Three critical cybersecurity programs face an unprecedented funding crisis as the U.S. government’s financial support for the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) program approaches expiration in April 2025. MITRE, the organization stewarding the CVE program for 25 years, has issued stark warnings about potential disruptions to vulnerability databases, security vendor operations, and critical infrastructure protection if funding lapses.
The implications of this funding uncertainty extend far beyond U.S. borders, threatening global cybersecurity operations that rely on CVE’s standardized vulnerability tracking system. Security teams, software vendors, and managed service providers worldwide depend on CVE identifiers for clear communication about security flaws and coordinated incident response. VulnCheck has pledged to support the community by allocating 1,000 2025 CVEs to help maintain continuity. Since its establishment in 1999, the CVE program has been essential for maintaining consistent identification of vulnerabilities globally.
Global cybersecurity hangs in the balance as CVE funding concerns threaten the standardized system protecting networks worldwide.
Without consistent CVE assignments, the cybersecurity community risks fragmentation, potentially adopting inconsistent tracking methods that could compromise effective threat management.
To address these challenges, the newly established CVE Foundation aims to secure independent, long-term support through diversified funding sources, including private sector and international contributions. This initiative represents a significant shift from the traditional U.S. government-funded model, acknowledging the need for more sustainable and globally distributed support mechanisms.
The crisis has exposed fundamental vulnerabilities in the world’s most relied-upon security tracking infrastructure. National vulnerability databases and security advisories could rapidly deteriorate during any service interruption, as critical infrastructure operators would face increased risk without centralized CVE data.
Recent government intervention has temporarily extended funding, but long-term sustainability concerns remain unresolved. Industry experts highlight that the CVE program’s potential disruption could create dangerous gaps in vulnerability identification and remediation processes, extending exposure to cyber threats.
The situation has prompted renewed scrutiny of critical infrastructure funding models, particularly as cyberattack frequency continues to rise. Stakeholders are advocating for neutral, community-driven governance to strengthen program resilience and maintain the global trust that CVE has earned over its quarter-century of operation.
