Episode 3

VEX Marks the Spot

Episode Overview

Not every vulnerability in your SBOM is a real threat. That’s where VEX comes in. In this episode of Sushi Bytes, Shinobi and Gen explore the Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange… what it is, why it matters, and how it helps teams focus on the vulnerabilities that actually matter. From cutting through alert fatigue to avoiding the growing mess of BOM spinoffs, this duo keeps it sharp, practical, and just a little snarky.

Want fewer false alarms and more actionable intel? VEX marks the spot.

Show Transcript

[0:08] Shinobi: Welcome to Sushi Bytes, sharp insights on software supply chain integrity.
I’m Shinobi, your AI generated software composition analysis ninja. On this show, I help you navigate open source license, compliance, security, and regulatory chaos one byte at a time.

Today we’re slicing into a topic that’s confusing a lot of teams. Vex—the vulnerability exploitability exchange. But I’m not alone. Joining me is my fast talking, sharp witted and fully robotic friend. Glad you could join us Gen. I know you’re totally AI generated and all, but you’re quite the expert in code context and cracking jokes.

[0:48] Gen: Hey hi Shinobi, thanks for having me on. You know I’m excited about this topic. Security isn’t a checklist you do once in a while. It’s a lifestyle. Like flossing for your code.

[0:59] Shinobi: And just like flossing, most teams say they do it, but we both know the truth. So, Gen, let’s get to it. Everyone knows about SBOMs—Software Bills of Materials. We covered them a bit in my last episode. But what’s VEX and why should anyone care?

[1:17] Gen: Great question. That episode was great. Think of your SBOM like an ingredient list. It tells you everything that went into those brownies you burned. But here’s the thing, just because peanut butter’s on the list doesn’t mean you should avoid them. Maybe you’re not allergic.

[1:33] Shinobi: So VEX tells you whether the vulnerability actually applies.

[1:36] Gen: Exactly. The keyword is exploitability. VEX is a machine-readable format that says this vulnerability exists, but it’s not exploitable in this context—and why. It separates theoretical risk from real risk.

[1:51] Shinobi: Gotcha. So without VEX we’re stuck with a giant pile of vulnerability alerts. Developers don’t know which ones matter. Security teams drown in false positives.

[2:03] Gen: Right. And management thinks the sky is falling when really it’s just library bloat.

[2:07] Shinobi: OK, so in short, VEX lets you focus your fixes on what matters. No more wasting cycles on vulnerabilities that can’t even be reached or triggered.

[2:16] Gen: Yep. And today it’s not just nice to have, it’s becoming expected.

[2:23] Shinobi: Yeah, I see regulatory bodies like CISA and frameworks like the NIST Secure Software Development Guidelines are pushing for VEX adoption alongside SBOMs.

[2:31] Gen: That’s right. Why?
Because without VEX, an SBOM is just noise. Imagine handing your auditor a 500-line vulnerability report without telling them which issues are real.

[2:44] Shinobi: Yeah, that wouldn’t go over well. Customers, regulators, and even acquirers in M&A now want clarity, not clutter.

[2:52] Gen: Here’s where people get tripped up, Shinobi. They think they need a separate VEX document, a separate AI BOM, a separate API BOM. The BOM and VEX management complexity make teams want to push this off as much as possible.

[3:05] Shinobi: You must have heard my rant then. Software is software. We need to keep this simple—whether human or AI generated, local or cloud, binary or source. The point is: track it, analyze it, and apply context.

[3:19] Gen: I know, right? We’re all busy enough as is. Let’s keep it simple where we can.

[3:25] Shinobi: So Gen, let’s offer some simplicity right now. How can listeners get started with VEX today?

[3:33] Gen:

#1: Use an SCA tool that integrates vulnerability detection and exploitability context in its reporting.
#2: Your tooling should align your SBOM and VEX outputs. Make sure they talk to each other.
#3: Educate your teams that sometimes less is more.
A smaller, more focused vulnerability list is a gift, not a cover-up. And if necessary, get help. Ask your SCA provider if they can do a baseline. Audit the heavy lift so you don’t have to start with a blank slate.

[4:03] Shinobi: Got it. SBOM and VEX go hand in hand to deliver both content and context. And you don’t have to get started alone. Ask for a baseline from your SCA partner. Thanks Gen.

That’s all for today’s Sushi Bytes.

We covered VEX, why it matters, and how it helps you zero in on real risk. And remember, not all vulnerabilities are created equal—but all of them will slow you down if you don’t know what matters.

Subscribe for more episodes on software supply chain integrity. Go to sca.ninja/podcast.

Until next time: code responsibly, scan widely, and audit frequently.

[4:41] Gen: And hey, don’t forget to floss. Bye.