In July, a historic moment took place for open source, where it took center stage at the two-day "OSPOs for Good" symposium at the United Nations. Co-hosted by Kenya and Germany,…
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In July, Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) participated in three key events that highlight its dedication to enhancing open source software security for the global public good: the United Nations…
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By Seth Michael Larson
The Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) Securing Software Repositories Working Group (WG) has just released a new guide for maintainers of open source software repositories. The guide details a new security capability named “Trusted Publishers” which utilizes the OpenID Connect standard (OIDC) to authenticate with a package repository without the use of long-lived secrets thus avoiding many related security and operational challenges.
Trusted Publishers: Enhancing Security for Open Source Repositories
The guide details the implementation and design considerations gathered from implementing Trusted Publishers in multiple open source software repositories like the Python Package Index (PyPI) and Rubygems.org.
Implementation and Design Considerations
Trusted Publishers pair well with other security technologies like SLSA build provenance as they are built on the same underlying technology in OIDC. For some identity providers, Trusted Publishers also allow binding verifiable metadata like the source repository URL to a published artifact to avoid social confusion attacks like “Star-Jacking”.
User Adoption and Impact
In addition to added security benefits, Trusted Publishers are popular with users when they’re available. For example, PyPI added support for Trusted Publishers in April of 2023 and has since seen over 14,000 projects voluntarily adopt Trusted Publishers.
Accessing and Contributing to the Guide
You can find the guide hosted on openssf.org and submit contributions on GitHub. Thanks to everyone in the working group who contributed their expertise and reviews during the writing of this guide.
About the OpenSSF Securing Software Repositories Working Group
The OpenSSF Securing Software Repositories Working Group focuses on the maintainers of software repositories, software registries, and tools which rely on them. The working group provides a forum to share experiences and to discuss shared problems, risks, and threats. For more information on the OpenSSF Securing Software Repositories Working Group, see our GitHub Repo.
About the Author
Seth Larson is the Security Developer-in-Residence at the Python Software Foundation, Python Software Foundation Fellow, maintainer of popular Python open source packages like urllib3 and Requests, and an advocate for open source sustainability and security.
Malware is at the top of the list among things that keep security and development organizations on edge.
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Open source package repositories (like npm, PyPI, RubyGems, and others) serve out billions of packages per day. Most of the software we all use includes packages from these repositories, making…
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OpenSSF Welcomes Datadog as Premier Member
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We're thrilled to announce that the agenda for Secure Open Source Software (SOSS) Community Day EU on September 19, 2024, is now live! Join us for a day filled with…
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As the Call for Proposals (CFP) for the Secure Open Source Software (SOSS) Fusion Conference wrapped up, we wanted to share some insights about the submissions that highlight how Fusion will be a premier event in open source security. SOSS Fusion brings together the brightest minds in software development and cybersecurity to secure the open source software that we all depend on. With a total of 198 submissions from 143 different organizations (including individual contributors as well as small or medium-sized enterprises, the Program Committee (PC) is currently reviewing proposals to finalize an agenda that promises to be both innovative and engaging.
Breakdown of SOSS Fusion CFP Submissions
Nearly 50% of submissions are focused on Software Development and Open Source Software as well as AI and Security. Nearly 20% of the submissions focused on the topic of OSS Consumption and End Users. 30% of the submissions focused on a variety of topics such as Diversity and Community Development, Public Policy, OSPOs and Security, as well Security Education.
Just over 80% of the talks submitted have never been presented before, indicating that we may be reaching an audience that is not engaged in other conferences. This diversity of content aligns with our goal of fostering fresh ideas and innovative approaches to open source security. Nearly 60% of submissions come from a diversity, equity, and inclusion background and just over 40% of the submissions come from the greater Global community, outside the United States and Canada.
Sponsor SOSS Fusion or a Co-Located Event
We currently have sponsorship opportunities available for organizations that want to show their support for open source security. Whether you are a large enterprise organization or a startup, sponsoring SOSS Fusion will give your organization the key visibility and recognition aligned to a critical topic that affects everyone: the security of our open source ecosystems. Check out the sponsorship prospectus or get in touch with our team today!
Just before SOSS Fusion, we are excited to offer opportunities for co-located events. These events are smaller gatherings that help create a community to discuss important issues. A limited number of spots are available.
Key Dates to Remember
- CFP Notifications: Tuesday, July 30
- Schedule Announcement: Wednesday, July 31
- Presentation Slide Due Date: Friday, October 18
- Event Dates: Monday, October 21 (Co-Located Events), Tuesday, October 22 – Wednesday, October 23 (Fusion Conference)
The agenda will be confirmed by the PC on July 29, ensuring a well-rounded and comprehensive program that addresses the most pressing issues in open source security.
What to Expect at SOSS Fusion 2024
The SOSS Fusion Conference will host in-depth technical conversations on innovative and industry-leading ways to secure open source software. This collaborative platform will feature a range of session types, including lightning talks, session presentations, panel discussions, and keynote sessions. Attendees can look forward to gaining insights from thought leaders and participating in discussions on various topics, including:
- OSPO: Security and Open Source Program Offices
- Maintainer Roles: Securing Open Source Software
- Dev: Secure Integration in the Software Development Lifecycle
- What’s Next: Fresh Ideas for Security Research & Innovation
- Digital Public Goods (DPG): Public Sector Promotion & Adoption
- Public Policy: Regulations to Improve Open Source Security
- As We Are: How Diversity Improves Security
- Education (K-12+): The Future of Secure Open Source Software
- End Users: Secure Supply Chains
- Dependencies: Understanding the OSS in Your Stack
- Towards a Secure Baseline: Ecosystem’s Role in Security
- AI for Security: Leveraging AI to Secure Open Source Software
- Security for AI: Starting with Security for Open Source AI
Join Us in Atlanta
SOSS Fusion 2024 will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, and promises to be an event filled with knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this groundbreaking event that is set to shape the future of open source software security.
For more information, including registration details, sponsorship opportunities, and travel arrangements, please visit our SOSS Fusion event page.
Welcome to the July 2024 edition of the OpenSSF Newsletter, with our latest information on what’s been happening lately and what’s on our radar.
- DOWNLOAD: What’s in the SOSS? An OpenSSF Podcast!
- REGISTER: Secure Open Source Software (SOSS) Fusion Conference
- JOIN: Attend an upcoming Working Group meeting
An Open Source Approach to Threat Mitigation in AWS
Securing cloud environments is a top priority for organizations today. Leveraging open source tools like Falco, combined with AWS Lambda, provides powerful solutions for monitoring and responding to security threats. Learn how Falco and Falco Talon can automate threat detection and response, ensuring robust cloud security.
A Deep Dive into SBOMit and Attestations
December 2023 saw the launch of SBOMit, a project that helps enhance the reliability and integrity of SBOMs (Software Bills of Materials). It does so by including, along with SBOMs, a series of in-toto attestations that are produced while the software is being created. SBOMit is hosted under the OpenSSF Security Tooling Working Group.
But why are these attestations important for SBOMs and how do they work?
Read the blog to learn more.
Improving OpenSSF Scorecard Scores: StepSecurity Automation for Four Key Checks
Implementing security best practices is essential for open source maintainers to ensure their projects are secure and free from vulnerabilities. However, many maintainers find this task complex and time-consuming when done manually. The OpenSSF Scorecard offers an automated heuristic of how well key security processes are implemented in a project.
Chainguard Enhances Security With OSV Advisory Feed
In today’s rapidly evolving open source ecosystem, managing vulnerabilities efficiently is crucial. To address this, Chainguard is now publishing its security advisory feed in the Open Source Vulnerabilities (OSV) format. This integration aims to simplify vulnerability management and enhance security for users of open source software.
Why are Organizations Struggling to Implement Secure Software Development?
The Secure Software Development Education 2024 Survey, conducted through a partnership between the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) and Linux Foundation (LF) Research, examines the secure software development education needs of professionals in this field.
Learn How To Develop Secure Software!
The Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF), in partnership with Linux Foundation Training & Certification, offers a free online training course, Developing Secure Software (LFD121). Those who complete the course and pass the final exam will earn a free certificate of completion valid for two years.
AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC) and the Needle Linux Kernel Vulnerability – Part 1
Could artificial intelligence (AI) practically help find and fix vulnerabilities in a scalable way? We don’t know for certain, but there’s hope that it could. In this article, we’ll look at a competition to encourage the development of AI-enabled tools that will automatically find and fix vulnerabilities.
The Linux Foundation and OpenSSF Release Report on the State of Education in Secure Software Development
Linux Foundation Research and the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) are pleased to release a new report titled “Secure Software Development Education 2024 Survey: Understanding Current Needs.” Based on a survey of nearly 400 software development professionals, the analysis explores the current state of secure software development and underscores the urgent need for formalized industry education and training programs.
AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC) and the Needle Linux Kernel Vulnerability – Part 2
In part 1, we discussed the Artificial Intelligence Cyber Challenge (AIxCC), a two-year competition to create AI systems that find software vulnerabilities and develop fixes to them. We also discussed a specific vulnerability in the Linux kernel, called needle, as an example of the kind of vulnerability we’d like such tools to find and fix. In part 1 we discussed how such tools might be able to find vulnerabilities. Now let’s talk a little bit about how they might fix them. Real competitors in AIxCC might do things differently; this article simply helps us understand what they’re trying to do.
Recognizing Excellence in OSS Community: Golden Egg Award Nominations Are Now Open!
The Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) is thrilled to announce that nominations for the Golden Egg Award are now open! This award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the open source security community. After its successful debut at SOSS Community Day North America, the award is back to recognize more exceptional individuals at SOSS Community Day Europe this September. If you know someone who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and impact in our community, now is the time to nominate them for this esteemed recognition.
In the News
- SD Times, Bad CrowdStrike Update Takes Down Windows Machines Around the World, Highlighting Importance of Gradual Roll-Outs and Software Quality
- The Hacker News, Faulty CrowdStrike Update Crashes
- Help Net Security, Developers Secure Coding Practices
- Techopedia, Google, Nvidia, OpenAI and Others Team Up to Improve AI Security
- TechCentral (Ireland), One in three software development professionals unaware of secure practices
- Help Net Security, Most GitHub Actions Workflows Are Insecure in Some Way
- Inside Cybersecurity, Open Source Group Calls for Prioritizing Cyber Awareness in Software Developer Training, Education
- Dark Reading, The Linux Foundation and OpenSSF Release Report on the State of Education in Secure Software Development
- Cybersecurity Dive, Nearly 1 in 3 Software Development Professionals Unaware of Secure Practices
- citybiz, The Linux Foundation and OpenSSF Release Report on the State of Education in Secure Software Development
- ITOps Times, Siren – ITOps Times Open Source Project of the Week
- CSO, Top 10 Open Source Software Risks — and How to Mitigate Them
- Techstrong TV, The Ins and Outs of Applying to GSoC
- SD Times, Companies Still Need to Work on Security Fundamentals to Win in the Supply Chain Security Fight
- GovInfoSecurity, How CISA Plans to Measure Trust in Open-Source Software
Meet OpenSSF at These Upcoming Events!
- Black Hat USA: Aug. 7-8, 2024
- DEF CON: Aug. 8 – 11, 2024
- SOSS Community Day Europe: Sept. 19, 2024
- SOSS Fusion Conference: Oct. 22-23, 2024
Get Involved in OpenSSF
You’re invited to…
- Join a Working Group or Project
- Chat with us on Slack
- Follow us on X, Mastodon, and LinkedIn
See You Next Month
We want to get you the information you most want to see in your inbox. Have suggestions for next month’s newsletter about the OpenSSF? Let us know at marketing@openssf.org and see you next month!
Regards,
The OpenSSF Team
As we unveiled the Golden Egg Award winners in April during the SOSS Community Day North America, we recognized those who go above and beyond in enriching our community. Today,…
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