Cybersecurity Vulnerability Remediation Act

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for the remediation of cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cybersecurity Vulnerability Remediation Act 2. Cybersecurity vulnerabilities Section 2209 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 659 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (9) as paragraphs (7) through (10), respectively; and (B) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new paragraph: (6) the term cybersecurity vulnerability security vulnerability 6 U.S.C. 1501 ; (2) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (5)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking and (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph: (B) sharing mitigation protocols to counter cybersecurity vulnerabilities pursuant to subsection (n); and ; and (iv) in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, by inserting and mitigation protocols to counter cybersecurity vulnerabilities in accordance with subparagraph (B) with Federal (B) in paragraph (9), by inserting mitigation protocols to counter cybersecurity vulnerabilities, measures, (3) by redesignating the second subsections (p) and (q) (relating to coordination on cybersecurity for SLITT entities and a report, respectively) as subsections (r) and (s), respectively; and (4) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (t) Protocols To counter certain cybersecurity vulnerabilities The Director may, as appropriate, identify, develop, and disseminate actionable protocols to mitigate cybersecurity vulnerabilities to information systems and industrial control systems, including in circumstances in which such vulnerabilities exist because software or hardware is no longer supported by a vendor. . 3. Report on cybersecurity vulnerabilities (a) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on how the Agency carries out subsection (n) of section 2209 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to coordinate vulnerability disclosures, including disclosures of cybersecurity vulnerabilities (as such term is defined in such section), and subsection (t) of such section (as added by section 2) to disseminate actionable protocols to mitigate cybersecurity vulnerabilities to information systems and industrial control systems, that includes the following: (1) A description of the policies and procedures relating to the coordination of vulnerability disclosures. (2) A description of the levels of activity in furtherance of such subsections (n) and (t) of such section 2209. (3) Any plans to make further improvements to how information provided pursuant to such subsections can be shared (as such term is defined in such section 2209) between the Department and industry and other stakeholders. (4) Any available information on the degree to which such information was acted upon by industry and other stakeholders. (5) A description of how privacy and civil liberties are preserved in the collection, retention, use, and sharing of vulnerability disclosures. (b) Form The report required under subsection (b) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex. 4. Competition relating to cybersecurity vulnerabilities The Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department, may establish an incentive-based program that allows industry, individuals, academia, and others to compete in identifying remediation solutions for cybersecurity vulnerabilities (as such term is defined in section 2209 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by section 2) to information systems (as such term is defined in such section 2209) and industrial control systems, including supervisory control and data acquisition systems.

Summary: Cybersecurity Vulnerability Remediation Act This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to take certain actions with the goal of countering cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency must report on its activities to coordinate disclosures of cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The report must address, among other topics, relevant policies and procedures; the degree to which disclosed information is acted upon by industry and other stakeholders; and the preservation of privacy and civil liberties when collecting, using, and sharing vulnerability disclosures. The National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center may disseminate protocols to counter cybersecurity vulnerabilities to information systems and industrial control systems, including in circumstances in which such vulnerabilities exist because software or hardware is no longer supported by a vendor. The Science and Technology Directorate may establish a competition to develop remedies for cybersecurity vulnerabilities.