Vulnerability Remediation Validation

1. Prerequisites

• Vulnerability remediation activities completed
• Access to vulnerability management platform
• Access to affected systems
• Access to asset inventory
• Access to patch management platform
• Access to SIEM
• Access to EDR platform
• Access to application or service owners
• Updated vulnerable asset inventory
• Incident or tracking ticket created

2. Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Review Remediation Activities

   • Review:
     • Patches applied
     • Configuration changes implemented
     • Services disabled
     • Security controls deployed
   • Document completed remediation activities.

2. Validate Patch Deployment

   • Confirm:
     • Patches installed successfully
     • Correct versions deployed
     • Installation completed without errors
   • Document validation results.

3. Validate Configuration Changes

   • Review:
     • Security configurations
     • Access control changes
     • Network restrictions
     • Application security settings
   • Confirm intended changes are in place.

4. Perform Vulnerability Re-Scanning

   • Execute vulnerability scans against affected assets.
   • Confirm:
     • Vulnerability no longer detected
     • No critical findings remain
     • Scan results are consistent across assets
   • Document scan outcomes.

5. Review Security Telemetry

   • Review:
     • SIEM alerts
     • EDR alerts
     • IDS/IPS alerts
     • Application security alerts
   • Identify any signs of continued exposure or exploitation.

6. Validate Service Functionality

   • Confirm:
     • Systems are operational
     • Applications are functioning normally
     • Business services are available
     • No unintended operational impacts exist
   • Document findings.

7. Validate Exposure Reduction

   • Confirm:
     • Internet exposure has been addressed
     • Temporary containment measures remain effective
     • Vulnerable pathways have been eliminated
   • Record validation results.

8. Assess Residual Risk

   • Determine:
     • Remaining vulnerabilities
     • Outstanding remediation items
     • Accepted risks
     • Compensating controls
   • Document residual risk assessment.

9. Document Validation Results

   • Record:
     • Assets validated
     • Scan results
     • Operational testing results
     • Residual risks
     • Outstanding actions
   • Prepare remediation summary.

10. Escalate and Hand Off

    • Provide findings to the Incident Commander and Technical Lead.
    • Coordinate with:
      • Vulnerability Management Team
      • System Owners
      • Security Leadership
    • Update the incident record with all findings and validation results.

3. Post-Action

• Ensure all validation results are documented.
• Preserve vulnerability scan reports and supporting evidence.
• Record all residual risks and accepted risks.
• Attach validation reports to the incident record.
• Track outstanding remediation items to completion.
• Update vulnerability management records as required.
• Participate in post-incident review activities as required.

Contributor

Vishal Thakur GitHub: https://github.com/malienist

Contributed to the Arcana Incident Response Documentation Framework.