Continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines have become indispensable in delivering exceptional applications instantly and impeccably.

These pipelines are becoming more central to the development process, making them top targets for supply chain attacks.

According to the Unit 42 Cloud Threat Report, 2H 2021, conducted by Palo Alto Networks, 63% of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) templates contain misconfigurations, and 91% of container images exhibit high or critical security vulnerabilities.

These attacks can capitalize on weaknesses in the software supply chain and compromise the authenticity of the development stage, causing severe consequences.

This article analyzes the importance of securing CI/CD pipelines against supply chain attacks, emphasizing methods to keep your development workflow secure and ensure the authenticity of your software solutions.

Deciphering Supply Chain Attacks in CI/CD

Supply chain attacks happen when threat actors gain illegal access to software systems by aiming at vulnerable components within a supply chain.

This entails breaching external vendors, harnessing weaknesses in shared code repositories, or embedding trojan horses into masked bug fixes.

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An example is the CCleaner attack in 2017 where hackers breached the development system of the famous CCleaner software, inserting malicious codes into genuine software updates. Over two million users downloaded these nefarious patches causing the breach of countless platforms.

CI/CD pipelines automate code incorporation and implementation making them exceptionally susceptible to supply chain attacks. Intruders capitalize on vulnerabilities in the pipeline to embed malware and manipulate development processes.

For example, breaching a necessity used in the development process can spread malware across all software that relies on this necessity. In the same way, intruders may gain entry to the pipeline’s framework and insert dangerous programs that can be carried out when it is time for implementation, which would therefore expose the finished software.

Recent times have witnessed CI/CD pipelines being targeted by numerous top-profile supply chain attacks which spotlights why rigorous security controls are needed.

Kaseya VSA Ransomware Attack in  2021 is one notable breach. Perpetrators leveraged Kaseya’s VSA software vulnerabilities and implemented ransomware across their clients and managed service providers (MSPs). This affected as far as 1,500 globally, causing significant asset losses and workflow interruption.

The Codecov attack in 2021 is another notable example where invaders altered the Bash Uploader Script of Codecov exposing hundreds of clients and stealing classified information and login details.

Identifying Vulnerabilities in CI/CD Pipelines

CI/CD tools are powerful but they are prone to security risks. Common weaknesses comprise authorization errors, weak or ineffective encryption, and outmoded software.

Invaders can harness these vulnerabilities to gain illegal entry and insert nefarious code to interrupt activation. To be protected from these threats there should be correct integration, routine patches, and secure encryption protocols.

Agile methodologies are largely reliant on external frameworks and shared software resources. Truly these components increase development speed but significant dangers are also involved. Obsolete libraries have security exposures that threat actors can take advantage of.

Alleviating these risks is basic yet crucial to establishing effective dependency control. This includes; updating libraries regularly, using vulnerability scanners, and confirming reliability.

A major weakness in CI/CD pipelines is human error; a simple mistake such as a wrong setup or handling information carelessly can cause severe security breaches.

In addition, insider threats are significant risks whether they are intentional or malicious. To reduce these risks, strong access controls and periodic penetration testing should be deployed.

Securing the Software Supply Chain

External dependencies and libre components are essential for enhancing development, though they present significant risks.

Manage these dependencies carefully by:

• Conducting Regular Audits: Frequently examine external components and infrastructure to find weaknesses. Dependency checker tools can automate this process and also clarify potential threats.

• Deploying Version Control: Implement strong version control to ascertain that only authorized versions of dependencies are used. Refrain from using outmoded or unauthenticated components that can conceal susceptibilities.

• Vendor Trust and Reputation: Pick external vendors with a trusted security reputation. Assess their protection measures and monitor records to avoid introducing components that have been exposed.

Maintain and Validate Authenticity

Maintaining authenticity is important for the validity of software components and deployment in the system development lifecycle.

Vital methods include:

• Secure Build Environment: The built environment should be secured against potential dangers. Use private servers and restrict entry to only approved individuals.

• Continuous Monitoring: Monitor the build process continuously to expose any irregularities. You can use automated tools to uncover irregular behavior without delay.

• Reproducible Builds: Use bit-identical builds to ensure the same source code produces identical copies. This helps to find any malicious modification in the creation phase. 

When it comes to validating code authenticity,  digital signatures and cryptographic measures are cardinal:

• Code Signing: You can use digital signatures to sign code and software components. With this practice, you validate the source and authenticity of the code, ensuring it has not been altered while in transit.

• Checksum Verification: Apply checksum verification to confirm the purity of the imported dependencies. Examine the checksum the vendor provided and the computed checksum of the downloaded file. This ensures the checksum of the file downloaded is identical to that of the vendor and has not been exposed to invaders.

• Public Key Infrastructure (PKI): Use a strong PKI system to manage digital certificates and cipher keys. PKI improves the security of communications, ensuring the code can be modified by only authorized personnel.

Implement Strong Defenses for CI/CD Security

A multifaceted approach is needed to secure CI/CD pipelines against supply chain attacks. Organizations can alleviate these dangers effectively by incorporating strong validation measures, rigorous dependency management, continuous monitoring, and predictive threat detection. 

This preemptive strategy not only guards against possible breaches but also ensures that CI/CD pipelines are tough and authentic amidst advancing threats.

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