14 Oct Software Supply Chain Security: Why Third-Party Dependencies Need Attention
Modern software is rarely built from scratch. Development teams combine original code with open-source libraries, commercial components, frameworks, and cloud services to deliver products faster. These third-party dependencies save time, but they also bring security risks that can affect every application that relies on them.
Software supply chain security means understanding where your software comes from, what it contains, and how its components are maintained. For technology leaders and development teams, paying attention to software dependencies is a practical way to reduce risk without slowing innovation.
What are third-party software dependencies?
A dependency is a component that an application relies on to perform a function. It might help process payments, manage user authentication, connect to a database, or display a web interface.
Some dependencies are added directly by developers. Others are brought in indirectly through another component. These are known as transitive dependencies, and they can make it difficult to see the full picture of what an application uses. OWASP notes that transitive dependencies can pass inherited risk to the software that relies on them. (community.owasp.org)
Dependencies can be open source or commercial. Either way, using a component means taking responsibility for understanding its risks and keeping track of changes that could affect your software.
Why dependency security matters
Vulnerabilities can enter through trusted components
A popular library can still contain a known vulnerability, become outdated, or be compromised. If a vulnerable component is part of your application, attackers may be able to exploit it through the way your product uses that component. A flaw in one widely used dependency can also affect many products at once.
Tools such as OWASP Dependency-Check help identify project dependencies and check them against publicly disclosed vulnerability information. This can make known issues easier to spot, but scanning is only one part of a broader security process.
Your team may not know what is in the application
Without an accurate inventory, it is hard to tell whether a newly reported vulnerability affects your product. This challenge grows as applications use more libraries and indirect dependencies, often added through package managers such as npm.
A software bill of materials, or SBOM, records the components in a software product. It can help teams understand what they use and assess the impact of new security information. CISA’s guidance for software customers recommends requesting SBOMs and integrity information for software and updates. (cisa.gov)
Risks include more than security flaws
A dependency’s security history matters, but so do its maintenance and licensing. A project with few maintainers or slow responses to reported issues may create operational risk. A license that does not suit your intended use can create legal or commercial concerns.
OWASP recommends considering factors such as a project’s maturity, maintenance activity, security practices, and license when assessing components. (cheatsheetseries.owasp.org)
Practical ways to manage dependency risk
A strong approach combines clear ownership, automated checks, and regular review. These steps can help teams build security into everyday development work.
- Keep an inventory. Record direct and transitive dependencies, including the versions used in production. Generate and maintain SBOMs where they fit your development and procurement processes.
- Scan throughout development. Run software composition analysis (SCA) in development workflows and CI/CD pipelines, rather than relying only on a final release check. OWASP describes automated component analysis as a useful part of identifying dependency risks. (community.owasp.org)
- Use verified versions. Lock dependency versions and use trusted sources. This helps reduce the chance of an unreviewed change being pulled into a build. (cheatsheetseries.owasp.org)
- Prioritize what needs action. Assess whether a vulnerable component is present, how the application uses it, and how critical the affected system is. Not every alert has the same level of risk.
- Plan updates and response. Assign responsibility for reviewing alerts, applying security patches, and documenting exceptions. Revisit components regularly, especially when they are business-critical or no longer actively maintained.
- Assess suppliers. For commercial software and services, understand the supplier’s security practices, vulnerability reporting process, and update commitments. CISA recommends verifying that third-party software meets relevant security requirements. (cisa.gov)
Make dependency security part of delivery
Dependency security is not a one-time audit. New vulnerabilities are disclosed, software changes, and teams add components as products evolve. A repeatable process helps teams respond without treating every alert as an emergency.
The goal is not to avoid third-party software. Dependencies are essential to modern development. The goal is to choose them carefully, know where they are used, and respond quickly when their risks change.
Build secure teams for a changing software landscape
Tools and policies are most effective when teams have the skills and time to put them into practice. Software engineers, cloud specialists, and security professionals all play a role in evaluating dependencies and maintaining secure delivery processes.
YourCode helps organizations recruit technology talent across Europe, including software development and cloud engineering roles. Learn more about YourCode’s recruitment services and build the teams that can support secure, reliable software delivery.