Step 4: Analyzing Findings and Vulnerabilities

With SBOMs in hand, you are well-positioned to dive into the critical process of vulnerability analysis. This step is vital for translating the transparency gained from SBOMs into actionable insights that will truly make a change.

Navigating Through Vulnerability Analysis

Understanding Vulnerability Analysis

Vulnerability analysis is the systematic examination of the components listed in your SBOMs (Software Bill of Materials) to identify known security weaknesses and potential risks. This process involves comparing the components against various vulnerability databases, such as the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) and more, to detect any matches with reported vulnerabilities.

Implementing Effective Analysis Practices

Automated Scanning: Leverage automated vulnerability scanning tools that can digest SBOM data and cross-reference it against vulnerability feeds that are continuously updated notifying you without delay when new vulnerabilities are discovered.
Prioritization: Not all vulnerabilities pose the same level of risk to your organization. Implement a prioritization mechanism based on factors such as the severity of the vulnerability (CVSS), the criticality of the affected asset (a crown-jewel?), and the context within which the asset operates (production or q/a?). Scoring models, such as EPSS, which indicate the likelihood of a vulnerability being exploited, can also be useful.
Continuous Integration: Utilize your existing CI/CD pipelines, so that updating an SBOM after you've fixed something doesn't become a chore. This way you will always have an up-to-date view of your current risk landscape and not be thinking along the lines: "did anyone close this vulnerability, or am I looking at outdated information?".
Cutting out the middleman: Make sure that once discovered, notifications of vulnerabilities are automatically sent to the team responsible for mitigation. Not doing so can create bottlenecks and prevent a timely response.
VEX - state of found vulnerabilities: Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange provides a standardized way to communicate detailed information about the exploitability of vulnerabilities. By integrating VEX into your vulnerability analysis process, you can communicate more informed decisions about remediation and mitigation. Learn more about VEX

Using SBOM Observer for efficient analysis

SBOM Observer streamlines vulnerability analysis by automating the detection, prioritization, and remediation workflow. Here's how it enhances each phase of vulnerability management:

Automated Vulnerability Detection: SBOM Observer continuously monitors your components against multiple vulnerability databases and feeds. Upload your SBOMs using the Observer CLI or the web interface, then integrate into your CI/CD pipeline for automated monitoring. Receive real-time notifications when vulnerabilities are discovered. This eliminates manual scanning and keeps you informed without delay.

Risk Prioritization with Policies: Define organizational policies that automatically prioritize vulnerabilities based on CVSS scores, EPSS likelihood metrics, asset criticality, and deployment context. SBOM Observer's policy-as-code approach ensures consistent risk assessment across your entire portfolio. Learn how to write policies.

Seamless CI/CD Integration: Integrate SBOM Observer into your development pipeline to catch vulnerabilities early. The CI/CD integration guide covers multiple approaches: automated SBOM generation, policy enforcement, and blocking deployments based on risk thresholds. See the quickstart guide to get started in minutes.

Team-Driven Remediation: Assign components to teams and route notifications automatically so remediation teams receive only relevant alerts. This prevents bottlenecks and ensures accountability across your organization.

VEX Integration for Informed Decision-Making: Use Vulnerability Exploitability Exchange (VEX) to document the exploitability status of discovered vulnerabilities. SBOM Observer helps you communicate vulnerability impact to stakeholders and customers with precision. Explore impact analysis to understand how vulnerabilities affect your specific environment.

For detailed guidance on implementing these features, start with the quickstart and explore the CLI reference.

Next Step

In the next step, we explore how to manage risk early in the software development lifecycle (SDLC) - commonly referred to as "shifting left" effectively, using risk metrics.