Is Open-Source Security a Ticking Cyber Time Bomb?


Software depends on layers of code, and much of that code comes from open-source libraries. According to an Octoverse 2022 report, open-source code is used in 97% of applications. Not only do developers embrace open source, but so do nine in 10 companies. 


“Open-source software is the foundation of 99% of the world’s software,” Martin Woodward, VP of developer relations at GitHub, told VentureBeat.


As the foundation of just about every piece of software, every application or device runs on code that could be accessed by millions of developers. And if there is a vulnerability in any one piece of open-source code, it could lead to a cybersecurity nightmare across the software supply chain. 


The Open-Source Trust Factor


Open-source software offers many benefits. It’s cost-effective, saving developers time and money by using readily available code rather than having to build from scratch. But at the same time, it also introduces significant risk to applications and organizations if the code is not properly vetted and managed.


There’s a tendency to treat open-source as monolithic, that all code will have the same levels of integrity and security. The reality is that using open-source is risky business if you aren’t taking the proper steps to ensure reliability and close its flaws before your application goes live. 


A report from Lineaje, which found that 70% of all software is open-source, focused its research on the Apache Software Foundation, calling it the “gold standard” of open-source. The popularity of the open-source brand attracts a lot of developers ..

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