What is CVSS used for in the field of cybersecurity?

CVSS, or the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, is specifically designed to provide a standardized way to assess and score the severity of vulnerabilities in software and systems. This scoring system enables organizations to evaluate the impact and urgency of vulnerabilities, allowing them to prioritize their response and remediation efforts effectively.

By assigning a numeric score based on various factors—such as the ease of exploitation and the potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability—CVSS helps stakeholders understand the relative risk posed by a vulnerability. This scoring system serves as a crucial tool in vulnerability management, supporting decision-making processes around the allocation of resources and the development of mitigation strategies.

Other options, while related to cybersecurity, do not align with the primary purpose of CVSS. For instance, assessing compliance concerns ensuring adherence to policies and regulations, cataloging weaknesses involves tracking and documenting flaws or gaps in security defenses without the quantitative aspect, and enumerating configurations relates to examining system settings rather than scoring vulnerability severity. Therefore, the focus of CVSS on scoring vulnerabilities is its defining feature, making it an essential framework for understanding and managing cybersecurity risks.