The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released a significant publication titled “When to Issue Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange (VEX) Information.” This document, a collaborative effort by industry and government experts, aims to provide valuable guidance and structure to the realm of software security. It particularly addresses the Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) community, a large and continually expanding segment of the software industry.
The guide’s primary objective is to elucidate the circumstances and events that might necessitate the issuance of VEX information. Furthermore, it offers insights into the entities responsible for both creating and consuming VEX information, shedding light on this critical aspect of software security. The decision of whether, and when, to issue VEX information is outlined as a business choice, particularly for suppliers, and potentially an individual one for independent open source developers.
This comprehensive document identifies the pivotal factors influencing this decision, equipping industry stakeholders with a valuable resource for enhancing their software security practices.
For software professionals, policymakers, and the broader software security community, this publication serves as a critical reference material, facilitating a deeper understanding of the factors guiding the issuance of Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange (VEX) information.
CISA’s commitment to collaborating with industry and government experts highlights the importance of fostering a secure and structured software security environment in the face of evolving cybersecurity threats. It is a testament to CISA’s proactive approach in strengthening the software security landscape for the benefit of all stakeholders involved.
