In a globally connected environment where being the first to market provides an advantage that can be worth billions and persists for decades, taking the fastest route to product development is an operational necessity. For software development teams, this means using open-source components for the mundane aspects of an application and saving the more labor-intensive and expensive custom code for proprietary features.
Third-party and open-source code components are so widely used today that developers simply consider them another tool in their toolkit. Almost all companies use open-source code — an economically sound decision considering it would cost $8.8 trillion to create from scratch. However, while it may not be calculated on the front end, this convenience comes with a cost in the form of security risks. If not managed well, open-source software can cost businesses much more money than it saves.
Open-source software codebases are freely available for anyone, although the license agreements and terms of use vary. The community maintains the software, and anyone can inspect and modify it. Open-source software’s collaborative nature is its most significant benefit and liability. The risks of third-party and open-source code need to be understood before they can be mitigated.
You aren’t the only one with access to open-source code. Hackers can examine it and find security vulnerabilities they can exploit. Open-source components are so widely used that if hackers can exploit one, they can access multiple systems instead of just one. This scalable efficiency means that one exploit can affect millions of users.
OSV maintains a database of known open-source security vulnerabilities. This public repository allows developers to identify risks in third-party software, but it also provides malicious actors with the same information.
Known but unpatched vulnerabilities in open-source code are responsible for almost 60% of security breaches, including the unprecedented Equifax breach that exposed the private data of over 150 million people. While Equifax intentionally decided not to patch an Apache vulnerability after a patch was released, many companies don’t apply patches because they either don’t know about the vulnerability or don’t know they have the affected component in their codebase.
Modern codebases, particularly for enterprise-level applications, are massive and scattered. Departments may use different versions of the same open-source components, and developers may not be aware of all dependencies.
Although open-source software is touted as free, it usually comes with a licensing agreement. Businesses that don’t comply with these licenses may face fines or, worse, loss of intellectual property. Developers need to understand the licenses associated with the code they use. Some common types of licenses include:
The first step in managing the risks of open-source code is knowing what components are in the codebase. Developers can’t apply patches or otherwise protect against flaws if they don’t realize they have the affected component in their codebase.
Software composition analysis (SCA) tools such as Kiuwan Insights (SCA) automate the discovery of open-source application components. Using this information, developers can replace outdated components or apply security patches as soon as they’re released.
Cybersecurity organizations such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommend organizations keep an updated software bill of materials (SBOM) for all applications. An SBOM is an updated list of all of the “ingredients” that make up the components of an application, including libraries and dependencies. SCA tools can help developers create an SBOM as a single source of truth for the entire organization. The SBOM will allow developers to track updates and versions and receive automatic alerts.
Additionally, SCA tools can detect software licenses, outdated dependencies, and vulnerabilities within a codebase. SCA pulls from national databases such as OSV, the NIST National Vulnerability Database, and Mitre’s Common Vulnerabilities and Exploits (CVE) to identify applicable security issues and alert developers about them. Advanced tools such as Insights can automatically block security compliance issues from the codebase so developers can fix them before attackers can exploit them.
With more development teams taking a DevSecOps approach and shifting security earlier in the continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline, SCA tools can seamlessly integrate into the development environment. Tacking on security at the end of the software development life cycle is no longer adequate protection. All major security frameworks require developers to use automated testing tools during builds, code commits, and deployment. Manual code checks simply can’t keep up with AI-powered cyber attacks.
Kiuwan Insights gives you a comprehensive overview of the risks associated with every open-source line in your codebase. It integrates with the tools developers already use, so it doesn’t interrupt established workflows. Because new security threats develop daily, Insights continuously scans code for vulnerabilities and weak points.
The cost of a data breach has reached an all-time high of $4.45 million, including financial, legal, and reputational damage. Your users trust you with their data. Make sure that trust is well placed by hardening your applications. Kiuwan provides an end-to-end application security platform that protects the work of your development teams. Reach out today for a free trial.
