> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex-cloud-posture-management/vunerability-management/vulnerability-management-in-cortex-cloud/cortex-cloud-vulnerability-concepts.md). # Cortex Cloud vulnerability concepts **Vulnerability** A vulnerability is a CVE or other known software security weakness that can occur in a network or system. Vulnerabilities are typically defined by the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) and other established security information sources, such as Github Security Advisory or RedHat Security Advisory. {% hint style="info" %} ### Note CVE is an acronym for Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures, which is a list of publicly disclosed security threats. We often use the term "CVE" to refer to a vulnerability that has been a assigned a CVE ID. Cortex Cloud identifies CVEs and non-CVE vulnerabilities. {% endhint %} **Vulnerability findings** A vulnerability finding is a specific instance of a vulnerability that was discovered in your system through a vulnerability scan. Findings include both actionable and informational context, including information about the asset on which the vulnerability was discovered. Some findings might be critical and should be addressed as soon as possible, others are less important and won’t require any action at all. Cortex Cloud applies vulnerability policies to findings to prioritize them and create issues for the ones that are most critical to remediate. **Vulnerability issues** Cortex Cloud creates a vulnerability issue when a specific instance of a vulnerability in your environment matches a vulnerability policy. Each issue has a priority, assignee, progress status associated with it. Issues also provide contextual information about the asset on which the issue is found, exploitability, and other information required for remediation and mitigation. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex-cloud-posture-management/vunerability-management/vulnerability-management-in-cortex-cloud/cortex-cloud-vulnerability-concepts.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.