Vulnerability and patch management: the clause the question tests
How weaknesses are found and how fast they are fixed, by severity.
How the customer usually asks it
example"How quickly are critical security patches applied to production systems?"
Anchor clauses
7 frameworks| Framework | Anchor clause |
|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | 8.8 Management of technical vulnerabilities |
| SOC 2 (Trust Services Criteria) | CC7.1 Detection and monitoring procedures for security events are in place |
| SIG (Shared Assessments) | domain P Threat Management |
| CSA Cloud Controls Matrix v4.0.1 | TVM-03 Vulnerability Remediation Schedule |
| NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 | ID.RA-01 Vulnerabilities in assets are identified, validated, and recorded |
| NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 | RA-5 Vulnerability monitoring and scanning |
| PCI DSS v4.0.1 | 6.3.3 All system components are protected from known vulnerabilities by installing applicable security patches/updates · 11.3.1 Internal vulnerability scans quarterly |
Every framework that anchors this family is listed here; a register shows the ones ticked for the customer.
Evidence expected
The vulnerability management procedure with remediation windows by severity, the latest scan summary, and patch compliance figures for production.
The clauses, with what an assessor asks for
ISO 27001 8.8 Management of technical vulnerabilitiesObtain vulnerability information, evaluate exposure, and take appropriate remediation.
Where answers usually fall short: Relying on ad-hoc scans only; Missing documented risk ranking for vulnerabilities
Source: ISO/IEC 27001:2022
SOC 2 CC7.1 Detection and monitoring procedures for security events are in placeNamed, not quoted: the criteria text is not held in full here.
Where answers usually fall short: Configuration monitored at build only, so drift introduced afterwards is never detected; Scanning performed quarterly against an environment that changes daily
Source: SOC 2 (Trust Services Criteria)
SIG domain P Threat ManagementWhat it asks for, in one line (the standard's own text is not quoted here):
Maintain threat intelligence, vulnerability management, penetration testing, and red team capabilities to identify and remediate weaknesses in a timely manner.
Where answers usually fall short: Critical vulnerabilities open beyond SLA; Penetration test scope omits new applications
Source: SIG (Shared Assessments)
CSA CCM TVM-03 Vulnerability Remediation ScheduleWhat it asks for, in one line (the standard's own text is not quoted here):
Have defined routes for both scheduled and emergency response to a discovered vulnerability, chosen according to the risk that vulnerability carries.
Where answers usually fall short: Emergency path undefined, so urgent vulnerabilities queue behind routine work; Trigger criteria absent, making the choice of path arbitrary
Source: CSA Cloud Controls Matrix v4.0.1
NIST CSF ID.RA-01 Vulnerabilities in assets are identified, validated, and recordedVulnerabilities in assets are identified, validated, and recorded.
Where answers usually fall short: Coverage gaps for cloud and container workloads; SLAs missed for high severity items
Source: NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0
SP 800-53 RA-5 Vulnerability monitoring and scanningRequires vulnerability monitoring and scanning of the system and hosted applications at a defined frequency or randomly by a defined process and when new relevant vulnerabilities are reported, using tools and techniques that support standardised enumeration, checklists and impact measurement, with results analysed, remediation within defined response times by risk, results shared with defined personnel, and privileged scanning access where required.
Where answers usually fall short: Unauthenticated scanning only, which understates the real vulnerability position; Remediation timeframes defined but routinely exceeded with no risk acceptance
Source: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
PCI DSS 6.3.3 All system components are protected from known vulnerabilities by installing applicable security patches/updatesWhat it asks for, in one line (the standard's own text is not quoted here):
All system components are protected from known vulnerabilities by installing applicable security patches/updates as follows:; Patches/updates for critical vulnerabilities (identified according to the risk ranking process at Requirement 6.3.1) are installed within one
Where answers usually fall short: Criteria not approved by leadership; Impact and likelihood scales inconsistent
Source: PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 11.3.1 Internal vulnerability scans quarterlyWhat it asks for, in one line (the standard's own text is not quoted here):
Internal vulnerability scans are performed at least once every three months, with high-risk and critical vulnerabilities resolved per the entity's risk ranking, and re-scans confirm resolution.
Where answers usually fall short: Coverage incomplete; Critical findings open
Source: PCI DSS v4.0.1