§3316a. Reports on intelligence community participation in vulnerabilities equities process of Federal Government

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Vulnerabilities Equities Policy and Process document

The term "Vulnerabilities Equities Policy and Process document" means the executive branch document entitled "Vulnerabilities Equities Policy and Process" dated November 15, 2017.

(2) Vulnerabilities Equities Process

The term "Vulnerabilities Equities Process" means the interagency review of vulnerabilities, pursuant to the Vulnerabilities Equities Policy and Process document or any successor document.

(3) Vulnerability

The term "vulnerability" means a weakness in an information system or its components (for example, system security procedures, hardware design, and internal controls) that could be exploited or could affect confidentiality, integrity, or availability of information.

(b) Reports on process and criteria under Vulnerabilities Equities Policy and Process

(1) In general

Not later than 90 days after December 20, 2019, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees a written report describing-

(A) with respect to each element of the intelligence community-

(i) the title of the official or officials responsible for determining whether, pursuant to criteria contained in the Vulnerabilities Equities Policy and Process document or any successor document, a vulnerability must be submitted for review under the Vulnerabilities Equities Process; and

(ii) the process used by such element to make such determination; and

(B) the roles or responsibilities of that element during a review of a vulnerability submitted to the Vulnerabilities Equities Process.

(2) Changes to process or criteria

Not later than 30 days after any significant change is made to the process and criteria used by any element of the intelligence community for determining whether to submit a vulnerability for review under the Vulnerabilities Equities Process, such element shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees a report describing such change.

(3) Form of reports

Each report submitted under this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(c) Annual reports

(1) In general

Not less frequently than once each calendar year, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees a classified report containing, with respect to the previous year-

(A) the number of vulnerabilities submitted for review under the Vulnerabilities Equities Process;

(B) the number of vulnerabilities described in subparagraph (A) disclosed to each vendor responsible for correcting the vulnerability, or to the public, pursuant to the Vulnerabilities Equities Process; and

(C) the aggregate number, by category, of the vulnerabilities excluded from review under the Vulnerabilities Equities Process, as described in paragraph 5.4 of the Vulnerabilities Equities Policy and Process document.

(2) Unclassified information

Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include an unclassified appendix that contains-

(A) the aggregate number of vulnerabilities disclosed to vendors or the public pursuant to the Vulnerabilities Equities Process; and

(B) the aggregate number of vulnerabilities disclosed to vendors or the public pursuant to the Vulnerabilities Equities Process known to have been patched.

(3) Nonduplication

The Director of National Intelligence may forgo submission of an annual report required under this subsection for a calendar year, if the Director notifies the intelligence committees in writing that, with respect to the same calendar year, an annual report required by paragraph 4.3 of the Vulnerabilities Equities Policy and Process document already has been submitted to Congress, and such annual report contains the information that would otherwise be required to be included in an annual report under this subsection.

(4) Publication

The Director of National Intelligence shall make available to the public each unclassified appendix submitted with a report under paragraph (1) pursuant to paragraph (2).

( Pub. L. 116–92, div. E, title LXVII, §6720, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2230 ; Pub. L. 117–103, div. X, title III, §307, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 966 .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022-Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 117–103 added par. (4).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions

For definitions of "congressional intelligence committees" and "intelligence community", referred to in text, see section 5003 of div. E of Pub. L. 116–92, set out as a note under section 3003 of this title.