It should not be surprising that there is a growing demand for software-producing entities to fortify their supply chains and warrant the authenticity of their software. Over the past few years, the software supply chain has evolved into a lucrative target for malicious actors seeking to amplify their attacks on a massive scale. A prime example of this is the Log4j breach in 2021, where vulnerabilities in the Log4j open-source logging framework, utilized by numerous applications, led to exploits jeopardizing thousands of systems.
The flaw lay in Log4j’s communication feature, exposing a vulnerability that facilitated the injection of malicious code into logs, enabling its execution within the system. Subsequently, security experts identified millions of attempted breaches, resulting in numerous successful denial-of-service (DoS) assaults. According to recent research from Gartner, nearly half of all enterprise organizations will encounter a software supply chain attack by 2025.
But what exactly constitutes the software supply chain? Essentially, it encompasses all aspects of code, personnel, systems, and procedures contributing to the creation and delivery of software artifacts, both internally and externally within an organization. The complexity and extensive distribution involved in the development of contemporary applications make securing the software supply chain an arduous task. Organizations engage global teams of developers reliant on an unprecedented array of open-source dependencies, diverse code repositories, artifact registries, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure resources essential for application construction and deployment.
While security and compliance remain steadfast priorities for enterprises, the challenge of securing software supply chains continues to loom large. Many organizations are steadily advancing with the implementation of DevSecOps practices, yet numerous are still in the nascent stages of formulating effective strategies.
Hence, we have compiled this article to provide guidance on directing your efforts towards enhancing the security of your software supply chain. Although not an exhaustive list, here are four fundamental principles to set your software supply chain security initiatives in motion.
Deliberate on Every Facet of your Software Supply Chain While Implementing Security Measures
Considering that over 80% of codebases exhibit at least one open-source vulnerability, emphasis on OSS dependencies has predominantly governed software supply chain security. Nevertheless, modern software supply chains encompass additional elements whose security postures are either neglected or not comprehensively understood within organizations for proper management. These elements include code repositories, CI and CD pipelines, infrastructure, and artifact registries, each necessitating security measures and routine compliance evaluations.
Frameworks such as OWASP Top-10 for CI/CD and CIS Software Supply Chain Security Benchmark should be adhered to. Complying with these frameworks mandates granular RBAC, application of the principle of least privilege, scanning of containers and infrastructure-as-code for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations, build isolation, integration of application security testing, and appropriate administration of secrets, among others.
SBOMs are Imperative for Addressing Zero-day Vulnerabilities and Other Component Challenges
As per Executive Order 14028, issued by the White House in mid-2021 to fortify the nation’s cybersecurity stance, software creators are mandated to furnish their federal customers with a software bill of materials (SBOMs). SBOMs essentially serve as formal records designed to offer insight into all components comprising a software entity. They furnish a detailed, machine-readable inventory listing all open-source and third-party libraries, dependencies, and components employed in software construction.
Whether motivated by EO 14028 or not, generation and management of SBOMs for software artifacts represent a beneficial practice. SBOMs are indispensable for addressing component challenges or zero-day vulnerabilities. When housed in a searchable repository, SBOMs map out the locations of specific dependencies and empower security teams to promptly trace vulnerabilities back to affected components.
Regulate the Software Development Lifecycle through Policy-as-code
In the realm of modern application development, robust control mechanisms are paramount for eliminating errors and deliberate actions that compromise security and compliance. Effective governance throughout the software supply chain implies that organizations have streamlined the process of adhering to correct procedures while making incorrect actions significantly challenging.
Although many platforms and tools offer pre-configured policies for rapid enforcement, policy-as-code, based on the Open Policy Agent industry standard, facilitates the formulation and enforcement of fully customizable policies. These policies oversee a wide array of factors, ranging from access privileges to permitting or prohibiting the utilization of OSS dependencies based on criteria such as source, version, package URL, and license.
Ensure Verification & Trust in your Software Artifacts via SLSA
How can users and consumers verify the reliability of software artifacts? Establishing the reliability of a software artifact necessitates information on factors such as the code author, builder, development platform, and the components utilized. The ability to trust software lies in the verification of provenance – the lineage and custody chain of a software artifact. To fulfill this need, the Supply Chain Levels for Software Artifacts (SLSA) framework was conceived. It equips software-producing entities with the capability to document details regarding any aspect of the software supply chain, validate artifact properties and construction, and mitigate security risks. Practically, it is essential for software producers to embrace and adhere to the requirements of the SLSA framework and institute a mechanism for attesting to and validating software artifacts throughout their software supply chains.
Given the vastness and intricacy of fortifying the contemporary software supply chain, the above recommendations present only a glimpse into the breadth of strategies required. As with all facets of modern application development and deployment, the landscape is continuously evolving. For a head start, we suggest perusing the How to Securely Deliver Software ebook, laden with proven strategies aimed at fortifying your security posture and mitigating risks for your enterprise.
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