Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language (OVAL)

What Is Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language (OVAL)

Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language (OVAL) is an international, information security, community standard to promote open and publicly available security content, and to standardize the transfer of this information across the entire spectrum of security tools and services.  

Why OVAL Matters

The Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language (OVAL) matters because it standardizes how vulnerability and configuration information is defined, shared, and assessed across security tools. By converting complex security checks into machine-readable definitions, OVAL enables accurate, automated, and consistent vulnerability management at scale. Why OVAL is important:

• ‍Standardization: Provides a common, vendor-neutral format for identifying vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.
• ‍Interoperability: Allows scanners, patch tools, and configuration managers to work together seamlessly.
• ‍Actionable accuracy: Uses precise, machine-readable definitions to reduce manual interpretation.
• Fewer false positives: Vendor-maintained OVAL content accounts for patches and system context.
• ‍Security automation: Powers automated vulnerability assessment and compliance as part of SCAP.
• ‍Lifecycle support: Enables patch validation, configuration checks, auditing, and compliance reporting.

How OVAL Works

OVAL (Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language) works by using a standardized, XML-based format to automate vulnerability and configuration checks. Security tools compare defined vulnerability conditions with a system’s actual state and report whether it is vulnerable or compliant.

How OVAL works:

• ‍OVAL definitions (what to check): XML files describing specific vulnerabilities or misconfigurations, often mapped to CVEs, using tests, objects, and states.
• ‍OVAL tests (how to check): Match objects (files, packages, registry keys) with expected states (versions, values, settings).
• ‍System characteristics (actual state): Real system data collected from the target environment.
• ‍OVAL interpreter (engine): Tools like OpenSCAP evaluate definitions against system data.
• ‍OVAL results (report): Generates a pass/fail report showing whether vulnerabilities exist.

Benefits of Using OVAL

The primary benefit of OVAL is that it standardizes how system vulnerabilities and configurations are assessed and reported using an open, machine-readable format. This makes security assessments more accurate, automated, and consistent across tools and environments.

Key benefits of OVAL:

• ‍Standardization & interoperability: Enables seamless data sharing across scanners, patch tools, and security platforms.
• ‍Improved accuracy: Community-reviewed definitions reduce errors and false positives.
• ‍Machine-readable advisories: Allows tools to consume vendor security guidance instantly.
• ‍Automation: Supports automated vulnerability, patch, and configuration management and underpins NIST SCAP.
• ‍Information sharing: Uses a shared repository for high-quality, reusable security definitions.
• ‍Transparency: Open definitions show exactly how vulnerabilities are detected.
• ‍Flexibility: Can be customized to match organizational policies and environments.
• ‍Broad use cases: Supports vulnerability detection, configuration checks, patch validation, auditing, and inventory.

Loginsoft Perspective

At Loginsoft, OVAL is a critical component of precise vulnerability assessment. Through our Vulnerability Intelligence, Security Engineering, and Threat Intelligence Services, we leverage OVAL to validate real exposure and reduce noise in security findings.

Loginsoft supports OVAL-driven security by

• Validating vulnerabilities using structured definitions
• Reducing false positives in assessments
• Enhancing vulnerability intelligence accuracy
• Supporting compliance and configuration checks
• Strengthening automated security workflows

Our approach ensures organizations focus on real risk with actionable insight.

Summary

Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language, known as OVAL, is an open standard used to describe system security states, configuration issues, and software vulnerabilities in a structured, machine-readable format. It helps organizations automate vulnerability assessment and compliance checks.

FAQs - Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language (OVAL)

Q1. What is OVAL

OVAL is an open standard used to describe and evaluate system vulnerabilities and configuration states.

Q2. Does OVAL scan systems directly

No. OVAL defines how checks are described. Security tools use these definitions to perform assessments.

Q3. Why is OVAL important for vulnerability assessment

It standardizes vulnerability checks, improves accuracy, and enables automation across tools.

Q4. Is OVAL used for compliance

Yes. OVAL is widely used to validate security configurations and compliance requirements.

Q5. How does Loginsoft use OVAL

Loginsoft uses OVAL to validate vulnerabilities, reduce false positives, and strengthen automated security assessments.