Introduction
Think about all the software that exists in your organization. Now think about the third-party developers, vendors, and suppliers that create, maintain, and distribute those programs. All of those partners rely on interconnected networks to provide their services to organizations like yours. If hackers infiltrate the third party's software, malware and other threats could spread through those networks and impact your enterprise.
Supply chain poisoning attacks (or supply chain attacks) are so dangerous because they can affect hundreds of thousands of software users simultaneously, like in the event of the 2020 SolarWinds attack, where malware eventually spread to the U.S. government. The takeaway from the SolarWinds case is that you can't always rely on third-party software providers and vendors to protect your data assets, even if you trust that company.
In this guide, learn the answer to the question, "What is supply chain poisoning?" and discover the best ways to protect your organization from a cyberattack.
Packagecloud scans for supply chain poisonings, trojan horse attacks, and other threats in your organization's software packages using the latest technology. It then compares packages to the latest cybersecurity threats to ensure nothing inside those packages is vulnerable to bad actors. Now you can use Packagecloud to secure your packages and keep your software supply chain secure.
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Read more: How to Secure Your Software Supply Chain.
What is Supply Chain Poisoning?
Supply chain poisoning happens when a bad actor penetrates the third-party software used in your organization, such as business applications. That software might come from a developer, supplier, or vendor. The bad actor will hack the program, change the source code, and conceal malware in the software build. If successful, the cybercriminal can kick-start a chain of events that could eventually impact your organization. That's because malware can spread between the customers using the software, potentially affecting all program users. In short, a single supply chain attack can impact thousands of customers simultaneously.
Supply chain poisoning is becoming an increasing problem for organizations like yours. These attacks rose by 650 percent in 2021, making them one of the biggest security risks right now.
Packagecloud holds packages in a central hub, giving you total control over the software that completes day-to-day business tasks. Instead of public repositories, which can throw up all kinds of security risks, Packagecloud lets you pull packages from a controlled environment, helping you reduce the risk of supply chain attacks.
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Read more: Tactics: Securing Your Software Supply Chain with Scoped Registries.
Different Types of Supply Chain Attacks
Here are some of the most common types of supply chain attacks:
Malware Attacks
Malware is software or code designed to gain unauthorized access to your computer system. In some cases, malware can be annoying (forcing pop-up advertisements to appear on your computer, for example). In other cases, it can search for and steal the personal and financial information you keep on your computer.
Trojan Attacks
A type of malware, trojans (or trojan horses), are malicious pieces of software or code that might look authentic but can take control of your entire computer system, making them an ongoing threat. Often disguised as a program you might know, trojans can steal your business-critical data and expose it to hackers, jeopardizing your organization's reputation.
Poisoned Package Attacks
These attacks happen when a user downloads and installs new programming components. Hackers infiltrate package managers and repositories by changing the package owner's password. In all of these scenarios, hackers look for unsecured coding practices, network protocols, and server infrastructures, hoping to adjust the source code and hide malware in software. The third-party companies that develop, maintain, or outsource this software might not know their programs have become infected.
Read more: How SBOM and Security Can Protect Your Organization.
How Can Packagecloud Help With Supply Chain Poisoning?
Third-party developers and vendors should use security protocols like only allowing authorized persons to change code, carry out endpoint detection, and identify security vulnerabilities. Developers should also support secure software builds and update their tools as new security threats develop. However, many third-party companies don't always follow these rules or continuously maintain software. That's why it's essential to take cybersecurity into your own hands and use technologies that safeguard your precious data.
Packagecloud helps you optimize software security by storing packages in a centralized location and controlled environment instead of public repos. It also scans for supply chain attacks, trojan horse attacks, and other threats, ensuring the packages you use in your organization are secure.
Supply Chain Poisoning: Final Word
Supply chain attacks are such a cause for concern because they spread so quickly and impact multiple organizations. When hackers conceal malware in software packages, the ramifications can be horrendous for enterprises that rely on these programs for business. Checking packages for vulnerabilities with a reliable tool is the best way to prevent supply chain poisoning and protect your data from being exposed by cybercriminals.
Keeping your software supply chain secure is critical. Packagecloud's tools reduce the likelihood of supply chain attacks by checking packages against cybersecurity risks, helping you identify threats that could jeopardize your organization. Sign up for your free trial with Packagecloud here.
