Penelope Iroko Table of Contents
CISA emergency directives are now closed as the agency shifts urgent remediation to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog under Binding Operational Directive 22-01. The move centralizes prioritization of actively exploited flaws across federal networks.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency confirmed 10 CISA emergency directives have been closed, with oversight and deadlines transitioned to the KEV-driven model.
The change standardizes timelines, strengthens accountability, and streamlines federal vulnerability management through a standing, catalog-based process rather than ad hoc orders.
CISA emergency directives: What You Need to Know
- CISA closed 10 past directives and centralized urgent remediation through its KEV catalog and BOD 22-01 timelines.
Recommended tools to streamline KEV-driven remediation and compliance
- Tenable Vulnerability Management – Align scanning and SLAs with KEV deadlines.
- Bitdefender – Harden endpoints against exploits in the wild.
- 1Password – Enforce strong credential hygiene and access controls.
- IDrive – Resilient backups to reduce risk from disruptive exploits.
Why CISA emergency directives are closing
For years, CISA emergency directives imposed mandatory, time-bound actions to contain severe cyber risks. Those orders standardized response to acute incidents and high-impact vulnerabilities across the federal enterprise.
By retiring older CISA emergency directives, CISA is directing teams to a single source of truth: the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The KEV lists confirmed exploited CVEs and sets remediation due dates under BOD 22-01, creating a standing playbook instead of episodic directives.
Recent activity, such as new KEV entries for exploited jQuery flaws and patches for exploited Microsoft zero-days, illustrates the value of a living catalog.
From one-off orders to a standing playbook
Under the new approach, the KEV catalog anchors prioritization and accountability. CISA publishes exploited CVEs, sets common due dates, and expects remediation across agencies.
The centralized process reduces overlap with prior CISA emergency directives and improves transparency for oversight and reporting.
What changes under the KEV model
With the KEV as the primary mechanism, agencies track and remediate CISA KEV catalog vulnerabilities as they are added, rather than waiting for directive-specific tasking. This streamlines execution and aligns risk response across the federal enterprise.
- Clear prioritization: Focus remediation on vulnerabilities exploited in the wild.
- Predictable timelines: Standard due dates support consistent execution under BOD 22-01.
- Ongoing updates: A living catalog that evolves with current threat activity and exploits.
For reference, CISA maintains the KEV catalog and timelines on its public site, with BOD 22-01 providing the formal compliance framework for federal agencies.
What was closed
Ten CISA emergency directives addressing previous high-risk incidents are now closed and archived. CISA stated the KEV process now covers urgent vulnerability prioritization, eliminating the need for parallel directive-based requirements.
Implications for federal agency cybersecurity compliance
For federal agency cybersecurity compliance, the consolidation clarifies expectations: meet KEV deadlines, demonstrate remediation progress, and manage exceptions per BOD 22-01.
With CISA emergency directives now closed, program leaders can focus on a unified, ongoing process instead of parallel tasking.
Advantages include a single remediation compass, faster updates, and simpler reporting. The primary drawback is the need for continuous vigilance to keep pace with new KEV entries.
Vendors supporting government programs should align releases and advisories to KEV timelines, as urgency now concentrates on exploited CVEs and critical vulnerabilities with active exploitation.
How this shift supports operational resilience
Moving from episodic orders to a catalog-driven approach helps leaders anticipate requirements, allocate resources early, and reduce coordination friction. It also gives teams a public, authoritative signal for risk-based prioritization, similar to how platform vendors respond when exploitation is confirmed.
CISA’s catalog process complements broader federal initiatives to standardize risk management and remediation velocity. Agencies tracking exploited CVEs can align roadmaps with platform vendors and security partners to shrink exposure windows, as seen with rapid patch cycles following Apple’s security updates.
Operationalize KEV response with these vetted solutions
- Auvik – Map assets and detect risky changes across your network.
- EasyDMARC – Reduce email-borne threats and spoofing risk.
- Tresorit – Encrypted collaboration for sensitive operations.
- Passpack – Team password management with audit-friendly controls.
- Tenable Exposure Management – Prioritize and track exposure tied to KEV SLAs.
Conclusion
By closing older CISA emergency directives and centering response on the KEV catalog, CISA is streamlining federal vulnerability management under a consistent playbook.
The KEV model reduces ambiguity, strengthens accountability, and speeds patch orchestration when attackers actively exploit weaknesses. It also reinforces a common language across agencies and vendors.
For security teams, the path is clear: monitor the KEV, align patching to BOD 22-01 timelines, and document progress. As CISA emergency directives recede, the catalog becomes the daily map for risk reduction.
Questions Worth Answering
What does it mean that 10 directives were closed?
- CISA archived 10 orders and shifted urgent remediation to the KEV catalog under BOD 22-01.
What is the KEV catalog?
- CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog lists CVEs confirmed to be exploited with agency remediation due dates.
How does this affect deadlines?
- Deadlines now flow through KEV entries and BOD 22-01, enabling predictable, consistent remediation across agencies.
Do non-federal organizations need to follow KEV?
- KEV deadlines apply to federal civilian agencies; many private organizations still use KEV to prioritize patching.
Will CISA still issue emergency directives?
- CISA retains its authorities but is centering prioritization and timelines on KEV-driven processes.
How should agencies handle CISA KEV catalog vulnerabilities?
- Continuously track new KEV entries, patch within defined due dates, and document exceptions per BOD 22-01.
About CISA
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) leads cybersecurity and critical infrastructure security across the federal civilian enterprise in partnership with government and industry.
CISA provides threat advisories, operational guidance, and services to reduce risk from evolving cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
Its public resources, including the KEV catalog, help organizations prioritize remediation based on active exploitation.
Resources and further reading
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
Binding Operational Directive 22-01
CISA Emergency Directives (archive and overview)
CISA adds new exploited jQuery vulnerability
CISA cloud security mandate for agencies
More ways to harden your stack
- Optery – Remove exposed personal data from data brokers.
- Foxit PDF Editor – Secure document workflows with granular controls.
- Plesk – Centralized server management with security tooling baked in.
Lock down identity, data, and infrastructure—before the next KEV entry drops.
