Security Software Summary

Security software and applications help to ensure that internal systems and data are protected against malicious attacks and unauthorized use. Although these services can provide organizations with additional layers of security, and improve overall security posture, they can also be vulnerable and exploited if left unmanaged. This report leverages data collected from Tenable Nessus, and provides a comprehensive look at vulnerabilities detected on security software and applications throughout the enterprise.

Every organization utilizes some type of security software or service to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to the internal network. These applications can consist of managed antivirus solutions, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), security appliances, firewalls, and more. Security teams can use the information provided to quickly identify and remediate vulnerabilities, which can aid in reducing an organization’s overall risk exposure.

This report uses the Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) filter to identify vulnerabilities within security-based software applications and services. According to NIST, the CPE is a structured naming scheme for information technology systems,software, and packages. Based upon the generic syntax for Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI), CPE includes a formal name format, a method for checking names against a system, and a description format for binding text and tests to a name. Tenable assigns CPEs to plugins where appropriate. This allows for analysts to search for common CPE prefixes such as “cpe:/a:cisco,” “cpe:/a:mcafee,” and “cpe:/a:symantec.” Associating CPE strings with vulnerabilities allows the analysts a greater view into separating operating system vulnerabilities from application vulnerabilities, and adds to the level of a vulnerability detail provided to the organization.

This report leverages data gathered by active vulnerability scanning with Nessus and passive vulnerability detection with Tenable Passive Vulnerability Scanner (PVS). This data will provide valuable insight into existing vulnerabilities on security-based applications and services across the enterprise. An overview of vulnerabilities from each vendor will provide detailed information on vulnerable hosts. Organizations will be presented with a summary of vulnerabilities detected over time, including exploitable vulnerabilities, which can aid security teams in prioritizing remediation efforts. This data can be useful in understanding and mitigating potential threat vectors, as well as improving patch management efforts within the organization.

This report is available in the SecurityCenter Feed, a comprehensive collection of dashboards, reports, Assurance Report Cards, and assets. The Report can be easily located in the SecurityCenter Feed under the category Threat Detection & Vulnerability Assessments. The report requirements are:

• SecurityCenter 5.3.1 
• Nessus 6.8.1 
• PVS 5.1.0

Tenable SecurityCenter provides continuous network monitoring, vulnerability identification, and security monitoring. SecurityCenter is continuously updated with information about advanced threats and zero-day vulnerabilities, and new types of regulatory compliance configuration audit files. Tenable constantly analyzes information from our unique sensors, delivering continuous visibility and critical context, enabling decisive action that transforms your security program from reactive to proactive. Active scanning examines software applications on the systems, running processes and services, detection of vulnerable software applications, configuration settings, and additional vulnerabilities. With this information, analysts have greater insight to determine if supported and up-to-date updater software applications are operating within the organization. Tenable’s extensive network monitoring capabilities can provide the latest information on existing vulnerabilities, which can help to improve and strengthen an organization’s overall security posture.

The following chapters are included in this report:

• Executive Summary: The Executive Summary chapter provides a high-level overview of vulnerabilities from security-based applications and services on a network. Vulnerabilities are tracked by severity, vendor, and time in order to provide a complete look at security applications that may be at risk. These services help to protect critical services and infrastructure within an organization, and help to detect and prevent unauthorized users and devices from connecting to internal resources. Using the elements within this report, analysts will be able to quickly identify, remediate, and reduce overall security risks.
• Vulnerability Status At A Glance: The Vulnerability Status at a Glance chapter provides insight into vulnerabilities detected from security-based applications and services within the network. Each table included within this chapter provides lists of the security software vulnerabilities detected in the past 7 and 30 days. Each table presents the latest information on relevant vulnerabilities, including plugin, name, family, severity, and total count of vulnerabilities detected. Data presented within this chapter can be modified to include additional host information, and additional details on the detected vulnerability.
• Critical Vulnerability Information: The Critical Vulnerability Information chapter presents a table of the top critical vulnerabilities detected from security-based applications and services in the enterprise. Vulnerabilities with a critical severity level are presented and filtered using vendor specific CPE strings, which will highlight vulnerabilities that present the highest level of risk to the organization. Each table is sorted by severity, and includes the plugin name and total number of hosts affected. Using elements within this chapter, security teams can use this element to target and remediate vulnerabilities on systems using security-based applications and services.
• Detailed Vulnerability Summary: The Detailed Vulnerability Summary chapter provides detailed information on vulnerabilities detected from security-based software applications and services. Vulnerabilities are separated by category and filtered using vendor specific CPE strings, which will provide comprehensive view of the vulnerabilities impacting the network. Each element in this chapter provides detailed information about security software vulnerabilities that could impact critical systems and services within the organization.