The Evolution of EPSS in Vulnerability Management

The Evolution of EPSS in Vulnerability Management

Over the years, vulnerability management has evolved from basic patch management to a more strategic, risk-based approach. Initially, the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) was the standard for quantifying vulnerability severity, but it lacked context on actual exploitability. This led to the development of the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), which was first introduced in 2020 by the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST). Unlike CVSS, which focuses solely on the severity of vulnerabilities, EPSS assesses the probability of a vulnerability being exploited in the wild, providing scores from 0 to 1.

Recent Importance of EPSS:

In recent times, as cyber threats have grown more sophisticated, the need for predictive insights has surged. EPSS offers a data-driven method to prioritize which vulnerabilities need immediate attention, based on real-world exploit data, making it indispensable for efficient cybersecurity resource allocation. Its adoption has been spurred by the recognition that not all high-severity vulnerabilities are equally likely to be exploited, thus guiding more focused remediation efforts.

I suggest the readers of this article to take some time in reading detailed technical briefings from here https://riskbasedprioritization.github.io/ and if interested, join and contribute to the community here https://portal.first.org/g/epss-sig

Adoption by Cybersecurity Vendors:

Several cyber technology product vendors have integrated the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) into their offerings to enhance vulnerability management and risk prioritization. While a comprehensive list of all vendors might be extensive, here are some notable examples:

• Qualys: Qualys integrates EPSS scores into its vulnerability management platform, providing users with a comprehensive view of vulnerability severity and exploitability.
• Tenable: Tenable's vulnerability management platform leverages EPSS scores to assist security teams in prioritizing remediation efforts.
• Kenna (now Cisco): Kenna's vulnerability management platform integrates EPSS to provide actionable insights for vulnerability prioritization and remediation.
• Vulan: EPSS is showing promising results when it comes to threat intelligence, but there are some caveats - blog from Vulcancyber
• Claroty - It's exposure management offering automatically prioritizes vulnerabilities based on exploitation likelihood by utilizing the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and the EPSS.
• ServiceNow - The Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) integration imports EPSS data related to common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) from First.org to prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities.
• Prisma Cloud now supports EPSS in the Vulnerability Management Dashboard, Search and Investigate Graph, and Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE)
• Balbix helps organizations enhance vulnerability management by combining predictive analytics like EPSS with a comprehensive understanding of asset value, exposure, and impact.

This list is not exhaustive, and other vendors may also offer EPSS integration in their products. It's advisable to check with specific vendors or consult industry resources to obtain the most up-to-date information on EPSS adoption in cyber technology products.

Strategies for Implementation:

Cyber leaders should consider:

• Integration with Existing Tools: Incorporate EPSS scores into current vulnerability management systems to enhance prioritization.
• Training: Educate teams on interpreting and acting on EPSS scores alongside traditional metrics like CVSS.
• Continuous Monitoring: Regularly update vulnerability management policies to reflect the dynamic nature of EPSS scores.
• Risk-Based Approach: Use EPSS to build a risk-based remediation strategy that focuses on exploit likelihood rather than just severity.

Value and Outcomes:

Implementing EPSS can lead to:

• More Efficient Resource Use: By focusing on vulnerabilities with high exploit probability, organizations can optimize their security efforts.
• Reduced Risk Exposure: Prioritizing high-risk vulnerabilities decreases the window of opportunity for attackers.
• Enhanced Decision-Making: Provides cybersecurity teams with a clear, actionable metric for vulnerability prioritization, potentially reducing the time to patch critical vulnerabilities.

By leveraging EPSS, companies not only streamline their cybersecurity operations but also significantly enhance their defensive posture against cyber threats in an increasingly complex digital landscape.