Talk:OWASP Vulnerability Management Guide

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OWASP Vulnerability Management Guide v.1

("bare bones" list)

1 Detection Cycle

1.1 Define/Refine scope
1.1.1 Know the enterprise risks
1.1.2 Know operational constraints
1.1.3 Know technical constraints
1.1.4 Distinguish primary assets vs. secondary
1.1.5 Embed vulnerability management processes into the enterprise processes
1.1.6 Build managerial support

1.2 Optimize Tools
1.2.1 Determine the type of your test/scan
1.2.2 Determine the frequency of your tests/scans
1.2.3 Ensure the latest vulnerability feed
1.2.4 Check if vulnerability exceptions exist
1.2.5 Test your tool for integrity
1.2.6 Adjust your tools settings, preferences, templates

1.3 Run Tests
1.3.1 Scan public IP addresses
1.3.2 Scan private subnets
1.3.3 Scan/test web applications
1.3.4 Scan/test mobile apps
1.3.5 Test Users (phishing, social engineering training)

1.4 Confirm Findings
1.4.1 Check if your test results have valuable data
1.4.2 Interpret and reconcile system/device fingerprinting across your tests
1.4.3 Determine that running services are what they are supposed to be
1.4.4 Find something that falls out of the pattern and investigate why
1.4.5 Randomly select vulnerabilities and confirm them with a different tool or manually

2 Reporting Cycle

2.1 Create Assets Groups
2.1.1 Determine functional asset groups
2.1.2 Determine asset groups by type of environment
2.1.3 Determine asset groups by type of system
2.1.4 Determine groups by CVE numbering authority or underlying technology
2.1.5 Determine groups by type of vulnerability

2.2 Define/Refine Metrics
2.2.1 Determine amount and percentage of vulnerable assets
2.2.2 Determine amount and percentage of vulnerable assets by severity and CVSS
2.2.3 Determine amount and percentage of new vulnerabilities:
2.2.3.1 -by severity
2.2.3.2 -by functional groups
2.2.3.3 -by type of environment
2.2.3.4 -by type of system
2.2.3.5 -by CVE numbering authority
2.2.3.6 -by type of vulnerability
2.2.4 Compare and analyze aging data by severity of vulnerabilities and their share:
2.2.4.1 -enterprise wide
2.2.4.2 -among all other vulnerable assets
2.2.4.3 -by functional groups
2.2.4.4 -by type of environment
2.2.4.5 -by type of system
2.2.4.6 -by CVE numbering authority
2.2.4.7 -by type of vulnerability
2.2.5 Draw out the trends by count and percentage utilizing KPI that matter to your enterprise risks and compliance
2.2.6 Determine exploitability of vulnerable assets by severity; specify count, percentage, decrease or increase

2.3 Log Confirmed Findings
2.3.1 Use your organization?s ticketing system
2.3.2 Provide a summary of the issue
2.3.3 Provide tools? based output
2.3.4 Notify/assign the issue/ticket to the responsible teams or individuals
2.3.5 Make sure that your manager/CISO is aware

2.4 Create Reports
2.4.1 Maintain a consistent frequency of reporting and use it to track the changes
2.4.2 Aggregate and process collected data
2.4.3 Using CVSS, apply unique environmental traits to your vulnerability analysis
2.4.4 State vulnerability trends
2.4.5 Hypothesize about these trends in one sentence
2.4.6 In one paragraph, add your recommendations
2.4.7 Apply data sensitivity classification to your report
2.4.8 Make a shorter version (1-2 pages) of your report
2.4.9 Submit both versions of the report to your manager/CISO
2.4.10 Create and maintain your own vulnerability management repository for internal or external audit
2.4.11 Be able to explain the details of the vulnerability detection and reporting process

3 Remediation Cycle

3.1 Prioritize Vulnerabilities
3.1.1 Use your reports
3.1.2 Use your trend analysis
3.1.3 Use information from additional sources
3.1.4 Apply other environmental factors
3.1.5 Communicate to responsible and accountable stakeholders

3.2 Patching
3.2.1 Find the stakeholders responsible for patching
3.2.2 Communicate your findings via the tools and processes they use
3.2.3 Establish a frequency and scope of patching
3.2.4 Establish a group of assets dedicated for patch testing
3.2.5 Report back your test results to the responsible stakeholders
3.2.6 Use the ticketing system or change management system to resolve the patch management issues
3.2.7 Always assign these tickets
3.2.8 Include responsible, accountable, stakeholders, and who needs to be informed on unresolved issues
3.2.9 Use the frequency of your reporting cycle to follow up on open issues

3.3 Investigate False Positives (FP)
3.3.1 Ensure integrity of a claim
3.3.2 Construct a repeatable business process
3.3.3 Document all FP submissions
3.3.4 Find SMEs who can agree or argue a false positive claim
3.3.5 Set a time frame at which FP should be reevaluated
3.3.6 Document each FP and store it in an auditable repository
3.3.7 Create an appropriate policy
3.3.8 Communicate this policy to all employees

3.4 Control Vulnerability Exception Process
3.4.1 Find an executive authority to sign off on a cyber security exception
3.4.2 Establish ground rules for vulnerability exceptions
3.4.3 Establish periodic reviews of vulnerability exceptions
3.4.4 Establish acceptable compensating controls
3.4.5 Document each exception and store it in the company?s audit system
3.4.6 Create an appropriate policy
3.4.7 Communicate this policy to all employees
3.4.8 Have vulnerability exception solicitors asking the executive authority for an approval every time