EPSS

CTEM Without the Hype: Understanding Gartner's Continuous Threat Exposure Management Framework

The article explains the evolution of vulnerability management from basic scheduled scanning to risk-based approaches and finally to Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM). It positions CTEM as a comprehensive program introduced by Gartner in 2022 that integrates asset management, EASM, CAASM, automated pentesting, and business-context prioritization. The five-stage cycle of Scoping, Discovery, Prioritization, Validation, and Mobilization is detailed with practical examples such as protecting customer databases in an e-commerce environment. Gartner predicts organizations prioritizing CTEM will suffer three times fewer breaches by 2026, though only 16% have reached operational maturity. The piece also covers common implementation pitfalls and the emergence of the first Magic Quadrant for Exposure Assessment Platforms featuring vendors like Tenable, Qualys, and Rapid7.

Fuzzy Logic in Cybersecurity: Reducing Vulnerability Queue by 7.5 Times with CVSS, EPSS and FSTEC Comparison

An information security specialist has developed a fuzzy logic system that prioritizes vulnerabilities far more effectively than traditional scoring methods. The approach uses linguistic variables and membership functions to handle the inherent uncertainty in exploitability and impact assessments. By integrating EPSS probability data with CVSS impact scores and vulnerability age, the model reduces the actionable backlog by a factor of 7.5. The implementation relies on the Mamdani inference algorithm and trapezoidal membership functions to produce smooth, human-interpretable urgency ratings. Detailed coverage checks and rule-base validation ensure no gaps exist in the decision space. Real-world testing on CVE-2025-49113 in Roundcube Webmail demonstrated practical advantages over rigid threshold logic. The method is positioned as a practical enhancement rather than a replacement for existing standards.

Out of 48,000 Vulnerabilities Only 1% Are Dangerous: How to Find Them Using CVSS 4.0, EPSS, KEV and FSTEC Methodology

The article explains why prioritizing vulnerabilities is critical in 2025-2026 as exploitation became the top initial access vector for the first time in 19 years according to Verizon DBIR. It details the limitations of CVSS scoring alone, the shift to CVSS 4.0 with new metrics like Attack Requirements and Supplemental Metrics, and the impact of NIST reducing NVD enrichment to only actively exploited or federal software cases. EPSS provides daily exploitation probability predictions using machine learning on over 1,100 features, while CISA KEV and the new LEV metric help identify confirmed or likely exploited vulnerabilities. The text covers practical prioritization criteria including asset significance, exploit availability, and network exposure, plus challenges for Russian infrastructure due to CVE dependency. It also compares CISA KEV with commercial catalogs like VulnCheck KEV that detect exploitation earlier.

Rent, Don't Build: Penetration Testing, Vulnerability Management, and Bug Bounty as a Service

The fifth installment in the Vulnerability Management for Beginners series explores three outsourcing models that allow organizations to avoid building their own infrastructure for vulnerability management. Pentest as a Service, VM as a Service, and bug bounty programs each offer distinct advantages in speed, coverage, and cost while shifting operational burdens to specialized providers. The article details how automated and manual penetration testing differ in depth and scope, why white-box scanning inside the network yields more accurate results than black-box perimeter tests, and how bug bounty platforms like HackerOne and Standoff Bug Bounty have scaled dramatically in Russia and globally. It also covers practical requirements such as proving asset ownership, establishing triage processes, setting realistic SLAs, and handling sensitive data risks when using external services. Benchmarks from providers, updated EPSS metrics, CISA KEV catalogs, and the latest FSTEC methodology are presented as tools for better prioritization. The piece concludes with legal and operational caveats for Russian companies adopting these models in 2025.