What Actually Works: Prioritizing Based on Exploitability and Context

Vulnerability overload is a universal challenge. Thousands of alerts, hundreds of assets, and an ever-expanding CVE catalog make it nearly impossible to separate what’s urgent from what’s noise.

Yet most platforms still treat all findings the same — as if CVSS scores alone could drive smart decision-making. They can’t.

At NorthStar.io, we believe that real progress in CTEM starts with better prioritization. And that means moving beyond severity scores toward something far more effective: exploitability, context, and business impact.

Why CVE Severity Isn’t Enough

Severity scores can be helpful, but they’re not definitive. A “critical” vulnerability buried on an isolated, offline server is far less risky than a “medium” severity bug on an exposed, cloud-facing endpoint with access to sensitive data.

Without factoring in exploitability, exposure, and asset value, you end up chasing the wrong problems — and wasting valuable team time in the process.

The NorthStar Approach to Prioritization

We’ve engineered our platform to deliver prioritization that reflects real-world risk, not theoretical threat.

• Exploit prediction models based on real-time threat intelligence
• Deduplication and correlation to avoid alert fatigue from repetitive findings
• Context-aware scoring that integrates business importance, asset exposure, and attack paths

The result? Your team focuses on the 5% of vulnerabilities that actually matter — and ignores the 95% that don’t.

Aligning with Frameworks That Matter

Our prioritization model draws from the MITRE ATT&CK framework, leverages data from the CISA KEV Catalog, and supports risk-based practices outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.

This alignment isn’t just about compliance — it’s about operationalizing CTEM in a way that’s realistic, scalable, and impactful.

From Theory to Confidence

True prioritization means taking action with confidence. With NorthStar’s CTEM engine, you’re not just checking off boxes — you’re tackling threats that actually move the needle on risk.

If you’re tired of chasing severity scores and want to work smarter, not harder, it’s time to make prioritization part of your CTEM program — not just your toolset.

Explore More from the CTEM Blog Series

➡️ Post 1: CTEM Is Not a Product – It’s a Program
➡️ Post 2: The Actionability Trap – Why Acting Fast Can Still Be Acting Wrong
✅ Up next: The NorthStar Approach: CTEM as a Living Program