Get Smart in Five Minutes: What is a CVE and why care?

Ever heard the term "CVE'' and wondered what it means? You're not alone! CVEs are a critical part of the software supply chain security, and understanding them can help you keep your systems in check. So, grab a coffee and let's demystify these pesky vulnerabilities together.

CVE: Cracking the code

CVE stands for Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures. Think of them as publicly disclosed "oops'' moments in software. Each CVE gets a unique ID (like CVE-2023-1234), making it easy to track and discuss. A recent wide-spread example is CVE-2006-5051.

While some of the most widespread CVEs, like Heartbleed and ShellShock, become infamous and get their own catchy names and dedicated webpages, these are just the tip of the iceberg. There are literally thousands of other uniquely identified CVEs discovered every year, and Chainguard works tirelessly to fix them all.

Why should you care about CVEs?

CVEs are more than just tech jargon. They represent real security flaws that hackers can exploit. By staying informed, you can:

• Protect your data: Hackers can use CVEs to steal sensitive information.

• Keep your systems running: CVEs can crash software or even entire networks.

• Avoid scams: Some CVEs can be used to trick you into giving up personal info.

The CVE life cycle: From oops to uh-oh

CVEs often start as unintentional mistakes by software developers. Once discovered, they're reported to a central database (the National Vulnerability Database or NVD). Then, the race is on to patch the problem before bad actors can exploit it.

Severity matters

Not all CVEs are created equal. They're rated from low to critical, helping you prioritize which ones to address first. But remember, even a "low" severity CVE can cause problems if ignored, and they can be combined together to form an attack called exploit chaining.

The CVE problem: It's getting crowded out there

The number of CVEs is on the rise. While this could mean we're finding more flaws, it also means there are more opportunities for hackers. Keeping up with patches and updates is crucial to stay ahead of the curve.

Want to get even smarter about CVEs? Check out our latest video with Dustin Kirkland and John Speed Meyers for a deeper dive into this important topic.

Stay tuned

We have a whole lineup of exciting topics planned for future episodes of Get Smart in 5 Minutes. Subscribe to Chainguard’s YouTube channel and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode.