CVE Funding Disruption: How Security Teams Can Prepare

The longstanding Common Vulnerability and Exposure (CVE) database has vitally guided security teams for over 20 years, connecting cybersecurity experts, developers, vendors, and researchers in their shared ability to track unknown vulnerabilities in software. 

But in April of 2025, the MITRE CVE database program was in jeopardy. U.S. government funding for CVE, managed by MITRE and sponsored by CISA, was set to expire. Only in the 11th hour was funding secured, and the contract extended — for now. However, the suddenness of the program's potential end set off alarm bells throughout the cybersecurity community. 

Here's how security teams should prepare for the possibility of CVE going dark. 

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What Happened to the CVE Funding in April 2025? 

On April 15, 2025, the world found out that the MITRE CVE database program contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was set to expire the next day, with no word on a renewal. This lapse put security experts on edge. Many feared that if the database went offline, software security teams around the globe would lose one of the most essential resources for catching and addressing known and new vulnerabilities early. 

Fortunately, the CVE program funding was reinstated, Forbes reported in April 2025. CISA swiftly announced an 11-month extension for the CVE program's funding, but there is no word yet on whether the contract will continue indefinitely. 

In response, a group of CVE experts quickly set up the CVE Foundation to establish some measure of independence from CISA and the MITRE CVE database and limit future disruptions. As the cybersecurity industry has come to rely on publicly funded open-source programs like CVE to categorize software vulnerabilities, smart security teams should prepare now to diversify and rely on other tools and resources that detect vulnerabilities. 

Why Is CVE Important?

The CVE program acts as the backbone of the cybersecurity ecosystem. It provides a common reference system for publicly known cybersecurity vulnerabilities. 

📕 Related Resource: What Is CVE? blog

A CVE record can be used to identify and catalog specific security vulnerabilities in software. This allows security teams to quickly and effectively manage their responses to threats and communicate about cyber threats broadly across the organization. 

Within the CVE database are assigned CVE identifiers for publicly known cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Typically, each identifier includes a:

• number
• indication of "entry" or "candidate" status
• descriptor
• any additional references. 

A well-known example is the Log4j vulnerability, CVE-2021-44228. 

These individual entries in the CVE list provide important details about affected versions of the software and possible implications about the vulnerability. This single reference point helps teams remain consistent when addressing potential issues in the software. In addition, mapping CVEs to the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) gives security teams and developers insight into prioritizing higher risk vulnerabilities. 

What Happens if CVE Funding Is Not Renewed?

A prolonged disruption or (worse case) end to CVE would be disastrous for cybersecurity around the world. Here are some of the reasons: 

• Centralization would cease. Without CVE, the cybersecurity community would lack a unified naming system for vulnerabilities. While competing frontrunners may emerge to take the CVE program's place, not having a main source of truth could cause confusion and result in fractured naming and tracking conventions for vulnerabilities.
• Delayed security response. Delays in CVE updates and new vulnerability analyses by the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) leaves teams without access to vulnerability management software more exposed.
• Blind spots in threat intelligence. Extended delays in CVE updates can create blind spots for security teams, which in turn delay patch management and patch prioritization processes.
• Advancement of threat actors exploiting vulnerabilities on the dark web. The longer the delays and the more blind spots there are, the more time and opportunity for threat actors to discover, develop, and exploit vulnerabilities that organizations may not be aware of.
• Loss of global collaboration and trust in the U.S. Without the centralization and shared language of the CVE program, fragmentation could occur not only within organizations but across the global cybersecurity community. What's more, a decision to pause or end CVE funding altogether would disrupt the Department of Defense's Zero Trust enforcement and vulnerability management at scale, which might put the rest of the world on edge when it comes to trusting the U.S. as a reliable security authority. 

What Can Organizations Do to Secure Their Software if CVE Funding Ends?

For the time being, CVE funding disruption fears are allayed. Still, even the most vital cybersecurity resources are not guaranteed to last forever. While it is the hope that CVE remains a steadfast pillar in the industry, it's critical to build a resilient security approach with multiple checkpoints, tools, and resources to ensure steadfast cybersecurity in the case of the unexpected closure of one or more avenues. 

Here's how your team can prepare. 

1. Develop an Internal Database

   While CVE provides universal standardization, DevSecOps teams can create their own internal vulnerability and tracking systems. By maintaining thorough records of identified vulnerabilities, associated impact assessments, and patches, teams can reduce reliance on CVE. 

   Start by: 

   1. Documenting known software vulnerabilities and track resolutions.
   2. Using consistent internal identifiers for vulnerabilities discovered in your systems.

2. Collaborate With Peers 

   The cybersecurity community thrives on collaboration. Build stronger partnerships with peer organizations, open-source communities, and private vulnerability researchers. Shared reporting tools and forums enable threat management even without centralized resources. 

   Consider joining: 

   1. Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs): These sector-specific organizations aid in information sharing.
   2. Open Vulnerability Databases: Platforms like Open Source Vulnerabilities (OSV) further broaden access. 

3. Diversify Your Sources 

   Start integrating alternative and complementary sources of vulnerability intelligence such as:

   1. National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
   2. European Union Vulnerability Database (EUVD)
   3. Vendor security advisories
   4. Explore AI/ML exploit prediction models like Exploit Prediction Scoring Systems (EPSS).

4. Prioritize Threat Intelligence

   If CVE funding is disrupted, investing in comprehensive threat intelligence platforms becomes even more important. Such tools aggregate vulnerability data from diverse sources, empowering you to maintain visibility over new threats.

5. Automate Vulnerability Management

   Enhance operational efficiency by deploying tools — like Perforce Static Analysis — that integrate with existing workflows for vulnerability detection and remediation. Static analysis tools that help automate workflows allow for better scalability and faster response times when resources are limited. 

Using Static Analysis for CVE

Static analysis tools can be used to detect issues identified with the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) list, which is essentially a reference book of software vulnerabilities. The CWE list includes types of security weaknesses like buffer overflow and cross-site scripting, whereas CVE refers to a specific instance of a vulnerability within a product or system. 

When a static analysis tool identifies CWEs, the developer can then easily review the CVE IDs associated with the CWEs, which are noted on the CWE records. (Check out selected observed examples of associated CVEs on the CWE website.) 

Trust Perforce for Static Analysis

Static analysis tools automate vulnerability discovery and fix bugs as soon as they occur in the SDLC. While the CVE system identifies vulnerabilities after deployment, static analysis helps prevent them during development.  

Perforce Static Analysis tools QAC and Klocwork identify and eliminate CVSS and CVE vulnerabilities and bugs early in development, ensuring that your software is secure, reliable, and compliant.  

QAC and Klocwork integrate with CI/CD tools, making automated security testing easy. They also make it easy to comply with coding standards and security lists such as CERT, CWE, and OWASP.  

See for yourself how Perforce Static Analysis tools can help you improve software security. Register for a free trial.  

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