Picture a small IT team sipping coffee on a quiet Monday morning. The weekend seemed uneventful—until alerts start flooding in. A breach has occurred. The cause? A vulnerability they hadn’t even flagged as urgent. This isn’t fiction—it’s the reality many organizations face in 2025. Cyber attackers are quicker, smarter, and stealthier. To counter this, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has launched a new ally in the fight: Likely Exploited Vulnerabilities (LEV). This tool helps teams zero in on the vulnerabilities hackers are actually using, so they can stop threats before damage is done.
Why LEV Is a Big Deal
From CVSS to LEV
In the past, we used something called CVSS to rate how bad a software bug was. But CVSS doesn’t tell us if hackers are actually using it. That’s where LEV comes in—it shows which bugs are actively being exploited right now.
Why Now?
Hackers are getting faster and smarter. LEV helps organizations focus on real threats instead of wasting time on low-risk issues. It’s all about fixing what matters most.
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How LEV Works
What LEV Looks At
LEV checks:
- If the bug was used in real attacks
- If the exploit code is online
- If it’s being talked about by hackers
- If it’s part of ongoing cyber campaigns
Fits Right In
LEV is made to work with the tools companies already use, like CVSS and the National Vulnerability Database (NVD). It’s not a replacement—it’s an upgrade.
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 Why LEV Makes Life Easier for Security Teams
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Focus on the Biggest Threats:
Cybersecurity teams face thousands of bugs. LEV helps them zoom in on the ones that matter, saving time and effort.
Less Patch Overload:
Patching everything is impossible. LEV helps teams fix the most dangerous bugs first, avoiding burnout and wasted effort.
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Who’s Using It?
Big Companies Are on Board
Some large companies are already testing LEV. They say it’s helping them respond faster and smarter and Cyber experts love the idea. One said, “LEV could totally change how we decide which risks to handle first.”
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A Few Bumps in the Road
Data Accuracy is Key: LEV needs good, up-to-date data to work well. If the information is wrong or old, it might miss the mark.
Tough for Small Businesses: While big companies might adopt LEV easily, smaller ones could struggle because they have fewer resources.
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What’s Next for LEV
Teaming Up with AI
LEV could work hand-in-hand with AI tools to make cyber defences even smarter—and maybe even automatic.
Helping Everyone Stay Safer
If companies and governments share LEV data, we could all be better protected from global cyber threats.
Conclusion
NIST’s new LEV metric is a big step forward in fighting cyber threats. By showing which bugs are really being used by hackers, it helps companies fix the most important issues first. LEV could change how we all think about cybersecurity—from guessing what might go wrong to knowing what is going wrong.
“The future of cybersecurity isn’t just about fixing vulnerabilities — it’s about predicting them. LEV is how we fight smarter, not harder.”
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If you’re a Cyber Enthusiast the digital world needs defenders like you—your curiosity could become a shield against cyber threats. Visit Digived Academy to learn more about our Cybersecurity Training programs and start your journey as cybersecurity professional today.
Contact Us
For more information about our courses, schedules, and enrolment process, visit our website or contact us at.
Website: www.digived.academy
Email: admission@digived.academy
Phone: +91-9019299971
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