A Structured Approach to Classifying Security Vulnerabilities
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
CMU/SEI Report Number
CMU/SEI-2005-TN-003DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
10.1184/R1/6571760.v1Topic or Tag
Abstract
Understanding vulnerabilities is critical to understanding the threats they represent. Vulnerability classifications enable collection of frequency data; trend analysis of vulnerabilities; correlation with incidents, exploits, and artifacts; and evaluation of the effectiveness of countermeasures. Existing classification schemes are based on vulnerability reports and not on an engineering analysis of the problem domain. In this report, a classification scheme that uses attribute-value pairs to provide a multidimensional view of vulnerabilities is proposed. Attributes and values are selected based on engineering distinctions that allow vulnerabilities to be exploited by a given technique or determine which countermeasures are effective. Successful classification of vulnerabilities should lead to greater automation in analyzing code vulnerabilities and supporting effective communication between geographically remote vulnerability handling teams and vendors.
Cite This SEI Report
Seacord, R., & Householder, A. (2005, January 1). A Structured Approach to Classifying Security Vulnerabilities. (SEI Report CMU/SEI-2005-TN-003). Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6571760.v1.
@techreport{seacord_2005,
author={Seacord, Robert and Householder, Allen},
title={A Structured Approach to Classifying Security Vulnerabilities},
month={Jan},
year={2005},
number={{CMU/SEI-2005-TN-003},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
doi={10.1184/R1/6571760.v1},
url={https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6571760.v1},
note={Accessed: 2026-Oct-24}
}
Seacord, Robert, and Allen Householder. "A Structured Approach to Classifying Security Vulnerabilities." (CMU/SEI-2005-TN-003). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, January 1, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6571760.v1.
R. Seacord, and A. Householder, "A Structured Approach to Classifying Security Vulnerabilities," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, SEI Report CMU/SEI-2005-TN-003, 1-Jan-2005 [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6571760.v1. [Accessed: 24-Oct-2026].
Seacord, Robert, and Allen Householder. "A Structured Approach to Classifying Security Vulnerabilities." (SEI Report CMU/SEI-2005-TN-003). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Jan. 2005. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6571760.v1. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
Seacord, Robert; & Householder, Allen. A Structured Approach to Classifying Security Vulnerabilities. CMU/SEI-2005-TN-003. Software Engineering Institute. 2005. DOI: 10.1184/R1/6571760.v1. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6571760.v1