Misconfigured Dependency Checking
TLDR: Misconfigured dependency checking can expose applications to vulnerabilities in outdated, unpatched, or malicious dependencies. These risks include remote code execution (RCE), data leakage, and denial of service attacks. Failure to maintain effective dependency monitoring and update practices violates several OWASP Top Ten principles, including Alerts for Vulnerable Components, Access Controls, and secure Policy Enforcement.
https://owasp.org/www-project-dependency-check/
Neglecting to configure automated dependency checking tools allows outdated or vulnerable libraries to remain in production environments. Attackers can exploit known vulnerabilities in these components. Enforcing regular dependency scans aligns with OWASP Top Ten's emphasis on proactive Alerts for Vulnerable Components.
https://owasp.org/www-community/vulnerabilities/Using_Components_with_Known_Vulnerabilities
Improper validation of third-party libraries or packages increases the risk of introducing malicious or compromised code into the application. Validating dependencies against trusted sources and using allowlists ensure compliance with OWASP Top Ten guidelines for secure Policy Enforcement.
https://owasp.org/www-community/OWASP_Input_Sanitization
Failing to enforce access restrictions for dependency repositories can result in unauthorized modifications. For example, an attacker could inject malicious updates into a private Maven, NPM, or PyPI repository. Implementing Access Controls ensures only authorized users can modify or publish dependencies.
https://owasp.org/www-community/Access_Control
Ignoring security advisories for dependencies prevents timely updates to address critical vulnerabilities. Enabling automated alerts for vulnerable components and subscribing to vulnerability databases ensures compliance with OWASP Top Ten's proactive monitoring standards.
https://owasp.org/www-community/OWASP_API_Security_Project
Inadequate logging of dependency updates and vulnerabilities can obscure evidence of exploitation attempts. Adopting secure Logging practices ensures a clear audit trail of dependency activities, meeting OWASP Top Ten recommendations for secure monitoring and auditing.
https://owasp.org/www-community/Logging_and_Monitoring_Cheat_Sheet
Over-reliance on default settings in dependency checking tools often leaves gaps in security coverage, such as missing transitive dependency checks. Customizing tool configurations to enforce comprehensive scans aligns with OWASP Top Ten's focus on securing Framework Defaults.
https://owasp.org/www-community/Framework_Security_Project
Failure to isolate dependencies in development, testing, and production environments increases the risk of deploying unverified or insecure libraries. Segregating environments and validating dependencies in each stage adhere to OWASP Top Ten's deployment best practices.
https://owasp.org/www-community/OWASP_Proactive_Controls
Dependency version mismatches or configuration drift can introduce vulnerabilities during runtime. Enforcing dependency lockfiles, such as `package-lock.json` for NPM, ensures consistency and compliance with OWASP Top Ten's resource management principles.
https://owasp.org/www-community/Logging_and_Monitoring_Cheat_Sheet
Failing to limit the scope of dependency permissions, such as network or filesystem access, increases the attack surface. Applying least privilege principles to dependencies reduces risk and aligns with OWASP Top Ten recommendations for secure configuration.
https://owasp.org/www-community/Least_Privilege
Neglecting to sandbox or containerize dependency execution environments can lead to RCE if a compromised dependency is exploited. Ensuring isolated runtime environments for dependencies adheres to OWASP Top Ten's secure resource management guidelines.