Exploited vulnerabilities

Does a CVE alone trigger CRA vulnerability reporting?

A CVE identifies a vulnerability; it does not alone establish active exploitation. Preserve evidence of whether a malicious actor is exploiting the weakness without the owner’s permission.

Prepared by CRA Operations · Updated 2026-09-13 · Hypothetical worked examples

The situation

A security team receives a CVE affecting a shipped component. Its first review finds no active exploitation. Later, reliable evidence may confirm exploitation affecting the relevant product. The reporting assessment should change with those facts, while remediation continues in either case.

Facts that change the answer

  • What evidence establishes active exploitation rather than theoretical exploitability?
  • Does the vulnerability affect the product being assessed?
  • When did the manufacturer become aware of the relevant facts?

Compare the worked results

These examples use the published assessment with the assumptions shown below. Change the facts in your own assessment before relying on its result.

CVE recorded; active exploitation not identified

Hypothetical example 1

Assessment resultno active exploitation identified
Key facts in this example
Timestamp when the organisation became aware of the vulnerability
2026-09-11T09:00:00Z
Evidence that a malicious actor is exploiting the vulnerability in a system without the system owner’s permission
not identified
The notification records, where applicable, Member States where the product is known to have been made available
Yes
The 72-hour notification records available product information and the general nature of the exploit and vulnerability
Yes
Date the corrective or mitigating measure became available
2026-09-12
Corrective or mitigating measures taken, and measures users can take, are recorded
Yes
The notification records how sensitive the submitted information is, where applicable
Yes
Final-report status within 14 days after a corrective or mitigating measure became available
submitted within 14 days
The final report describes the vulnerability, including severity and impact
Yes
Available information about malicious exploitation and relevant threat actors is recorded
Yes
The final report gives details of the security update or other corrective or mitigating measures
Yes
Submission to the designated coordinating CSIRT and ENISA is confirmed
Yes
All recorded assumptions (14)
Affected product with digital elements
Hypothetical example product
Reporting role
manufacturer
Timestamp when the organisation became aware of the vulnerability
2026-09-11T09:00:00Z
Evidence that a malicious actor is exploiting the vulnerability in a system without the system owner’s permission
not identified
The notification records, where applicable, Member States where the product is known to have been made available
Yes
The 72-hour notification records available product information and the general nature of the exploit and vulnerability
Yes
Date the corrective or mitigating measure became available
2026-09-12
Corrective or mitigating measures taken, and measures users can take, are recorded
Yes
The notification records how sensitive the submitted information is, where applicable
Yes
Final-report status within 14 days after a corrective or mitigating measure became available
submitted within 14 days
The final report describes the vulnerability, including severity and impact
Yes
Available information about malicious exploitation and relevant threat actors is recorded
Yes
The final report gives details of the security update or other corrective or mitigating measures
Yes
Submission to the designated coordinating CSIRT and ENISA is confirmed
Yes

Active exploitation confirmed; notifications in progress

Hypothetical example 2

Assessment resultnotification sequence in progress
Key facts in this example
Timestamp when the organisation became aware of the vulnerability
2026-09-13T09:00:00Z
Evidence that a malicious actor is exploiting the vulnerability in a system without the system owner’s permission
confirmed
24-hour early-warning status
deadline not yet reached
72-hour vulnerability-notification status
deadline not yet reached
A corrective or mitigating measure is available
No
Impacted users were informed without undue delay, including necessary risk-mitigation or corrective measures
Yes
All recorded assumptions (8)
Affected product with digital elements
Hypothetical example product
Reporting role
manufacturer
Timestamp when the organisation became aware of the vulnerability
2026-09-13T09:00:00Z
Evidence that a malicious actor is exploiting the vulnerability in a system without the system owner’s permission
confirmed
24-hour early-warning status
deadline not yet reached
72-hour vulnerability-notification status
deadline not yet reached
A corrective or mitigating measure is available
No
Impacted users were informed without undue delay, including necessary risk-mitigation or corrective measures
Yes

Evaluated on 2026-09-13 using EU Cyber Resilience Act actively exploited vulnerability notification record, version 2026.09.02. A completed example is not a customer Record or a declaration of conformity.

Evidence to keep

  • CVE and affected-version analysis
  • Exploitation evidence with provenance and timestamps
  • Manufacturer role and awareness record

Keep source artifacts in their controlled systems and record their references, responsible owner and review date with the decision.

Your next step

Keep the initial finding and reassess when evidence changes. Confirm the reporting threshold before using the deadline calculator for the case.

Choose your real product or vulnerability case in the workspace. The selected assessment will be highlighted; example answers are not copied into your record.

Sources and application dates

Manufacturer reporting applies from 11 September 2026. Broader product requirements apply from 11 December 2027; these product-readiness examples support preparation. Open-source-steward obligations have their own application date.

These examples structure a decision and do not replace the Regulation, official guidance or product-specific professional advice. Not lawyer-reviewed.

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