Cybersecurity
In 2025, businesses are navigating a landscape characterized by declining trust in vulnerability databases, a surge in cyberattacks, and digital overload. Data breaches have become commonplace, with the number of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) reaching unprecedented levels, rendering traditional defense mechanisms ineffective.
1. Growth of CVEs
In 2024, the number of CVEs recorded set a new high, with The Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) reporting over 45,000 vulnerabilities. This number is projected to increase by 11% in 2025. Security professionals face increased workloads and reduced response times, as the window between vulnerability disclosure and exploitation has decreased to mere hours. Attackers are utilizing automation and machine learning to exploit CVEs more quickly than organizations can patch them.
2. Infrastructure Challenges
The rapid increase in vulnerabilities has led to significant infrastructure challenges. The National Vulnerability Database (NVD) faced overload in 2024, resulting in a backlog of over 20,000 unprocessed vulnerabilities by November. This situation has eroded trust in centralized sources and provided opportunities for attackers. The European Union has tasked ENISA with developing a regional vulnerability database, questioning the effectiveness of global sources.
3. Digital Transformation Accelerates
The rapid adoption of cloud, IoT, SaaS, and AI-driven services is introducing new risks. Vulnerabilities in complex infrastructures appear faster than they can be addressed. Organizations lack a consistent source of threat data, leading to delayed updates and inconsistent recommendations. Traditional strategies are proving rigid, as companies react post-incident while the attack surface expands.
4. Outdated Methods Are Losing Effectiveness
Traditional vulnerability management, based on scheduled scanning and CVSS-based prioritization, is becoming ineffective. Scanners inadequately cover hybrid environments, and CVSS scores do not reflect the true likelihood of exploitation. Reports often highlight numerous vulnerabilities without identifying immediate threats, resulting in major blind spots. Issues such as misconfigurations, forgotten accounts, and shadow IT assets remain untracked, serving as entry points for attackers.
5. Shift Toward Exposure Management
The transition to exposure management encompasses a broader range of risk points beyond CVEs, including configurations and supply chain vulnerabilities. This approach relies on a comprehensive asset inventory and data aggregation from multiple sources. Prioritization is based on business context, and automation and AI enhance response times and focus. New metrics, such as Mean Time to Detect/Respond (MTTD/MTTR) and Patch Ratio, provide a clearer view of organizational risk.
What’s Next
2025 marks a pivotal shift. Exposure management, supported by automation and integrated data, offers a proactive approach to risk control. Organizations that adapt will manage risk effectively, while those relying on outdated methods will face increased vulnerability. Key actions include transitioning to exposure management, deploying AI and automation at scale, and adopting new metrics that emphasize real risk reduction.
For detailed strategies and recommendations, refer to Ilia Dubov’s article — Implementation Strategy for Vulnerability Management in the 2025 Cybersecurity Landscape.
