U.S. Government Launches Vulnerability Disclosure Policy Platform
/ 3 min read
Quick take - In 2021, the U.S. government established a Vulnerability Disclosure Policy platform managed by CISA to enable third-party security researchers to report vulnerabilities, resulting in over 12,000 reports and significant cost savings through successful remediations, while also highlighting the need for consolidation of various VDP programs across federal agencies.
Fast Facts
- The U.S. government launched a Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (VDP) platform in 2021, managed by CISA, to enhance cybersecurity by allowing third-party researchers to report vulnerabilities.
- The platform has received over 12,000 bug reports from 51 federal agencies, with more than 7,000 submissions in 2023 alone, leading to over 2,400 unique, valid disclosures and approximately 2,000 successful remediations.
- The VDP has saved the government an estimated $4.45 million in potential remediation costs for critical vulnerabilities and has disbursed $335,000 in bounties for reported vulnerabilities in 2023.
- Experts suggest consolidating multiple VDP programs across various agencies to improve efficiency and address challenges in vulnerability management, while also advocating for increased bounty payments to incentivize researchers.
- The enactment of the Federal Cybersecurity Vulnerability Reduction Act is supported to enhance vulnerability management across federal contractors and subcontractors, emphasizing the need for adequate resources and expertise for effective patching.
U.S. Government’s Vulnerability Disclosure Policy Platform
In 2021, the U.S. government launched a Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (VDP) platform to enhance cybersecurity. The platform allows third-party security researchers to report vulnerabilities, and since its inception, it has received over 12,000 bug reports from 51 federal agencies. More than 7,000 submissions were made in 2023 alone.
Management and Impact
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) manages the platform and has identified more than 2,400 unique, valid vulnerability disclosures. These disclosures have led to approximately 2,000 successful remediations, reportedly saving the government an estimated average of $4.45 million in potential remediation costs, specifically for critical and severe vulnerabilities. Over 3,200 security researchers have participated in the VDP, which is recognized as an effective tool for gaining insights into security vulnerabilities. The White House Office of Management and Budget has evaluated the platform as delivering a high return on investment.
CISA’s VDP operates as a centrally managed software-as-a-service (SaaS) system, supported by vendors Bugcrowd and EnDyna. It offers several benefits, including validation of submitted information and compliance measurements, along with bug bounty support. In 2023, CISA disbursed $335,000 in bounties for 2,400 vulnerabilities, with an average payout of approximately $150 per vulnerability. Some experts advocate for increasing these bounty payments to further incentivize researchers.
Trends and Challenges
The types of vulnerabilities reported in 2023 highlight specific trends, with cross-site scripting vulnerabilities leading the reports at 371 cases, followed by server-side injections with 178 reports. Despite the successes of the VDP, experts suggest that the existence of multiple VDP programs can create confusion. These programs are found across various agencies, such as the Department of Defense and the Department of Commerce. This fragmentation is attributed to inertia and agencies’ preference to maintain their individual programs. Experts recommend consolidating these programs to improve efficiency, although territorial issues within government agencies may pose challenges to consolidation efforts.
There are calls to address limitations in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database, and ensuring that federal agencies are adequately prepared to respond to vulnerability reports is emphasized. The enactment of the Federal Cybersecurity Vulnerability Reduction Act is supported as a strategic move to bolster vulnerability management across both federal contractors and subcontractors. Experts emphasize that effective patching of vulnerabilities requires sufficient expertise, time, and resources, which can be particularly challenging for smaller organizations.
Overall, the VDP represents a significant step toward improving the security posture of federal agencies, facilitating collaboration with the security research community.
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