Can the adoption of Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange (VEX) transform the world of software security?

It's truly remarkable to see industry players, such as Red Hat, embracing the Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange standard and releasing their security vulnerability data in VEX format. This demonstrates that vendors acknowledge the value of VEX in enhancing product security.

For context, Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange (VEX) is a machine artifact designed to provide information about the exploitability of vulnerabilities in software products. Vendors typically create VEX documents. They can also originate from sources like security researchers or open source communities.

Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange (VEX) is a data format that enables vendors to assess how specific vulnerabilities impact their products and components. Compared to standards like OVAL, VEX provides comprehensive and timely information about exploitability.

This allows vendors to prioritize their efforts in fixing vulnerabilities and improving the security of their products.

Within these VEX documents, you'll find details including;

• Specifics about the product, such as its name, version, and vendor
• Information on vulnerabilities like CVE identifier, severity level, and description
• Details on exploitability indicating whether the vulnerability can be exploited within the product context

Moreover, VEX introduces a method to communicate the status of vulnerability fixes, which can evolve as vendors release patches and updates. VEX profiles cover states of vulnerability remediation like;

• Resolved: The vulnerability has been addressed in the product and its components, and a security advisory is available.
• Known Affected: The vulnerability impacts the product and components but does not yet have a fix.
• Known Not Affected: The product and its components are not affected by the vulnerability.
• Under Investigation: The vendor is evaluating the relevance and impact of the vulnerability on the product and components.

In essence, VEX proves to be an efficient tool for enhancing software security. It helps vendors prioritize their efforts in fixing vulnerabilities, provides information about exploitability to customers, and streamlines vulnerability management through automation.

Let's imagine a scenario that demonstrates how VEX can enhance software security;

Picture a vendor who receives a notification about a vulnerability in a component used within their product. After investigating, they confirm that it can be exploited and promptly release a patch. They update their VEX profile to indicate it has been "Resolved". Customers using the product can consult the VEX profile to check if their system is impacted and whether a patch is available. This way, they can protect their systems from exploitation.

Although VEX is still a work in progress, its potential contribution to enhancing software security is significant. VEX documents are machine-readable reports that unify vulnerability information and streamline vulnerability management from discovery to remediation.