Open-source software enables code review and reuse, but known vulnerabilities and unmaintained dependencies can create cybersecurity risks.
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Background for this topic.
Open source is software whose source code is available under a license that permits use, inspection, modification, and redistribution. It may be developed by a community, an organization, or a small group of maintainers; “open” does not guarantee that the code is actively reviewed, supported, or secure.
For security teams, the main concerns are vulnerabilities in dependencies and the software supply chain: a maintainer account, release process, or package can be compromised, while an unmaintained component may retain known flaws. Public code can enable review and faster fixes, but visibility alone is not a control. Maintain an inventory or SBOM of open-source components, pin and verify versions or signatures where possible, monitor vulnerability advisories, and apply updates through a controlled process.
The US government and the Open Source Security Foundation have released guidance to shore up software supply chain security, and now it's up to developers to act.
The insecurities exist in CI/CD pipelines and can be used by attackers to subvert modern development and roll out malicious code at deployment.
The search engine giant's Vulnerability Rewards Program now covers any Google open source software projects — with a focus on critical software such as Go and Angular.