Many companies use at least one open-source software component, and in some cases, they are not even aware of it. The open-source software code is publicly available for modification and enhancement by developers.
This software is usually created with the community's help, and it is subsequently maintained and updated by volunteers. Depending on the creators, various licenses determine the usage of open-source software. WordPress and Linux OS are good examples of these.
Due to the highly unregulated nature of open-source software, there are a lot of risks that come with it. Here we highlight some of the significant risks of using open-source software.
1. Highlighted Vulnerabilities
Organizations like National Vulnerability Database (NVD) and the contributors often highlight the vulnerabilities and weaknesses of open-source software. These vulnerabilities are made public knowledge for discussion.
Modifications are welcomed, and this can give some developers a chance to benefit from these weaknesses. Although the users are updated before making a public announcement, this still means that you leave loose ends in your software.
2. Missing Security
Open-source software has no guarantees or legal requirements for security and lacks the necessary support to keep you safe. Open-source developers are not security professionals and may not incorporate the standard practices.
Third-party libraries are often required and are updated without proper inspection by package managers. The black-box nature of these updates makes it more complex to identify the vulnerabilities.
3. Operational Insufficiencies
Open-source components are not tailor-made for a specific operation, which creates a lot of bottlenecks during its use.
You must check each component and how it might interact with other features in use. Many components are updated frequently through third-party managers who might add unnecessary functionality without much use. For this reason, many companies consider custom development instead of an open-source component.
4. Poor Developer Practices
It is very common to copy-paste code sections instead of integrating fundamental components in open-source software, posing many risks. As a result, it becomes impossible to track code for licensing and security.
Developers casually share the code through emails and online clouds instead of a binary respiratory manager, leaving the code vulnerable to unauthorized insertions of security flaws.
How to Protect Your Organization
Companies can adopt policies to consider how much the public knows about vulnerabilities, the frequency of version releases, and the time between issue identification and patching.
It's crucial to understand the developers behind the open-source component and what kind of support it might or might not provide. A software composition analysis tool can also help to keep you protected against the risks posed by open source components.
These tools scan the open-source codes for any pitfalls and maximize the developers' ability to code securely through various plugins. They can also give licensing and vulnerability information for each component, protecting you from copyright infringement.
Endnote
Many companies use and benefit from open-source software, but the risk associated with open-source software makes it essential to protect yourself either through custom software development or software composition analysis tools.
In the age of technology, most business transactions and operations have shifted online. Taking proper protection measures will help you stay protected against the risks of using a publicly sourced code.
