Rethinking vulnerability prioritization

Security vulnerability management in software development is evolving from a severity-based approach to a more nuanced, developer-centric strategy that prioritizes vulnerabilities based on actual risk and exploitability. This shift addresses the limitations of traditional methods, such as the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), which may not accurately reflect the threat a vulnerability poses. By incorporating data from the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), real-time testing methods like Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST), and information on active malware campaigns, organizations can focus their resources on vulnerabilities that pose a tangible risk. This refined prioritization method aims to reduce alert fatigue and improve the security posture of applications, aligning efforts with the most pressing threats and enabling a more proactive defense. New Relic's Security RX platform supports this approach, integrating various data sources to enhance security teams' ability to protect digital assets effectively.