The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) program is one of the most critical pillars of modern cybersecurity. Without it, organizations around the world would struggle to identify, track, and prioritize vulnerabilities in software and hardware. But as of April 16, 2025, this essential system is facing a major disruption: the expiration of MITRE’s federal contract to operate the CVE program. Here’s what’s happening—and why you should care.
What Is CVE and Why Is It So Important?
CVE, or Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures, is a standardized system for identifying and cataloging publicly known cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Each CVE entry provides a unique ID for a specific vulnerability, along with basic descriptive information and references. This system enables consistent, cross-vendor communication about security issues.
For example, when a new vulnerability is discovered in a product, assigning it a CVE ID allows organizations, vendors, and threat intelligence tools to refer to it uniformly. CVEs are embedded in:
- Vulnerability scanners (like Nessus, Qualys, and NeXpose)
- Security advisories from vendors (like Microsoft, Cisco)
- Patch management systems
- SIEMs and SOAR tools
- Threat intelligence platforms
Without CVEs, the industry would lack a shared language for tracking threats, leading to inefficiencies and confusion across the entire cyber security domain.
What Is the CVE Database, NVD, and How Do They Work Together?
The CVE database, often referred to as the CVE List, is the official catalog of all CVE identifiers. While CVEs themselves only contain basic information, they act as the anchor point for a broader vulnerability ecosystem.
The National Vulnerability Database (NVD)—maintained by NIST—extends CVE data by providing severity metrics (such as CVSS scores), impact vectors, fix references, and exploitation details. Many security products consume NVD data to enrich alerts and drive prioritization.
Together, CVE and NVD form the backbone of vulnerability management globally. Their data feeds into thousands of cybersecurity systems, shaping decisions from patch prioritization to security budgeting.
What Role Does MITRE Play in the CVE Program?
MITRE is a nonprofit organization that has operated the CVE program since its creation in 1999. Under a contract with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), MITRE manages:
- The CVE List
- A global network of CVE Numbering Authorities (CNAs)—including major software vendors and security firms
- Coordination of the CVE Board, which governs policies and procedures
- Related taxonomies like the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) and the ATT&CK framework
MITRE’s role has been instrumental in keeping the CVE program transparent, neutral, and reliable.
Why Is the CVE Program Now Under Threat?
On April 16, 2025, MITRE’s federal contract to operate the CVE program expired. While MITRE had been expecting a renewal or extension, the funding was delayed or canceled due to broader budget decisions made by the current U.S. administration.
Security journalists and industry analysts have linked the funding lapse to cost-cutting measures and reorganization within the federal cybersecurity strategy. The consequences of this disruption are severe:
- Risk of delayed CVE assignments
- Inconsistent vulnerability reporting across vendors
- Erosion of trust in public vulnerability databases
- Disruption of tools and workflows that depend on CVE IDs
A temporary extension was granted at the last minute by CISA, but it only postpones the underlying issue. The future of the CVE program now hangs in the balance.
How Is the Cybersecurity Community Responding?
Recognizing the danger of allowing CVE operations to be dictated by short-term politics, members of the CVE Board and cybersecurity leaders are taking action:
- A new CVE Foundation has been launched to ensure long-term governance, independence, and funding of the CVE program
- The open-source and security research communities are advocating for a more decentralized, resilient infrastructure for vulnerability tracking
- Vendors and security platforms are preparing fallback mechanisms in case CVE publishing is interrupted
This response mirrors what many experts have called for over the years: a globally distributed model for vulnerability management that doesn’t rely on a single point of failure.
What’s Next? Stay Tuned
At BSG, we understand the foundational role that CVEs play in red teaming, threat modeling, incident response, and security automation. Whether you’re a security researcher or a CISO, your daily decisions rely on trusted, standardized vulnerability data.
We’re closely monitoring the CVE situation and will:
- Update clients and partners about any major changes to CVE access or structure
- Ensure our tools and services remain compatible with future formats like CVE JSON 5.0
- Continue to advocate for transparent, community-driven vulnerability disclosure processes
Stay secure. Stay updated.