Supply Chain Levels for Software Artifacts

tag: [Engineer/Developer, Security Specialist]

Supply chain levels for software artifacts provide a framework for categorizing and securing software components based on their risk levels. This approach helps projects prioritize their security efforts towards software components with the highest risk levels.

Framework for Supply Chain Levels

  1. Level 1: Critical Artifacts

    • These artifacts are essential to the core functionality of the software and pose a high risk if compromised.
    • Examples: Core libraries.

  2. Level 2: High-Risk Artifacts

    • Artifacts that are important but not critical. Their compromise could lead to significant security issues.
    • Examples: Middleware, database connectors, oracles, authentication modules.

  3. Level 3: Moderate-Risk Artifacts

    • Artifacts that are used frequently but have a lower risk profile. Their compromise could cause inconvenience but not catastrophic failure.
    • Examples: User interface libraries, utility functions, data processing modules.

  4. Level 4: Low-Risk Artifacts

    • Artifacts that have minimal impact on security if compromised.
    • Examples: Logging libraries, test utilities.

Best Practices for Securing Supply Chain Levels

  1. Critical Artifacts

    • Implement strict access controls and require code reviews for all changes.
    • Use robust security testing, including static and dynamic analysis.
    • Monitor continuously for vulnerabilities and apply patches promptly.

  2. High-Risk Artifacts

    • Enforce strong access controls and conduct regular security assessments.
    • Perform regular updates and vulnerability scans.
    • Implement automated security testing in CI/CD pipelines.

  3. Moderate-Risk Artifacts

    • Apply standard security practices, including access controls and regular updates.
    • Use automated tools to scan for vulnerabilities periodically.
    • Ensure that dependencies are from trusted sources.

  4. Low-Risk Artifacts

    • Follow basic security hygiene, such as using trusted sources and applying updates.
    • Perform occasional security reviews and audits.