Understanding Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV): A Practical Guide
In the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, not all vulnerabilities are created equal. While some may remain theoretical risks, others are actively exploited by malicious actors—posing immediate threats to organisations and users. To help prioritise real-world risks, the cybersecurity community uses resources like CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) and CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog. I have been looking at KEV and thought of writing this draft, which explores the difference between CVE and KEV and dives into how vendors and end users can act on them effectively.
KEV vs CVE
CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) is a standardised list of publicly disclosed cybersecurity vulnerabilities, maintained by MITRE.
KEV refers to entries in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog (KEV), curated by CISA, which contains CVE-listed vulnerabilities that are actively exploited in the wild.
While CVE is comprehensive, it lacks prioritisation. That’s where KVE stands out: by flagging vulnerabilities that have been used in real attacks, it enables faster, risk-driven decision-making.
Timeline Insight:
CVE started in 1999.
KEV was launched in 2021 under Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01, initially for federal agencies but valuable across industries.
KEV from a Vendor's Perspective
For software vendors, having a product listed in the KEV catalogue carries significant implications:
Increased Accountability: It signals that attackers exploit a known flaw in your product.
Patch Responsibility: Vendors are expected to release fixes or mitigations quickly, often under public and industry scrutiny.
Compliance Pressure: U.S. federal agencies must patch or mitigate KEV vulnerabilities on strict timelines. Vendors that fail to respond may see reduced trust, legal challenges, or loss of business.
Ultimately, vendors must integrate proactive vulnerability management and closely monitor KEV updates to stay ahead of potential exploitation.
KEV for End Users: From Intelligence to Action
For enterprises, KEV offers a high-value, low-noise source of threat intelligence. Rather than sifting through thousands of CVEs, organizations can focus on those confirmed to be exploited.
How to Use the KEV Catalog in Practice:
Automate Feed Ingestion:
Parse it using custom scripts or integrate with security platforms (e.g., Splunk, Elastic).
Cross-Reference Internally:
Match CVE IDs in the feed to your asset inventory or vulnerability scanner results.
Prioritize Patching:
Focus remediation efforts on assets affected by KEV-listed vulnerabilities.
Monitor
dueDatefields to stay compliant (especially for federal agencies or contractors).
Example Breakdown: CVE-2025-24054
cveID
Unique identifier for cross-referencing (CVE-2025-24054)
vendorProject
Vendor responsible: Microsoft
product
Affected software: Windows
vulnerabilityName
Describes the exploit (NTLM spoofing vulnerability)
dateAdded
KEV inclusion date: 2025-04-17
shortDescription
Summary of vulnerability type and impact
requiredAction
Patch or mitigate per Microsoft; remove system if no fix
dueDate
Remediation deadline: 2025-05-08 (federal agencies)
knownRansomwareCampaignUse
No known ransomware campaigns yet
notes
Links to Microsoft and NIST advisories
cwes
CWE-73: External Control of File Name or Path
Final Thoughts: A Shared Responsibility
The KEV Catalogue represents a focused, intelligence-driven approach to vulnerability management. Whether you’re a vendor or an end user:
Vendors should treat KEV listings as high-priority incidents requiring prompt fixes and clear communication.
Enterprises should integrate KEV data into vulnerability management programs to improve detection, patching, and reporting.
In a world where thousands of new CVEs appear each year, KEV gives you clarity and urgency, helping prioritise what matters most—the vulnerabilities that are actually being used against you.
References
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