NVD Under Audit Amidst Vulnerability Backlog
The National Vulnerability Database (NVD) is under scrutiny following a significant backlog of unanalysed vulnerabilities. The US Department of Commerce's Office of Inspector General has initiated an audit to assess management processes and prevent future delays.
The NVD backlog grew significantly after the termination of a crucial contract in early 2024. This led to a surge in unexamined vulnerabilities, as the team struggled to keep up with the increasing volume. To address this issue, the NVD is exploring new strategies, including automating data analysis tasks and investigating AI-powered methods.
The audit, announced recently, aims to evaluate the effectiveness of NIST's procedures for handling NVD submissions. It seeks to identify areas for improvement and ensure that the NVD can efficiently manage future submissions. In response to the backlog, the NVD has also announced updates and improvements in its vulnerability processing methods to catch up with the pending tasks.
The NVD audit is underway to address the vulnerability backlog and enhance management processes. The NVD is actively working on new strategies, including automation and AI, to improve its efficiency. The outcome of the audit is expected to provide insights for preventing future backlogs and ensuring the timely analysis of vulnerabilities.
