Vulnerability Assessment Tools

1. Vulnerability Scanners:

   • Software suites designed to assess systems for potential weaknesses.

   • Key Capabilities:

     • Maintain an up-to-date vulnerability and exploit database.

     • Detect genuine vulnerabilities with minimal false positives.

     • Perform multiple scans simultaneously and trend analyses.

     • Generate clear reports and provide recommendations for mitigating discovered vulnerabilities.

   • Main Components:

     • Engine Scanners: Perform security checks and identify vulnerabilities.

     • Databases: Store vulnerability information, scan results, and other data.

     • Report Modules: Provide various types of reports for different audiences.

     • User Interface: GUI or command line for operating the scanner.

2. Types of Vulnerability Scans:

   • Internal Scan:

     • Performed within the network to identify internal threats.

     • Focuses on critical network components (e.g., routers, servers, databases).

   • External Scan:

     • Conducted from outside the network, focusing on internet-facing assets.

     • Aims to detect vulnerabilities that could allow external attackers to gain access.

3. Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS):

   • Purpose: Assigns severity rankings to vulnerabilities, ranging from 0 (least severe) to 10 (most severe).

   

   • Scores:

     • Base Score: Measures exploitability and impact (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability - CIA triad).

     • Temporal Score: Considers exploit maturity, remediation level, and report confidence.

     • Environmental Score: Customizes the impact based on the organization’s specific environment.

   • Usage: Standardized score helps in prioritizing risk and ensuring consistency across the industry.

4. Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs):

   • Purpose: Developed by DISA (Defense Information System Agency) to standardize security configurations across DoD (Dept of Defense) IT infrastructure.

   • Scope: Covers a wide range of software and hardware, including operating systems, databases, and mobile devices.

   • Access: Available on the DoD’s public Cyber Exchange website, providing the latest STIGs.

5. Center for Internet Security (CIS) Benchmarks and Controls:

   • Purpose: Provides security configuration guides and controls, developed by industry experts.

   • CIS Controls:

     • A set of prioritized actions (20 controls) forming a defense-in-depth strategy.

     • Categorized into three groups:

       • Basic: Essential cyber hygiene practices.

       • Foundational: Key security actions that address foundational cyber threats.

       • Organizational: Security processes and procedures that enhance an organization’s cybersecurity posture.

     • Implementation Groups:

       • Group 1: Basic measures for small or low-sensitivity environments.

       • Group 2: Focuses on managing sensitive client or company information.

       • Group 3: Addresses high-security needs, including zero-day and targeted attacks.

       

       

6. Conclusion

• Vulnerability Assessment Tools: Essential for identifying and mitigating risks, enhancing security posture.

• STIGs and CIS Benchmarks: Provide standardized security configurations and guidelines.

• CVSS: Offers a transparent and standardized method for assessing vulnerability severity.

• Download : Link Here you can see the most current updates, you can download an application viewer, they have one for each operating system. So you can explore those databases and see what the most current Security Technical Implementation Guide is for any given application.