Page 52 - Cyber Defense eMagazine RSAC Special Edition 2025

Exploit intelligence provides a critical lens for prioritizing vulnerabilities, not just by what can be exploited,
but by what is or likely will be.

At one end of the spectrum are known, in-the-wild exploits. Resources like CISA’s Known Exploited
Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog help security teams pinpoint issues actively targeted by threat actors. These
vulnerabilities represent immediate, proven risk and often require the fastest response.

On the predictive side, frameworks like the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) assess the
likelihood that a vulnerability will be exploited in the near future, even if no public exploitation has occurred
yet. This adds an important dimension for anticipating risk before it materializes.

Together, these signals help security teams stay ahead of attackers, not just by responding to today’s
threats, but by preparing for tomorrow’s. Exploit intelligence, both reactive and predictive, adds vital depth
to prioritization strategies grounded in real-world behavior.

A Unified Approach

Each signal – CVSS, business context, exploit intelligence – offers a valuable perspective. But the real
power comes from combining them. An effective prioritization strategy draws from multiple data points to
create a fuller, more actionable picture of risk.

This doesn’t mean layering on complexity for its own sake. It means designing a system that elevates
the right issues by weighing what’s exploitable, what’s exposed, and what’s important to the business.
When these elements are considered together, prioritization shifts from a ranking exercise to a decision-
making framework.

For example, a vulnerability with a high CVSS score, active exploitation in the wild, and presence on a
business-critical system clearly demands urgent attention. By contrast, a similar vulnerability on an
isolated, low-value asset can safely wait without compromising the organization’s risk posture.

Prioritization Is a Strategy, Not a Score

Vulnerability management isn’t a numbers game, it’s a risk management discipline. Relying on a single
metric or static threshold is no longer sufficient in today’s threat environment. Attackers are adaptive.
Environments are dynamic. And risk is inherently contextual.

Effective prioritization requires a shift in mindset. It’s not about reacting to every high score or new scan
result. It’s about applying consistent, defensible logic to determine what gets fixed, when, and why. That
means integrating multiple signals, understanding business impact, and staying attuned to external
threats, all within a process that supports timely, coordinated action.

Security teams that treat prioritization as a strategic function and not just a technical task are better
positioned to reduce real risk, improve remediation velocity, and focus resources where they matter most.

In the end, the goal isn’t to fix everything. It’s to fix the right things first.

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