T0111 - Malicious code contribution to an open-source repository
A malicious code contribution to an open-source repository attack is a type of cyber attack that involves an attacker submitting code with malicious intent to an open-source repository.
Open-source repositories are used to store and manage code for open-source software projects, and they rely on community contributions to improve and maintain the codebase.
In this attack, the attacker may submit a seemingly harmless code contribution to the repository. However, the code contains a hidden malware payload that can be triggered later to cause damage.
Alternatively, the code may include a backdoor that allows the attacker to gain unauthorized access to the system running the open-source software.
Once the code is accepted into the repository, it can be difficult to detect the presence of the malicious payload.
The code may be integrated into the open-source project, distributed to other projects that depend on it, and even included in software distributions used by many people.
This can result in a wide-scale compromise of systems that use the affected code.
ID: T0111
Type:
Technique
Tactic:
Resource Development
Summary:
Malicious code contribution to an open-source repository
State:
draft
Mitigations
id
type
summary
description
M1110
Mitigation
Implement contributor validation
Verify the identity and trustworthiness of code contributors before accepting their code contributions to the open-source repository.
This can include validating their identity, reputation, and previous contributions, and using a well-defined process for onboarding new contributors to ensure that they are legitimate and not malicious actors.
M1503
Mitigation
Implement SCA analysis
Component Analysis is the process of identifying potential areas of risk from the use of third-party and open-source software and hardware components.
The best option for implementing SCA analysis is integration of SCA analysis tools into your CI/CD environment in order to scan your source code dependencies before the release.
M1730
Mitigation
Implement code reviews
Code reviews are a valuable tool for improving code quality, reducing technical debt, and ensuring the security and reliability of software applications.
Most crucial changes should be reviewed and validated to ensure there are no any security risks.
Code reviews can identify defects and vulnerabilities in the code before it's deployed, reducing the likelihood of security breaches, system failures, and other issues.
Require code reviews for any changes to source code or configuration files, especially for those affecting the CI/CD pipeline.
M1732
Mitigation
Implement code scanning for security risks
Scanning pull requests to detect risks allows for early detection of vulnerable code and/or dependencies and helps mitigate potentially malicious code.
For every repository in use, enforce risk scanning on every pull request.
Detections
id
type
summary
description
D1260
Detection
Implement regular security audit and review
Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments of your systems and storages configurations to identify and address any potential misconfigurations or vulnerabilities that could lead to exposed storage.
This includes reviewing access controls, encryption settings, and other security configurations to ensure they are aligned with best practices and organizational security policies.
D1510
Detection
Implement Intrusion Detection System and anti-malware
An intrusion detection system (IDS) is a security tool designed to detect and alert on unauthorized access to a computer system or network.
Implementing intrusion detection systems (IDS) and anti-malware software can help to identify and block malicious activity.
IDS is a critical security tool that helps organizations to detect and respond to security incidents in a timely manner.
By providing real-time monitoring and analysis of network traffic, IDS can help organizations to stay ahead of potential threats and reduce the risk of a security breach.