiers and includes fix information, scoring and other information.

Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) is a publicly accessible database that identifies and catalogs known security vulnerabilities in software and hardware. Each vulnerability is assigned a unique ID, making it easier for organizations to share information, prioritize fixes, and protect their systems.

The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) provides an open framework for communicating the characteristics and impacts of IT vulnerabilities. The National Vulnerability Database (NVD) provides specific CVSS scores for publicly known vulnerabilities.

A Vulnerability Database is a collection of information about known security flaws in software, sourced from various entities like software vendors, researchers, and users. It focuses on identifying vulnerabilities in software applications, including misconfigurations that can lead to system compromise.