The Invisible Ticking Time Bomb: Why Neglecting Vulnerability Management is an Existential Risk
Software is the indispensable foundation of modern enterprises, but this reliance has birthed unforeseen systemic risk in our digital ecosystems. Despite decades of cybersecurity awareness, the sheer volume of vulnerabilities being disclosed means that Vulnerability Management Programs (VMPs) are often fighting a losing battle.If your organization is complacent, relying on outdated or ad hoc patching methods, you are effectively residing in the attackers' preferred environment. The failure to urgently modernize your vulnerability management is an open invitation for disaster.
The Crisis of the Unmanageable Backlog
The magnitude of the problem is paralyzing. The number of publicly disclosed vulnerabilities is skyrocketing, with the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) logging a record-high approximately 40,000 CVEs (Common Vulnerability and Exposures) in 2024 alone. This relentless volume—a 38% increase compared to 2023—means that security teams are now forced to triage an average of over 100 new vulnerabilities every single day.(Source:JerryGamblin.com)
Faced with this deluge, many organizations are drowning in a backlog, often exceeding 100,000 vulnerabilities. Alarmingly, organizations typically manage to patch less than half of those, meaning the backlog often grows exponentially. This isn't a theoretical concern; it's an immediate operational risk, as attackers are currently able to exploit vulnerabilities 30 percent faster than organizations can resolve them.
This challenge is compounded by a cracked foundation: Asset Management. A mature VMP cannot exist without a precise inventory of all digital assets. If you don't know what assets exist—including hardware, cloud components, or open-source software (OSS) dependencies—you cannot secure them. The infamous Log4j incident provided a stark illustration, forcing frantic searches for the exploitable component because a proper software inventory was missing.
Global Risks: Vulnerability Management in Japan and Europe
Enterprises worldwide grapple with this crisis, and practices vary regionally. In the Netherlands and the broader EU, the regulatory landscape is intensifying with directives like the NIS2 Directive. This framework mandates stringent security measures and carries significant financial penalties for non-compliance, forcing companies to formalize and invest in continuous vulnerability assessment and patch management, often through Vulnerability Management as a Service (VMaaS).In contrast, Japanese companies face a rapidly accelerating threat. Recent high-profile incidents have exposed critical weaknesses, fueling fears of major disruption. Japanese corporate structures, which often heavily rely on system integrators for IT and cybersecurity, can lead to a reduction in in-house expertise, compounding the risk.
Incident Spotlight: Evidenced Vulnerability Exploits in Japanese Companies
Recent incidents involving major Japanese companies underline the universal danger posed by directly exploitable flaws:- Network Zero-Day RCE: In March 2025, the IT services firm Nippon Steel Solutions publicly confirmed a data breach caused by the exploitation of an undisclosed zero-day vulnerability in its critical network equipment, leading to the unauthorized access and potential leakage of customer and employee data. (source: NS Solutions)
- Supply Chain Zero-Day (Active! Mail): Starting around April 15, 2025, a critical Remote Code Execution (RCE) zero-day, CVE-2025-42599, in the widely used Active! Mail web client was actively exploited. This immediately impacted multiple Japanese service providers, including Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ), Kagoya Japan, and WADAX, compromising customer information via their email platforms. (source: Internet Initiative Japan Inc. , WADAX, Kagoya Japan)
- Endpoint Management Zero-Day: Separately, a critical zero-day flaw (CVE-2025-61932) in Motex’s Lanscope Endpoint Manager was also confirmed to be under active exploitation starting in April 2025, allowing arbitrary code execution against Japan-based customers, notably those in the financial institutions sector. (source: Motex Inc)
The Soft Underbelly: Local Branches as an Entry Point
A key factor in many successful attacks is the strategy of "Chaining" vulnerabilities, where attackers rarely rely on a single flaw. They exploit one small, seemingly low-priority vulnerability to gain initial access, then leverage a second or third to move laterally, escalate privileges, and eventually reach sensitive data.Crucially, attackers often target local branches or subsidiaries because their security measures tend to be weaker or less consistently enforced than the corporate headquarters' (HQ) systems. A local office's outdated VPN device, an unpatched server, or a less-monitored endpoint can serve as the highest-risk entry point. Once inside, a lack of fundamental secure configurations, like network segmentation, allows the attacker to move frictionlessly across the entire corporate environment, connecting the local weakness to the central core.
What Can a Local IT Administrator Do?
The responsibility for defense often falls to the local IT administrator, who can pivot the local office from a risk to a strong frontline defense:- Establish True Visibility (The Foundation): Manually or using tools, maintain a precise, up-to-date inventory of all hardware, software, and cloud-based assets in your branch. If you can’t see it, you can’t secure it.
- Prioritize Smartly: Stop chasing low-risk vulnerabilities based only on static CVSS scores. Instead, prioritize fixes based on Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) or the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog. This focuses your limited time on vulnerabilities that are already being actively exploited or have a high probability of being exploited soon.
- Automate Continuously: Automate patch management for both the operating system and key third-party applications. Vulnerability management is not a one-time snapshot—it requires continuous, iterative monitoring.
- Implement Segmentation: If possible, segment your local network. This creates virtual walls that isolate systems, preventing an attacker who compromises one machine (e.g., via an unpatched workstation) from moving freely to the critical servers or the link back to HQ.
Summary: Modernize or Face the Catastrophe
The risk of organizational compromise is real, pervasive, and accelerating. Manual, ad hoc vulnerability management is a path to what is being called "vulnerability management fatigue," leading to burnout and an ever-growing backlog. To survive this threat landscape, enterprises—from the global HQ to the local branch—must modernize immediately. Begin by addressing the fundamentals: Asset Management and Secure Configuration today. The cost of delay is potentially catastrophic.If you would like to discuss ransomware countermeasures, including backup strategies, please contact us at the address below.
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