CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System)

CVSS stands for Common Vulnerability Scoring System, an open standard widely adopted in the cybersecurity industry to assess and communicate the severity of security vulnerabilities in computer systems. This system is vendor-agnostic, meaning it is designed to be universally applicable across all types of software and hardware, regardless of the manufacturer.

The CVSS provides a standardized framework for rating the severity of vulnerabilities based on several metrics that reflect their potential impact and exploitability. These metrics include aspects like the complexity required to exploit the vulnerability, the level of privileges an attacker must possess before successfully exploiting it, the scope of impact on the system, and more. Each vulnerability is scored on a scale from 0 to 10, with 10 representing the most severe vulnerabilities.

This scoring system helps organizations prioritize their security response and remediation efforts based on the severity of vulnerabilities. By quantifying the risk associated with a vulnerability, IT professionals can better determine the urgency of addressing specific issues, thus enhancing the overall security posture of their systems. The CVSS scores are widely used in security advisories and vulnerability databases, providing a crucial tool for security management and risk assessment processes. For more detailed guidance on applying CVSS in practical scenarios, organizations often refer to resources like the ASV (Approved Scanning Vendors) Program Guide.