Finding severity levels.

:::info
When our pentesters find vulnerabilities, they also identify severity levels. This helps you understand the associated risk to the business.
:::

## OWASP Risk Rating:

Cobalt uses the [OWASP Risk Rating Methodology](https://owasp.org/www-community/OWASP_Risk_Rating_Methodology) to specify High, Medium, and Low levels. We’ve added Critical and Informational levels to help you prioritize our findings.   ![](https://brainfish-storage-prod.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/uploads/e1eb5d82-35e0-4c9f-bde1-0baec07941c1/a99186b5-e39f-47dc-86cf-2bcedf867c8b/image.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAUPPN5IL35NDE2PHP%2F20260602%2Fus-east-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260602T195527Z&X-Amz-Expires=3000&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEF4aCXVzLWVhc3QtMiJHMEUCIQDlD%2BlMakrqAKLVTXz02HTtocwYFBhbCrytsdaqtl8ViAIgDMnRmCxJgO70gK50FGmWR%2FdBaUyQfQFIT20bLaU3Eysq3QUIJxACGgwzMDgxMjU5NzUyODciDBnYw60G4y5uEhctdSq6BTu2RDHuUtfnlm55nS%2BsKaGSR%2BxTFpWBQkZXmZ%2FCnjrWnyhdJu5QXpkZJ06RJ9%2FcWN%2F7fNjOYfkyQtoTxsRzAARbDj7pTGfJZV2B5NIDxiWwEheU4YMtwMViIQ0XUMA3OaJ8AIn037%2F74RnqiVmCBU2TNOW3%2Bh3Z1WwOg2UBgdeV3tfuG9Zsriby6UfIJ9uzl3LqYc%2BhpriLIcdtm8I%2FmuLJ4WsoIdYzVvQtpM3lifLocoy8EBN3FY2cR548drIb4YHFHv%2FCbjnfZPVdomEUqudo9I1Xj%2BsNDwtjTxzLgvruocq337e%2BsJARZQF1wDhngIOaPO5giAEmp9DbjHwgK1sDMEtomgebRLEqf0CIiwAkngU8KxxfO9lvWgOEd5JyFpNIjYDtfu652OAmK%2BXQHfGWfhOBjdIQBLUAGmQlawcmRUZWUzKsTHkm7d6S0%2FILjkZpJ2Bo3xriZ8D1hTO9WkZ3UOH5dr682yhyL96VZkMkaZk60N8jBohidFF5ro8wUP8e9aNuZrLH%2BzA39Jzf0asWOH6n8GjxqRRhVMjdcrSNRdg3ntXbXqPycGA3LN3gNTXX2nnC2cNWM7hzJm9M9be%2Bj%2FT8SyvWgjZ%2Bob%2FYtSwaana2pUGQn0VrBxSOqnW2AqpWsYoq3TyYAuEP9UUvedUYOgfkuw4%2FZ3%2BaFaVGMstlfNQzx6IJjHOT4%2BO1%2FJ7bf6dxpYlJqUDv0DEb%2BZcfBbYDBmPw8Ga5suXUzbuxLGX8pFFsAy1vV46LrdDl48Zzt9cye52JC9KTMvcE4ygo5f6cIgVKd1NbhA5GHoEcp4ttbnlR3YJ0kqbh4Qj5Mz8Ok%2B9EJhzN%2FodnlT75nIIUglREYKCE5H6osc97v6Z8%2Fp0CcawI0Gqo29bRRcmGQgL9YVZsdIi8WjDWU%2BQf%2Fj0VUooGT6JADH9EEfFbMP7M%2B9AGOpABs3p2mkyehw3WrRb90h6i7IYu7CShwi1GjXqMM50zzUsCRStXGhTppMQCjqhkLW6L5HHexIbn9xRZUSDfcVoMyyNaIHb8NdtBS85g1kGBOEWEs2Od1fUN%2FItOpSPV6ifdEgSXAb6x1SfWHQZEe1VLF28OPKJOs9lwb0PnOSZj3TsHzp58gS7lHgsqxEF3fqIs&X-Amz-Signature=d7cf9d20b1bdd4fe1c757e3d66f37c6a447d3d6ba757718e5fae825f856aa42d&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=attachment&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject)

We follow the standard risk model described by OWASP, where:

```
Risk = Likelihood * Impact
```

In this case, the risk rating is based on the following factors:

**Likelihood**: Specifies the probability of exploiting the [finding](https://cobalt-io.brainfish.ai/en-us/articles/glossary-YfTMKeZ1VM#h-finding). May include factors such as:

* Skill required for an attacker to exploit a [vulnerability](https://cobalt-io.brainfish.ai/en-us/articles/glossary-YfTMKeZ1VM#h-vulnerability)

* Availability of documented exploits

* Ease of exploiting the vulnerability

**Impact**: Depends on the effect on technical and business operations. May include:

* Loss of confidentiality

* Problems with data integrity

* Reduced availability of data or systems

* Potential losses of money or reputation

When our pentesters find vulnerabilities, they use the standard OWASP risk model and then classify them into one of the following levels:

| Severity      | Score | Description                                                                                                                                                     |
| :------------ | :---- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Critical      | 25    | Includes vulnerabilities that require immediate attention.                                                                                                      |
| High          | 16–24 | Impacts the security of your application/platform/hardware, including supported systems. Includes high probability vulnerabilities with a high business impact. |
| Medium        | 5–15  | Includes vulnerabilities that are: medium risk, medium impact; low risk, high impact; high risk, low impact.                                                    |
| Low           | 2–4   | Specifies common vulnerabilities with minimal impact.                                                                                                           |
| Informational | 1     | Notes vulnerabilities of minimal risk to your business.                                                                                                         |

Once our pentesters assign a severity level, we move the finding to **Pending Fix**, as described in our [Finding States](https://cobalt-io.brainfish.ai/en-us/articles/finding-states-De6IE4W5Zw).

## CVSS v3.1 Scoring System:

To provide further context and standardization, pentesters will also rate findings using the [CVSS v3.1 Scoring System](https://cobalt-io.brainfish.ai/en-us/articles/finding-states-De6IE4W5Zw) in addition to the OWASP severity rating. Testers will complete the CVSS vector inputs, and the system will automatically calculate the score and severity.

The CVSS v3.1 score ranges from 0.0 to 10.0, with the following severity ratings:

| Severity | Score    |
| :------- | :------- |
| Critical | 9.0–10.0 |
| High     | 7.0–8.9  |
| Medium   | 4.0–6.9  |
| Low      | 0.1–3.9  |
| None     | 0.0      |

OWASP and CVSS severity ratings could differ because they evaluate risk using distinct perspectives and scoring methods.

* **OWASP**: Prioritizes business impact by considering the broader context, including the organization’s objectives, risk tolerance, and the specific environment.

* **CVSS**: Focuses on technical severity with a standardized score based on the vulnerability’s technical characteristics, without initially factoring in the specific environment or business impact.

For example, a finding with a low CVSS score might have a higher OWASP severity if it’s easy to exploit or if it affects critical data or systems.

:::warning
**Aggregated Risk**

Aggregated Risk is the sum of the risks of individual findings discovered in a pentest.

You can view the **Aggregated Risk** for an asset on the **Assets** and **Insights** pages. For details, point to the tooltip on a specific page.
:::



Severity Levels

Pentests

Overview

Asset Details

Pentest Details

Scope & Test Period

Preparation

Create a Pentest

Pentest Process

Pentest States

Coverage Checklist

Pentest Expectations

Complete an In-House Pentest (For Pentesters)

Set Up an In-House Pentest

In House Pentests

Remediate Findings

Finding States

Findings

Contents of a Pentest Report

Customize Your Report

Co-branded Reports

Reports

How to get started with Cobalt

Getting Started

Assets are what we pentest

Asset Types

Create an Asset

Risk Advisories

Assets

Engagements Overview

Digital Risk Assessment

Secure Code Review

Engagements

Insights

Planning

Cobalt Methodologies Overview

Web Methodologies

API Methodologies

External Network Methodologies

Internal Network Methodologies

Mobile Methodologies

Cloud Configuration Review Methodologies

Cloud Pentest Methodology

Desktop Methodologies

AI/LLM Methodologies

Digital Risk Assessment Methodology

Secure Code Review Methodologies

Methodologies

Attack Surface Monitoring (ASM)

Attack Surface

DAST Scanner Overview

Best Practices

Integrations

Partial Scans: Reduced Scope

Scans

Sequence recorder

Targets

Target Authentication

Extra Hosts

Blackout Period

DAST Scanner

Account Overview

Account Settings

Password Best Practices

Sign In to Cobalt

Troubleshoot Sign-in Issues

User Account

Collaboration Overview

Collaborate on Pentests

Groups

Manage Pentest Collaborators

User Roles and Permissions

Manage Notifications

Collaboration

Organization Overview

Manage Users

Your Cobalt Contract

Configure SAML SSO

How to Configure SAML 2.0 for Cobalt 

SAML Migration: Update Your Configuration

SCIM Provisioning Setup Guide

Configure Organization Settings

Organization

Cobalt PtaaS Tiers

Cobalt Credits

Track Your Credits

Credits

Cobalt Integrations Overview

Connect your applications

Create Azure DevOps Work Item for Findings

Create GitHub tickets for Findings

Create GitLab tickets for Findings

Send email notifications for Findings from Outlook

Send MS Teams notifications for Findings

Create Jira tickets for Findings

HTTP Connector

Import Assets from Google Sheets

Map Cobalt Pentest Finding Severity to Jira Issue Priority

Modify Jira Issue Summary to contain Pentest Title

How to Guides

Troubleshooting

Integration Builder

Jira Cloud Integration

Jira Data Center Integration

Push Cobalt Findings to Jira

Synchronize Cobalt Severity Levels with Jira

Switching to a New Jira Instance

Troubleshoot Your Jira Integration

Integrate Jira with Cobalt

Slack

Microsoft Teams

Webhooks

DefectDojo

Kenna Security

Vanta

Carried Over Findings

Create Test Finding

Cobalt API Overview

Create a Personal Cobalt API Token

Get an Organization Token

Revoke Your Personal Cobalt API Tokens

Create or Modify an Asset

Import Findings to Google Sheets

Cobalt API

Glossary

May 2026

April 2026

March 2026

February 2026

January 2026

November 2025 

August 2025

July 2025

June 2025

May 2025

April 2025

March 2025

January 2025

December 2024

November 2024

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

April 2024

March 2024

January 2024

Product Updates

What's New

Guide

Cobalt Product Documentation

Severity Levels

Share

Share

Severity Levels

Share

Share