In last-minute reversal, US agency extends support for cyber vulnerability database

FILE PHOTO: A man takes part in a hacking contest during the Def Con hacker convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. on July 29, 2017. REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. officials will extend support for 11 months for a database of cyber weaknesses that plays a critical role in fighting bugs and hacks, a spokesperson said on Wednesday, just as the funding was due to run out.

The expected cut-off of payments for the non-profit MITRE Corp's Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database had spread alarm across the cybersecurity community.