# CVE Ape

CVE Ape is a Vulnerability Assessment product. It runs on-premises. Pricing is free.

CVE Ape is an open source tool that creates a local CVE database from the National Vulnerability Database for offline vulnerability searching by package name, vendor, or OS components.

Checked October 2026.

## What is CVE Ape?

CVE Ape is an open source command-line tool that creates a local copy of the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) and Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) databases for offline vulnerability searching.

The tool allows users to search for registered CVEs by package name, vendor name, or through OS libraries and packages listed in package lists. It downloads CVE data and stores it locally in the ~/.cache/cve-ape/ directory, enabling offline operations after the initial database creation.

CVE Ape is designed primarily for reviewing Linux-based IoT devices but can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines to enhance security maintenance. The tool provides basic vulnerability identification capabilities, though it does not check for backports or vendor-specific patches unless explicitly configured.

The application requires an initial online update to establish the local database before offline functionality becomes available. It operates through a simple interface focused on CVE lookup and identification tasks.

Tags: Linux, CVE, Open Source

## Where it fits in your security program (NIST CSF 2.0)

- [Identify](https://cybersectools.com/guides/building-identify-program-small-team): helps you know your assets and your risks.

## Quick facts

- Category: [Exposure & Vulnerability Management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/exposure-vulnerability-management) · [Vulnerability Assessment](https://cybersectools.com/categories/vulnerability-assessment)
- Deployment: On-Premises
- Company size fit: Startup, SMB, Mid-Market
- Pricing model: Free
- GitHub stars: 5
- Website: github.com

## CVE Ape FAQ

### What is CVE Ape?

CVE Ape is a product in the Vulnerability Assessment category. It covers Linux, CVE and Open Source.

### What is the pricing for CVE Ape?

CVE Ape is free. Download and setup instructions are at https://github.com/baalmor/cve-ape/.

### What are alternatives to CVE Ape?

Alternatives to CVE Ape listed on CybersecTools:

1. [Fortra VM](https://cybersectools.com/tools/fortra-vm) - Risk-based vulnerability management platform for scanning and prioritization (Commercial)
2. [Glitchward Lightweight Agent-Based Monitoring](https://cybersectools.com/tools/glitchward) - Agent-based server security monitoring with vulnerability and compliance scanning (Commercial)
3. [ProjectDiscovery Nuclei](https://cybersectools.com/tools/projectdiscovery-nuclei) - Vulnerability scanner using templates to scan apps, cloud, and networks (Commercial)
4. [Labrador Server Care](https://cybersectools.com/tools/labrador-server-care) - Periodically scans servers for open source SW vulnerabilities and license issues. (Commercial)
5. [Positive Technologies XSpider PRO](https://cybersectools.com/tools/positive-technologies-xspider-pro) - Russian vulnerability scanner for SMB infra up to 500 hosts, black/white box. (Commercial)

Compare all CVE Ape alternatives at [https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/cve-ape](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/cve-ape)

### What deployment and organization size does CVE Ape fit?

CVE Ape is available as on-premises software. It is listed for startups, small businesses and mid-market companies. It is free.

## Compare CVE Ape with similar solutions

- [CVE Ape vs Fortra VM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cve-ape-vs-fortra-vm)
- [CVE Ape vs Glitchward Lightweight Agent-Based Monitoring](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cve-ape-vs-glitchward)
- [CVE Ape vs ProjectDiscovery Nuclei](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cve-ape-vs-projectdiscovery-nuclei)

All alternatives to CVE Ape: [/alternatives/cve-ape](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/cve-ape)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/tools/cve-ape

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More on CVE Ape: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=product-md