Google Cloud Enhances Transparency with Expanded CVE Reporting
Google Cloud today announced a significant step towards increased transparency in vulnerability disclosure. Effective immediately, the company will issue Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) for critical vulnerabilities even when they do not require customer action or patching. This move aims to foster greater trust and collaboration within the security community.
“As part of our continued commitment to security and transparency on vulnerabilities found in our products and services, effective today we will be issuing CVEs for critical Google Cloud vulnerabilities, even when we do not require customer action or patching,” stated the official announcement.
This initiative underscores Google Cloud’s commitment to a “shared fate model,” recognizing the interconnectedness of cloud security and emphasizing collaboration with customers for continuous improvement. By proactively disclosing vulnerabilities, even those mitigated within Google Cloud’s infrastructure, the company aims to contribute to a broader understanding of security threats and promote industry-wide resilience.
To distinguish vulnerabilities that require no customer action, Google Cloud will annotate CVE records with the “exclusively-hosted-service” tag. This clarification ensures users can readily identify vulnerabilities that have been addressed internally, minimizing unnecessary concern and confusion.
Google Cloud’s decision to expand CVE reporting aligns with recommendations from the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), which emphasizes the importance of transparency and proactive security measures from major platform providers. The company’s commitment to vulnerability disclosure is further exemplified by its participation in initiatives such as the Cloud Vulnerability Reward Program (VRP), which encourages collaboration with external security researchers.
“By partnering with the industry through programs including Cloud VRP, and driving visibility on vulnerabilities with CVEs, we believe we are advancing security best practices at scale,” the announcement affirmed.
