Common Malware Enumeration (CME)
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CME Identifiers

CME identifiers (also called "CME numbers" and "CMEs") are assigned in the format "CME-N" where N is an integer between 1 and 999, such as "CME-123". By minimizing the number of characters used initially, most anti-virus products will be able to add the CME identifiers directly to the names their products already display for users. Additional digits will be added when the remaining unused identifier space becomes too small.

Each CME identifier recorded on the CME Web site includes following information associated with it:

  • CME identifier number
  • Description of the malware, and/or comments
  • Vendor aliases with links to their malware encyclopedias or alerts
  • Date/time assigned

As the list grows we will expand the information associated with each CME identifier in order to provide first responders with additional insights about the latest malware threats. Refer to The CME Process: Scope, Identifiers, and Guidelines for Deconfliction for a complete discussion of how CME identifiers are assigned and how we build and manage the CME List.

Incorporation of CME Identifiers by Anti-Virus Product Vendors

To accommodate space-deprived anti-virus products, CME identifiers can be abbreviated (e.g., M123 or M-123), but the official format (i.e., CME-123) should be used in places such as Web pages, alerts, encyclopedias, etc. For the sake of successful text-based comparisons, leading zeros will always be omitted in an identifier, e.g., CME-00123 will always be written as CME-123.

Organizations including CME identifiers in their products, Web sites, alerts, encyclopedias, etc. are listed on the Products and Services Including CME Identifiers page.

CME List

The CME List includes all identifiers that have been assigned to-date.

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