In today’s IT landscape, organizations face a relentless range of cyber threats. To counter these, vulnerability management has become a cornerstone of good cybersecurity management. However, despite significant investments in tools and personnel, many businesses still struggle to protect their systems effectively, with countless examples of unpatched systems becoming a key stepping stone in any breach for an attacker. It leads us to the question: Is vulnerability management broken?
Looking at how this is managed in a modern environment, we have identified 6 key areas where there are potential problems.
The Volume Problem
One of the primary challenges in vulnerability management is the sheer volume of vulnerabilities that organizations must contend with. The growth rate in the number of CVE’s discovered has been accelerating. Last year alone saw over 20% increase in the amount discovered, and this year (24) on track for a new record. This flood of potential threats overwhelms security teams, making it difficult to prioritize and address them all effectively. The result is a constant game of catch-up, with critical vulnerabilities often slipping through the cracks.
Ineffective Prioritization- The Attacker gets a say
The concept of vulnerability prioritization was introduced to manage the overwhelming number of vulnerabilities that organizations face. By focusing on the most critical threats, it was intended to make the best use of limited resources and provide a strategic approach to vulnerability management. Traditional methods often rely on scoring systems like the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), which rates the severity of vulnerabilities on a scale from 0 to 10.
However, prioritization is not a panacea for the problem and in many ways is ignoring how an attacker operates. Attackers may be looking to make use of a particular exploit as it comes out (an opportunistic attacker). But Attackers also run their own scans when they gain access to your network, and can quickly identify what hasn’t been patched, and a potential opening. Buying an exploit on the dark web is a fairly easy way to exploit an organisation if you have access and an identified unpatched exploit to use. A skilled attacker will tend to adopt the Bruce Lee mantra of “Be like water”.
Patch Gap Woes
Timely patching of vulnerabilities is essential, but it remains a significant challenge. We have written many times about the patch gap here at Innoculator, and even have some videos on this problem. Most organizations experience a considerable delay between the release of a patch and its deployment (over 80 days). This gap provides a window of opportunity for attackers to exploit known vulnerabilities. Factors contributing to delayed patching include resource constraints, fear of operational disruptions, and the complexity of modern IT environments.
Resource Constraints
Speaking of resources, both human and financial constraints are common roadblocks in vulnerability management. Many organizations lack the necessary budget and skilled personnel to manage vulnerabilities effectively. This scarcity of resources leads to a reactive approach, where security teams are constantly firefighting rather than proactively addressing vulnerabilities.
Complexity of Modern IT Environments
The complexity of modern IT environments adds another layer of difficulty. With the proliferation of cloud services, IoT devices, and remote work, the attack surface has expanded dramatically. Traditional vulnerability management tools often struggle to provide comprehensive coverage in these diverse environments, leaving security gaps.
Organizational Silos
Outdated organizational structures can create silos between different teams, such as DevOps and security teams. This lack of collaboration leads to inefficiencies and miscommunications, hindering the vulnerability management process. Breaking down these silos and fostering a culture of security collaboration is essential for effective vulnerability management.
The only conclusion possible
So, is vulnerability management broken? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. The current state of vulnerability management is fraught with challenges that hinder its effectiveness. However, this doesn’t mean all hope is lost. By adopting a more holistic approach that includes better prioritization, automated solutions, continuous monitoring, and fostering a culture of collaboration, organizations can begin to address these issues. It’s time for a paradigm shift in vulnerability management to keep pace with the evolving threat landscape. This is why we are developing Innoculator.
