Precautions for Secure Applications Development with Open Source Codes
Nothing in life comes free. And if something is free it is bound to be associated with some unacceptable condition. This situation applies to the use of open source codes in the software development process. The free use of source codes is growing as it facilitates rapid time-to-market and reduces costs. It helps in meeting the individual requirements of a business. However these open source codes come with innumerable risks and may cost you your business.
The open source security threats may breed in multiple layers and can be present in components that are not visible to you. Thus it is highly essential to monitor the public databases and be aware of the recent patches and upgrades to fix the bugs. The open source codes that have been created by unknown developers or which do not have any track records to prove its origins are dangerous, as the patches and upgrades may either not exist or be delayed.
A majority of the times the IT developers are not proactive enough to maintain a record of the open source components they use, leading to various open source security issues. There is also a risk of legal involvement as some open source codes have certain restrictions and if you are not cautious you can be implicated in a intellectual property case .
Another challenge in using open source codes is the deployment of effective patch management. If you were unaware of the open source codes you use you would not be able to find the patch because you know nothing about the vulnerabilities existent in the code. Sometimes in a haste to complete projects within the specified deadline employees tend to forego rigorous testing of the codes before its application. This is a highly risky move as it can debilitate your entire process.
Leakage of codes can be another issue when you mix the open source codes with the proprietary codes. Whilst the application development process is passed between the various internal development teams, your developers may forget to remove the proprietary code strings before posting the work to the open source development community. Other developers can use these open source codes with another organization’s proprietary code resulting in unintentional stealing and leaking of codes. The cyber criminals can easily exploit the vulnerabilities without any patches to render you financially unstable.
The best way to address the open source risks is to employ risk management frameworks that help identify and deal with the issues comprehensively with integrated risk assessment and remediation solutions. The frameworks can not only identify the risks but can also assess their intensity levels and recommend effective actions. Understanding the management of the open source codes is crucial to ensure safety against any legal battle.
The risk management frameworks evaluate the compliance requirements of your business as well as policies and the risk management strategies. The risks, the processes and the authorized users who take important decisions are analyzed critically for developing advanced security controls that include authentication, encryption, authorization, code access security, device authenticity, FIPS 140 etc. The frameworks ensure that the technical applications and project management capabilities fulfill the compliance requirements and a dashboard is provided for regular reporting which helps in reducing the requirement for audits.
To develop secure applications you need a risk management program that monitors the open source codes and maintains a detailed record.
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