# CVE Prioritization – NVD, CISA KEV & EPSS Risk Triage (`exprmntl/cve-risk-triage-kev-epss`) Actor

Turn a list of CVE IDs, a keyword search or the latest CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities into a prioritized patch list, enriched with NVD CVSS/CWE, KEV status and FIRST EPSS exploit probability.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/exprmntl/cve-risk-triage-kev-epss.md
- **Developed by:** [Paul Chavez](https://apify.com/exprmntl) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools, Business
- **Security:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$4.00 / 1,000 cve enricheds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## CVE Prioritization – NVD CVSS + CISA KEV + EPSS Risk Triage for Patch Management

Turn a list of CVE IDs, a keyword search or the latest CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities into a prioritized patch list, enriched with NVD CVSS/CWE, KEV status and FIRST EPSS exploit probability.

Why: CVSS alone ranks too many things "critical". Combining *known exploited* (KEV) and *likely to be exploited* (EPSS) lets security and IT teams patch the short list first.

### CVE priority tiers (KEV, EPSS, CVSS)

`P1-exploited` (in CISA KEV) → `P2-likely` (EPSS ≥ 0.10) → `P3-severe` (CVSS ≥ 9.0) → `P4-high` (CVSS ≥ 7.0) → `P5-routine`; `UNSCORED` if NVD/EPSS have no data yet. The reason for each tier is in `priorityReason`. The rules are a transparent heuristic (not a vendor standard) and live in `src/priority.js`.

### Input: CVE IDs, keyword or recent KEV additions

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `cveIds` | List of CVE IDs (invalid IDs are skipped with a warning). |
| `keywordSearch` | NVD keyword search, e.g. `"apache tomcat"`. |
| `publishedWithinDays` | CVEs published in the last N days. |
| `kevAddedWithinDays` | CVEs added to CISA KEV in the last N days. |
| `onlyKnownExploited`, `minCvss`, `minEpss` | Filters. |
| `maxResults` | Cap per run (default 50). |
| `nvdApiKey` | Optional free NVD API key (secret). Without it the Actor waits ~6.5 s per NVD call to respect the public limit of 5 requests / 30 s. |

```json
{ "cveIds": ["CVE-2021-44228"], "kevAddedWithinDays": 2, "maxResults": 6 }
```

### Output: one enriched record per CVE

```json
{
  "cveId": "CVE-2021-44228",
  "priority": "P1-exploited",
  "priorityReason": "Listed in CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog",
  "cvss": { "version": "3.1", "baseScore": 10, "severity": "CRITICAL" },
  "weaknesses": ["CWE-20", "CWE-400", "CWE-502", "CWE-917"],
  "epss": { "score": 0.99999, "percentile": 1, "date": "2026-10-29" },
  "knownExploited": true,
  "kev": { "dateAdded": "2021-12-10", "dueDate": "2021-12-24", "knownRansomwareCampaignUse": "Known" }
}
```

Real sample run: `samples/output.json`.

### CVE triage pricing (pay per CVE)

**$0.004 per CVE enriched.** 1,000 CVEs = $4.

### Data sources, credits and notices

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. KEV data: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog. EPSS scores: FIRST.org. Not security advice; validate against your own asset inventory.

Related searches: CVE lookup, NVD API, CISA KEV, EPSS score, vulnerability prioritization, patch prioritization, security advisory feed.

### Run via API (cURL)

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/exprmntl~cve-risk-triage-kev-epss/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"cveIds": ["CVE-2021-44228", "CVE-2024-3400"]}'
```

### Run from Python

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("exprmntl/cve-risk-triage-kev-epss").call(run_input={"cveIds": ["CVE-2021-44228", "CVE-2024-3400"]})
for item in client.dataset(run["default_dataset_id"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)
```

Running with no input performs a small demo run with example data.

### FAQ

**How do I prioritize CVEs from a vulnerability scan?**
Export the CVE IDs from your scanner and pass them in `cveIds`. Each CVE gets CVSS, KEV status, EPSS and a priority tier.

**What is EPSS and why combine it with KEV?**
EPSS (FIRST) estimates the probability a CVE is exploited in the next 30 days; CISA KEV lists CVEs already exploited. Together they beat CVSS alone for patch ordering.

**Can I get newly added CISA KEV vulnerabilities?**
Yes. Set `kevAddedWithinDays` (e.g. 7) for a weekly KEV digest; schedule the Actor for automatic reports.

**Do I need an NVD API key?**
No, but adding `nvdApiKey` makes large runs faster.

**Can I export to CSV or Excel?**
Yes. All results are in the dataset and can be downloaded as JSON, CSV or Excel or pulled via API.

# Actor input Schema

## `cveIds` (type: `array`):

CVE identifiers to enrich, one per line (e.g. CVE-2021-44228).

## `keywordSearch` (type: `string`):

Optional. Search NVD descriptions for a product or vendor keyword, e.g. 'apache tomcat'. Combine with 'Published within days' to see only recent CVEs.

## `publishedWithinDays` (type: `integer`):

Only keyword-search results published in the last N days (NVD allows at most 120).

## `kevAddedWithinDays` (type: `integer`):

Optional. Also include CVEs newly added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog in the last N days.

## `onlyKnownExploited` (type: `boolean`):

Drop CVEs that are not in the CISA KEV catalog.

## `minCvss` (type: `number`):

Drop CVEs with a lower CVSS base score (0-10).

## `minEpss` (type: `number`):

Drop CVEs with a lower EPSS exploit probability (0-1).

## `maxResults` (type: `integer`):

Upper bound on CVEs processed in this run. Without an NVD API key each CVE looked up by ID takes about 6 seconds because of NVD's public rate limit.

## `nvdApiKey` (type: `string`):

Optional free key from nvd.nist.gov/developers/request-an-api-key. Raises NVD's rate limit roughly 10x and makes ID lookups much faster. Never shared or stored.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "cveIds": [
    "CVE-2021-44228"
  ],
  "onlyKnownExploited": false,
  "maxResults": 50
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

One dataset item per CVE with NVD, CISA KEV and EPSS data and a priority tier.

## `overview` (type: `string`):

Key fields as a table view.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "cveIds": [
        "CVE-2021-44228"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("exprmntl/cve-risk-triage-kev-epss").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "cveIds": ["CVE-2021-44228"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("exprmntl/cve-risk-triage-kev-epss").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "cveIds": [
    "CVE-2021-44228"
  ]
}' |
apify call exprmntl/cve-risk-triage-kev-epss --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,exprmntl/cve-risk-triage-kev-epss"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/GQEs2pvyhtZE4MedA/builds/rUPzM2Lp40ewtahUa/openapi.json