Think you’re considering a new vehicle for your home. Before making a purchase, you assess its health assessments, energy efficiency, and reliability. You may also get it on a test drive to make sure it is appropriate for your needs. Before incorporating software and hardware goods into an organization’s culture, the same strategy may apply. Just as you wouldn’t buy a car without knowing its safety features, you shouldn’t build software without understanding the risks it introduces.
The Growing Concern of Supply Chain Problems
Cybercriminals have come to the realization that they can penetrate the program supply chain by slipping fake parts into an assembly line rather than going against an organization head-on. In accordance with the 2024 , attackers are infiltrating open-source communities at an alarming rate, with over 512, 847 malicious deals discovered last year alone, a 156 % increase over the past year. Traditional security techniques and tools frequently overlook these dangers, leaving organizations ready.
A year-long supply chain attack that was discovered in the Python Package Index ( PyPI ) in 2024 was a significant example. Hackers posted malicious software that appeared to be genuine AI robot tools in an effort to trick programmers into incorporating them into their projects. These packages contained obscene code intended to steal sensitive information and perform isolated commands on sick systems. Because PyPI is widely used across a range of industries, thousands of applications could be compromised by this attack before ‘s security researchers could identify and report the nefarious activity. This event highlights the need for more in-depth testing when evaluating software as attackers are increasingly using trusted repositories to disperse malware.
A Hands-On Approach to Risk Assessment: Product Security Testing
Before introducing software and hardware threats into their environments, organizations require a systematic and consistent method to assess them. This process, known as Product Security Testing ( PST ), is about answering key questions:
- What dangers does this item present to my community?
- Should we use this item, or is there a safer solution?
- What measures should be in position to reduce chance if we use it?
Am involves more than just looking for flaws; it also involves understanding how a product functions in your specific culture and determining its entire risk impact. It’s impossible to examine every software package likewise given the sheer number of third-party components used in contemporary IT. Security teams should emphasize their efforts in the wake of both attack surface exposure and business effect. Low-risk applications can be analyzed using automatic or less time-consuming methods, while high-privilege applications that often communicate with exterior services should be subject to product security testing. A planned approach to PST ensures that organizations place a premium on securing the most crucial assets first, keeping the entire system integrity at the forefront, whether done before implementation or as a retroactive analysis.
Learning to Think Red, Act Blue
The SANS SEC568 program aims to develop realistic PST skills. It focuses on black-box tests, a process that simulates real-world situations where the source password isn’t accessible. This makes it incredibly useful for evaluating third-party materials that companies lack direct control over. The course adheres to the tenet of” Think Red, Act Blue”: By learning offensive strategies, businesses can better protect against them.
Although Product Security Testing cannot prevent a third party breach that is beyond your control, it is necessary for organizations to be able to make informed judgments about their defense strategy and response plan. Some businesses adopt a routine procedure of identifying a have, selecting a solution, and deploying it without conducting a thorough security analysis. They may struggle to determine the effects of a supply chain harm because of this lack of attention.
By incorporating PST into the decision-making process, surveillance teams gain important documents, including dominance modeling, threat models, and certain mitigations tailored to the technology in use. This strategic approach reduces confusion, enabling quicker and more effective actions when threats arise. Organizations with PST documents can utilize targeted security controls that reduce risk before a breach actually occurs more than relying only on broad industry mitigations.
Who leverages Product Security Testing?
Regardless of job title, having a solid foundation in product security testing improves overall organization security posture and readiness. Product security testing teams can use these methods to evaluate both their own internal products and third-party software, but this is not limited to a single position. This valuable skill set advances a variety of positions within an organization. Penetration testers can go beyond simple vulnerability scans to examine unknown protocols and proprietary software, while security auditors can use PST to customize evaluations to an organization’s unique risks and compliance needs. Application developers gain from having a better understanding of how security flaws are exploited, enabling them to create more secure code right away, and SOC analysts can use these abilities to identify and mitigate threats brought on by new hardware and software. Even decision-makers gain insights from PST, as it helps them make informed choices about risk, security investments, and mitigation strategies. It’s important to remember that it’s impossible to detect, mitigate, exploit, or develop what we don’t understand.
To gain hands-on experience in product security testing, consider attending SEC568 in Orlando from April 13-18, 2024. This training will give the technical foundation needed to effectively assess software and hardware security. Applying a structured approach to product security testing makes it possible for organizations to fully understand potential risks before deployment, much like testing a car before buying. Security teams can reduce risks and be better prepared for threats in the future by following a repeatable methodology.
Note: Douglas McKee, the Executive Director of Threat Research at SonicWall, the lead author and instructor for SANS SEC568, wrote and contributed to this article with expert writing.