What is the purpose of an Environmental - CVSS metric?

The Environmental - CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) metric is designed to evaluate vulnerabilities specifically in the context of the environment in which they exist. This means that it takes into account factors that may influence the severity and impact of vulnerabilities based on where a system operates, including the importance of the system to the organization, existing security controls, and the potential impact of an exploit.

By using an Environmental - CVSS metric, organizations can customize the scoring of vulnerabilities to reflect their unique situational factors. This localized assessment allows for a more accurate prioritization of security vulnerabilities that are specifically relevant to the organization, therefore enhancing risk management and mitigation strategies.

This metric enables organizations to move beyond a one-size-fits-all scoring system, which might not accurately represent the risk posed by a vulnerability in specific operational contexts, leading to more informed decision-making about which vulnerabilities to address first and how resources should be allocated for remediation efforts.