The cyber world is reeling from a critical disruption.
The defense and research-focused nonprofit MITRE Corporation says funding from the U.S. government runs out today for it to maintain a critical database of cyber vulnerabilities used by security researchers and digital defenders the world over.
First launched in 1999, the CVE program houses a database where participating organizations can assign IDs to known cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The IDs consist of the letters “CVE” followed by a year and a number, such as CVE-2022-27254, allowing security professionals to monitor details about the vulnerabilities that may impact the devices we use every day and systems that contain information critical to practically everything we do.
MITRE maintains the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database. It also maintains a relationship with CVE Numbering Authorities (CNAs) authorized by the CVE Program for assignment of CVE IDs to vulnerabilities and publish CVE Records within their own specific scopes of coverage. enabling IT administrators to quickly flag and triage the myriad different bugs and hacks discovered daily.
The common numbering scheme, severity scale, and detailed descriptions allow quick communication of highly technical information across organizations and around the world.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), whose parent agency funds the contract, confirmed the contract was ending. The U.S. government’s decision to stop funding the CVE Program, managed by the MITRE Corporation, may seem like a bureaucratic shift aiming for a radical downsizing. But in reality, it’s a major jolt to the cybersecurity backbone of not just the United States, but the entire global cyber defense community—India included.
🔍 CVE Program: The Bedrock of Vulnerability Intelligence
For over two decades, the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) program has enabled:
- Unified vulnerability identification across software and hardware platforms
- Timely and coordinated patching by vendors and enterprises
- Security tooling integration in SIEMs, scanners, and firewalls
- International collaboration and transparency on cyber threats
Now, with MITRE’s CVE operations halted due to funding issues, thousands of cybersecurity teams—especially in developing countries—are left scrambling to adapt.
⚠️ What This Means for India and the Globe
- Toolchain Instability
Indian organizations using CVE-enriched tools will see gaps in real-time threat detection and patch prioritization. - Vulnerability Confusion
Without a unified identifier system, security teams may encounter inconsistencies in tracking and responding to threats. - Increased Exposure Risk
For critical infrastructure sectors like power, banking, telecom, and defense—already under persistent threat—the CVE gap amplifies risk. - Loss of Dependable Neutral Entity
MITRE’s neutral, nonprofit approach gave CVEs legitimacy and trust—hard to replicate with commercial or fragmented efforts.
India Must Act: From Dependence to Cyber Resilience
The CVE disruption, Myanmar GPS spoofing attacks, and several other such incidents is a wakeup call that India must now build sovereign cyber capabilities, and not just consume them. The traditional multilateral world eco system is already in shambles and concrete steps are needed to find opportunity in the impending chaos.
✅ 1. Establish NVD-India: A National Vulnerability Database
Led by CERT-In, this indigenous registry should:
- Track vulnerabilities affecting Indian software ecosystems
- Interoperate with global CERTs and databases like NVD till they are functional at least
- Support localization and real-time updates
✅ 2. Create a “Bharat Cyber Foundation”
A publicly funded think tank and framework developer—India’s own MITRE-like body:
- To develop open threat taxonomies
- Train cyber professionals
- Publish frameworks tailored for India’s infrastructure
✅ 3. Strengthen Regional Leadership
India should take the lead in forming a Global South Cybersecurity Alliance:
- Sharing vulnerability data and intelligence
- Offering training and policy templates
- Reducing reliance on Western platforms
📢 Call to Action: Let India Secure Its Digital Destiny
The CVE funding cut is not just a challenge—it’s a turning point.
India has the talent, the market, and the strategic need to become a global cybersecurity leader. We can no longer afford to rely on external systems to protect our internal assets.
Let’s:
- Invest in indigenous frameworks
- Build platforms that the world can rely on
- Own our cybersecurity future—with confidence and capability
