Introduction
The rise of cyber threats necessitates a proactive approach to software development, emphasizing security from the outset. The Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF), as outlined in NIST's SP 800-218, provides a comprehensive set of high-level practices designed to integrate security into each stage of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). These can not only help you mitigate vulnerabilities more effectively, but allow you to do it earlier in your development pipeline, improving efficiency and reducing costs to your organization.
Roadmap to Secure by Design Development
- Implement Static and Dynamic Application Security Testing (SAST/DAST)
Incorporating SAST and DAST tools into the development process allows for comprehensive analysis of source code and application behavior. These tools detect error-prone practices and vulnerabilities, ranging from improper memory management to insecure database queries. Running these tests automatically as part of the development cycle, alongside unit and integration testing, ensures that security issues are identified and addressed promptly.
- Use memory safe programming languages
Adopting memory-safe programming languages is crucial for eliminating a class of defects related to memory management. While short-term mitigations such as improvements in C/C++ and hardware-based solutions like Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) and Control-Flow Integrity (CFI) are beneficial, the long-term strategy involves transitioning to languages like C#, Rust, Ruby, Java, Go, and Swift. These languages inherently prevent common memory-related vulnerabilities, enhancing overall software security.
- Perform rigorous code review
Implementing rigorous code review processes, including peer reviews and error seeding, is critical for maintaining code quality. This practice ensures that any code submitted to the product undergoes thorough scrutiny, identifying and rectifying potential vulnerabilities before they become part of the final product.
- Enforce a secure hardware foundation
Incorporating architectural features that enable fine-grained memory protection is essential. Technologies like Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions (CHERI) extend conventional hardware Instruction-Set Architectures (ISAs) to provide robust security features. Additionally, integrating Trusted Platform Modules (TPMs) and Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) fortifies the hardware foundation, ensuring a secure environment for software execution.
- Acquire secure software components
Utilizing well-secured software components from verified sources is vital. Whether commercial, open source, or third-party, these components should be rigorously assessed for security to ensure they do not introduce vulnerabilities into the software product. Maintaining a repository of secure components facilitates robust and secure software development.
- Utilize web template frameworks
Web applications are particularly susceptible to attacks like cross-site scripting (XSS). Implementing web template frameworks that automatically escape user input can effectively mitigate such risks. This practice ensures that user input is handled securely, preventing malicious scripts from being executed within the application.
- Set cybersecurity performance goals for your teams
Adhering to CISA's Cybersecurity Performance Goals ensures that products meet fundamental security standards. These goals outline baseline cybersecurity measures that organizations should implement to deliver secure by design products. Meeting these goals demonstrates a commitment to robust cybersecurity practices and enhances the overall security posture of the organization.
- Leverage vulnerability disclosure programs
Establishing vulnerability disclosure programs encourages security researchers to report vulnerabilities without fear of legal repercussions. These programs should include processes for root-cause analysis, determining whether adopting secure by design practices could have prevented the vulnerability, and ensuring continuous improvement in security practices.
- Implement parameterized queries
SQL injection attacks are a prevalent threat to database security. Using parameterized queries instead of including user input directly in SQL queries is a best practice that prevents these attacks. This technique ensures that user input is treated as data rather than executable code, thereby safeguarding the database from injection vulnerabilities.
- Ensure accurate and complete CVEs
Ensuring that Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) include root cause analysis or Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) details allows for industry-wide analysis of software security flaws. Accurate and complete CVEs help identify trends and facilitate the development of solutions that benefit the entire software industry.
- Implement defense-in-depth
Designing infrastructure with a defense-in-depth approach ensures that the compromise of a single security control does not lead to the entire system's compromise. Techniques such as narrowly provisioning user privileges, employing access control lists, and using software sandboxing can limit the impact of a compromised component, maintaining overall system security.
- Generate a Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs)
Creating an SBOM provides transparency into the software components used in the product. This visibility is essential for tracking and managing components, ensuring that all parts of the software are secure and up-to-date. An SBOM helps in quickly identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in third-party components.
Implementation and Prioritization
The transition to secure by design practices represents a significant shift in an organization's approach to software development. Prioritizing the introduction of these practices based on tailored threat modeling, criticality, complexity, and business impact is essential. While new software can adopt these practices from the outset, existing products and legacy codebases can be incrementally updated to incorporate secure by design principles. In some cases, the criticality and risk posture of a product may necessitate an accelerated schedule for adopting these practices, ensuring that the most vulnerable components are secured first.
Learn how to implement Secure by Design
If you want to learn more about developing software with secure-by-design principles, you don’t want to miss the ‘Secure by Design - Across the stack’ webinar by Abhay Bhargav. Join us on 25th July at 9 AM PT for an in-depth exploration of building software with security controls baked into the very heart of your application.
Explore the Secure by Design principles promoted by CISA and how they can be applied to enhance your security posture. Learn how to integrate security principles across various layers of your application stack, from the frontend to the backend. And discover industry best practices and methodologies for building secure applications by design.
Register now for free, and learn how to vastly improve your organization’s security posture with help from industry experts!
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