Which metric is commonly used to assess the severity of a vulnerability?

The CVSS score, or Common Vulnerability Scoring System score, is a widely recognized standard utilized to assess and communicate the severity of vulnerabilities. It provides a numerical score ranging from 0 to 10, where a higher score indicates a more severe vulnerability. This scoring system takes into account various factors such as the exploitability of the vulnerability, the potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA triad), and the overall context in which the vulnerability exists.

By using the CVSS score, organizations can prioritize which vulnerabilities need to be addressed first based on their potential risk. This systematic approach allows security teams to allocate resources effectively and respond to vulnerabilities that pose the greatest threat to their systems and data. The CVSS score is therefore a fundamental metric in vulnerability management and assessment processes, serving as a benchmark for severity evaluation across different industries and organizations.