What is the definition of vulnerability disclosure?

Vulnerability disclosure refers to the process of reporting a security vulnerability to stakeholders, such as software developers, system administrators, or affected parties. This process is crucial because it facilitates transparency regarding security issues and enables organizations to address vulnerabilities effectively. When a vulnerability is disclosed, the responsible parties can take necessary actions to mitigate the risk, implement patches, or provide workarounds to protect systems and data. This proactive approach is essential for maintaining cybersecurity, as it helps to ensure that vulnerabilities are addressed before they can be exploited by malicious actors.

Identifying weaknesses in network infrastructure involves identifying areas of risk but does not encompass the broader concept of informing relevant parties about specific vulnerabilities. Creating policies for handling incidents is important for responding to vulnerabilities once they are discovered but does not pertain directly to the process of disclosure. Assessing threats before they occur is focused on prevention and risk management, which, while vital, is not the same as the act of communicating existing vulnerabilities to stakeholders.