Understanding Common Platform Enumeration (CPE)

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The Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) is a structured naming scheme used for identifying IT systems, software, and packages. It provides a standardized way to uniquely determine a specific version of software.

An example of a common CPE string may look like this: "cpe:2.3:a:react_framework:16.0:rc1". This string consists of several fields, including the CPE version, part (application, operating system, or hardware device), vendor, product, version, and other less commonly used fields.

CPEs are commonly used in conjunction with vulnerabilities. For example, when a vulnerability affects multiple versions of software, the known affected software configurations are sometimes listed as CPE strings of all software exposed to the vulnerability. SecurityVulnerability.io allows you to either see the raw CPE strings, or it can also calculate and display vulnerable versions for you.

"Sometimes you're only vulnerable if you use a certain configuration of software and hardware."

For instance, the Heartbleed bug serves as an example of this. Different configurations where the vulnerability applies are listed, indicating which versions of OpenSSL or operating systems, along with specified hardware, make a system vulnerable.

CPE provides an easy way to check if you're vulnerable by comparing the listed CPEs with your own configurations.

Structured Format of CPE

CPE: "cpe:2.3:a:react_framework:16.0:rc1" - "cpe:2.3:{part}:{vendor}:{product}.{version}:{other}"

A CPE string is structured as follows:

  1. Part: Application, operating system, or hardware device
  2. Vendor: The organization responsible for the product
  3. Product: The specific software or hardware product
  4. Version: The version of the product
  5. Other Fields: Additional information such as update, edition, language, and more

By understanding the structure of CPE and how it is used in conjunction with vulnerabilities, organizations can effectively assess and mitigate potential risks to their IT systems and software.