Google to Issue CVEs for Major Cloud Security Flaws

Google Cloud will start issuing CVEs for critical vulnerabilities in its services, aiming to boost transparency and security. This step highlights Google’s commitment to helping organizations guard against threats and builds trust in its security practices, even when no customer action is needed.

Google Cloud announced it will now assign CVEs to critical vulnerabilities in its services, even if no immediate patching or customer action is needed. This move is meant to increase awareness and promote transparency.

The plans to use the “exclusively-hosted-service” label for certain CVEs to clarify that these vulnerabilities don’t require customer involvement. This designation ensures that customers are informed about potential issues without creating unnecessary alarm, as these vulnerabilities are managed directly by Google within its own infrastructure.

Phil Venables, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of Google Cloud, emphasized the importance of this step. According to him, increasing transparency and encouraging shared learning are crucial for combating cyber threats effectively. By highlighting and mitigating vulnerabilities, Google aims to strengthen the entire security ecosystem, allowing defenders to stay ahead of malicious actors.

This move is seen as part of a broader effort to improve security practices across the industry, building trust and demonstrating Google’s proactive approach in addressing potential risks within its cloud environment.

Commitment to Transparency and Security
Google’s decision to issue CVEs aligns with recommendations from the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), which stresses the need for robust security practices to prevent breaches.

The CSRB’s recent report on Storm-0558—a sophisticated threat group that exploited vulnerabilities to access email accounts, including those of government agencies—highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability for cloud providers.

Google Cloud’s proactive step to issue CVEs aims to address these security concerns and encourage best practices across the industry. This initiative continues Google’s 20-year tradition of working closely with external security researchers.

Since 2011, Google has issued over 8,000 CVEs, expanding its role as a leader in vulnerability reporting. In 2022, it became one of MITRE’s four Top-Level Roots, strengthening its commitment.

Google fosters collaboration through initiatives like the Cloud Vulnerability Reward Program (VRP), and its latest move to issue CVEs for cloud vulnerabilities reinforces its “shared fate” model to enhance security. By making vulnerabilities publicly trackable, Google Cloud aims to empower customers and the security community to better manage potential risks.