What is a Software Supply Chain Attack? #
In this glossary we are going to define what is a software supply chain attack, and also we are going to expose some software supply chain attacks examples.
As you may already know, software supply chain attacks are a specific kind of cyberattacks. They usually target third-party software components, libraries, development tools, or infrastructure used to build and distribute software applications. Instead of directly attacking the target organization, threat actors infiltrate trusted software suppliers or service providers, introducing malicious code or backdoors that are subsequently delivered to end users as part of legitimate updates or installations. As software supply chain attacks exploit the implicit trust relationships within the SDLC, it makes it difficult and particularly insidious and challenging to detect.
Definition:
What is a Software Supply Chain Attack and Why do they Matter?
Unlike the usual cyberattacks, software supply chain attacks compromise the foundational elements of the application development process. If they are successful, they can scale rapidly and affect thousands of organizations at the same time. This kind of attack gained a lot of attention with high-profile incidents like the SolarWinds breach (which we are going to mention below), where compromised updates infected numerous government and enterprise systems. Why are malicious actors interested? The strategic appeal lies in the broad reach and elevated privileges often associated with software components, making these attacks both efficient and devastating.
Main Characteristics #
Some of the key characteristics of software supply chain attacks are:
- Trust Exploitation: malicious actors often take advantage of the trust relationships between developers and their tools, third-party dependencies, and vendors
- Lateral Impact: a unique and single compromise can cascade across multiple victims through software distribution channels
- Stealth and Persistence: malicious code is often embedded in signed, seemingly legitimate software packages, enabling long-term persistence
- Complex Attribution: due to the fact that an attack of this kind originates upstream in the supply chain, tracing the source can be highly complex and time-consuming
Common Vectors of Software Supply Chain Attacks
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Third-Party Components & Dependencies: attackers can compromise widely used OSS packages or proprietary SDKs, which are unknowingly included in development projects
Build Systems and CI/CD Pipelines: exploiting misconfigured or vulnerable build environments to inject malicious artifacts during software compilation or packaging
Code Repositories: unauthorized access to source code repositories (e.g., GitHub) to alter legitimate codebases with malicious payloads
Software Updates and Patch Mechanisms: intercepting or manipulating update channels to deliver compromised versions of trusted software
Now, let’s explore some examples. If you want more information on vectors and types of attacks – dive in!
Software Supply Chain Attacks Examples #
- SolarWinds Orion (2020): this one may be one of the most infamous example. Attackers inserted a backdoor named “SUNBURST” into a legitimate software update, which was downloaded by over 18,000 customers, including Fortune 500 companies and U.S. government agencies
- Codecov Bash Uploader (2021): in this case threat actors altered a script used in CI pipelines, stealing credentials and environment variables from thousands of projects
- UAParser.js (2021): an NPM library used by millions was hijacked and republished with crypto mining and credential-stealing malware
- Kaseya VSA (2021): here, attackers leveraged a vulnerability in a remote monitoring platform to deploy ransomware to managed service providers and their clients
These software supply chain attacks examples illustrate the diversity of techniques and potential scale of impact, emphasizing the need for robust software integrity checks.
Some Detection and Prevention Techniques #
Given the complexity and its stealth nature, software supply chain attacks prevention and detection requires layered security approaches:
- SBOM (Software Bill of Materials): Maintain a detailed inventory of all third-party components and their versions to detect anomalous or unauthorized changes
- Code Signing and Verification: Ensure that all artifacts are cryptographically signed and verified during build and deployment
- Runtime Monitoring: Implement EDR and runtime application self-protection (RASP) to detect suspicious behaviors during execution
- Access Controls and Audits: Harden access to code repositories and CI/CD environments with multi-factor authentication and role-based access controls
- Continuous Vulnerability Scanning: Use automated tools to scan open-source dependencies and detect known vulnerabilities or misconfigurations
- Vendor Risk Management: Assess the security posture of all third-party vendors, especially those with access to sensitive development environments
Do you Know Risk Implications for Security Teams and DevSecOps? #
Security managers, DevOps and DevSecOps teams must realign their strategies to address the risks of software supply chain attacks:
DevSecOps Integration: Security needs to be embedded throughout the software lifecycle, from design to deployment
Threat Modeling: Include supply chain threats in risk assessments and threat modeling exercises
Developer Training: Educate developers on secure coding practices and the risks of integrating poorly vetted third-party components
These practices not only mitigate the risk of compromise but also foster a security-first culture across development and operations.
Why You Should Care? #
Understanding what is a software supply chain attack is essential for anyone developing software applications. As these kind of attacks exploit the very mechanisms that enable rapid software innovation, turning trusted tools into vectors of compromise, they are very dangerous. Through documented supply chain attacks examples and comprehensive defensive strategies, it’s clear that in order to mitigate them you need: visibility, accountability, and cross-functional security integration.
For organizations that want to monitor and secure their software supply chains, Xygeni is the answer. Watch our Video Demo or get a Free trial today!
