The National Vulnerability Database is the U.S. government repository of standards-based vulnerability management data represented using the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP). This data enables automation of vulnerability management, security measurement, and compliance. NVD includes databases of security checklists, security related software flaws, misconfigurations, product names, and impact metrics. NVD supports the Information Security Automation Program (ISAP).
On Friday March 8, 2013, the database was taken offline after it was discovered that the system used to run multiple government sites had been compromised by a software vulnerability of Adobe ColdFusion.
In addition to providing a list of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), the NVD scores CVEs to quantify the risk of vulnerabilities, calculated from a set of equations based on metrics such as access complexity and availability of a remedy.