FEATURE : CYBERSECURITY
The hidden risks of open-source software : A wake-up call for national security
Scott Aken , CEO , Axellio , says growing dependence on OSS introduces unique vulnerabilities – particularly for defense contractors and organizations tasked with safeguarding national security .
Open-source software ( OSS ) is foundational to our digital infrastructure . Yet , as with any widely used technology , its ubiquity and openness also make it a prime target for exploitation .
The growing dependence on OSS introduces unique vulnerabilities , particularly for defense contractors and organizations tasked with safeguarding national security .
While OSS offers cost efficiency and a robust development model , it also presents a glaring risk : the inclusion of software components developed by contributors in adversarial nations .
Recent research underscores the potential dangers . A report by Fortress revealed that a significant percentage of OSS contributions for software products used to manage the US power grid originate from countries such as Russia and China . These nations , which have consistently demonstrated sophisticated cyber capabilities , raise legitimate concerns about the integrity and security of OSS code embedded in US systems .
OSS thrives on its global , collaborative nature . Developers worldwide contribute to improving software functionality and fixing bugs , creating an ever-evolving ecosystem . However , this interconnectedness is a double-edged sword . Software supply chains , composed of various OSS libraries , often lack robust scrutiny , opening the door to vulnerabilities that adversaries can find and exploit later .
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