Remediate Detected Vulnerabilities
Description
Remediate detected vulnerabilities in software through processes and tooling on a monthly, or more frequent, basis, based on the remediation process.
Implementation Checklist
Tool Recommendations
Continuous vulnerability assessment and exposure management across IT assets, cloud, containers, and OT
Tenable · Per-asset subscription
Cloud-based vulnerability management, detection, and response with integrated patch management and asset inventory
Qualys · Per-asset subscription
Vulnerability management platform with live dashboards, risk prioritization, and remediation workflows
Rapid7 · Per-asset subscription
Agent-based vulnerability assessment leveraging the Falcon sensor for real-time vulnerability visibility without scans
CrowdStrike · Per-endpoint subscription
Threats & Vulnerabilities (CIS RAM)
Threat Scenarios
Exploitation of Known but Unremediated Vulnerabilities
ConfidentialityVulnerabilities identified through scanning are documented but never remediated due to lack of a remediation workflow, giving attackers a persistent and growing catalog of known weaknesses to exploit across the environment.
Ransomware Deployment via Long-Standing Unpatched Flaws
AvailabilityRansomware groups specifically target organizations with large vulnerability backlogs, exploiting well-known CVEs in VPN appliances, remote desktop services, or web applications that have been detected but left unremediated for months.
Chained Exploit Attacks Using Multiple Unremediated Vulnerabilities
IntegrityAttackers combine multiple lower-severity unremediated vulnerabilities into exploit chains that achieve critical impact, such as combining an information disclosure flaw with a privilege escalation vulnerability to gain administrative access.
Vulnerabilities (When Safeguard Absent)
Growing Vulnerability Backlog with No Remediation Cadence
Detected vulnerabilities accumulate in scan reports without systematic remediation, creating an ever-expanding backlog where even critical vulnerabilities may persist for quarters while teams focus on operational priorities.
No Tooling Integration Between Scanning and Remediation
Vulnerability scan results are not integrated with ticketing or patch management systems, requiring manual transfer of findings that introduces delays, errors, and lost remediation assignments.
Evidence Requirements
| Type | Evidence Item | Collection Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Document | Response procedure/playbook documentation | Reviewed bi-annually |
| Record | Response action logs showing procedure execution | Per incident |
| Technical | Vulnerability scan reports showing scope and findings | Per scan cycle |
| Record | Vulnerability remediation tracking with SLA compliance metrics | Monthly |
| Document | Governing policy document (current, approved, communicated) | Reviewed annually |