Modern software development heavily relies on open-source libraries and third-party packages. But with great convenience comes great risk.
🔍 What does this mean?
This category refers to the use of components — including libraries, frameworks, and dependencies — that are outdated, unsupported, or known to be vulnerable.
These are low-hanging fruit for attackers, and yet still commonly neglected in real-world applications.
🧪 Real-World Example
Think of the Log4Shell vulnerability (CVE-2021-44228). A critical flaw in a widely-used logging library affected thousands of applications overnight — simply because that component was present and exploitable.
✅ How to Protect Yourself
- Maintain a Bill of Materials (SBOM): Know exactly which components (and versions) your software is using — across dev, staging, and prod.
- Continuously Monitor for Vulnerabilities: Use tools like OWASP Dependency-Check, Snyk, or GitHub’s Dependabot to flag issues as they emerge.
- Apply Patches Promptly: Delaying updates increases exposure time. Adopt automated or routine patching practices to keep dependencies current.
- Avoid End-of-Life Software: If a component no longer receives updates, it no longer belongs in your system. Migrate before it becomes a liability.
- Use Trusted Repositories Only: Supply chain attacks often start with malicious packages being inserted into public repos. Stick with verified sources.
🔐 Security isn’t just about writing safe code — it’s about building on safe foundations.
Let’s be proactive. Let’s be vigilant. Let’s stop shipping known exploits into production.