Software Composition Analysis: Challenges and Best Practices

What Is Software Composition Analysis (SCA)?

Software composition analysis (SCA) involves identifying and managing open-source components within software projects. With the proliferation of open-source libraries, dependency on such components has become inevitable. SCA tools analyze these components to identify any vulnerabilities, inconsistencies in licensing, compliance issues, as well as compile a bill of materials. This process ensures that software products are aligned with security protocols and legal standards.

Without SCA, software developers risk incorporating insecure or incompatible open-source elements into their products. SCA provides a structured approach to tracking, documenting, and rectifying such risks. By doing so, it enables more secure software development practices and improves management of open-source components.

This is part of a series of articles about open source security

What Are the Risks Associated With Open Source Components? 

Security Vulnerabilities

Open-source components can introduce security vulnerabilities if not carefully managed. These vulnerabilities arise because open-source projects often do not undergo the same rigorous testing as proprietary software. Vulnerabilities may remain unnoticed and unpatched, making them easy targets for exploits. SCA tools help by continuously scanning and flagging vulnerable components, allowing developers to take immediate corrective measures.

Failure to address these vulnerabilities can lead to serious consequences, including data breaches and system compromises. By identifying and mitigating these risks early, organizations ensure that their software remains secure.

License Compliance Issues

License compliance issues occur when organizations fail to adhere to the licensing requirements of open-source software. Each open-source license has its own legal obligations, ranging from attribution to sharing derivative works. Non-compliance can lead to legal disputes and financial penalties. Many SCA tools help track and manage these licenses, ensuring compliance with relevant legal frameworks.

Understanding the restrictions imposed by various open-source licenses is crucial for developers and legal teams. By using an SCA as part of the software development lifecycle, organizations can automate the discovery of license types associated with each component. This minimizes the risk of legal repercussions and helps maintain transparency within the software supply chain.

Operational Risks

Operational risks associated with open-source components often stem from unsupported or deprecated libraries. As open-source projects evolve, some components may no longer be actively maintained. This leads to potential disruptions if vulnerabilities or bugs are discovered without timely updates. SCA tools help identify such components, allowing organizations to plan alternatives or remedial actions.

In addition to outdated components, open-source libraries might contain undocumented changes that impact application performance or compatibility. By detecting these risks, SCA ensures systems remain stable and efficient. Early identification aids in avoiding unforeseen downtimes and facilitates smooth operational continuity by managing dependencies.

How Software Composition Analysis Works 

SCA solutions offer the following key capabilities:

Identification of Open Source Components

The identification process is the first step in SCA, involving the scanning of software to detect open-source components. This process often evaluates direct and transitive dependencies within a project. Once identified, components are categorized and cross-referenced against vulnerability and licensing databases to ensure compliance and security.

Accurate identification is critical to managing open-source components effectively. Some SCA tools use techniques like file fingerprinting and code signature analysis to uncover hidden dependencies, while others utilize package managers to report which components are installed. This level of scrutiny ensures visibility into the software's open-source composition, which is vital for accountability and control in modern development environments.

Vulnerability Detection and Management

Vulnerability detection in SCA involves analyzing open-source components against known vulnerability databases. This continuous process helps identify any security weaknesses present in the libraries being used. Once vulnerabilities are detected, they can be prioritized based on their severity and reachability, enabling developers to focus on dependencies that present the most imminent security risk.

Effective vulnerability management is achieved by maintaining a dynamic database of identified issues and remediation strategies. SCA tools facilitate this by integrating with development environments to automate alerts and provide actionable insights. This integration enhances security posture and streamlines the process of resolving vulnerabilities.

License Compliance Evaluation

SCA tools also perform license compliance checking, identifying the licensing of all open-source components and making sure they adhere to organizational policies. Compliance checking is critical to avoid legal liabilities arising from improper open source use, in particular the risks of “copyleft” licenses, which restrict the commercial use of open source components.

By automating the compliance verification process, SCA tools help maintain consistent adherence to licensing requirements. They provide detailed reports on licensing obligations, helping organizations to make informed decisions about software usage and distribution.

Generating Software Bill of Materials

Generating a software bill of materials (SBOM) is a key function of SCA, documenting the software's complete inventory of open-source components. An SBOM provides transparency, detailing component versions and licenses. SBOMs can also generate companion files, such as Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange (VEX) which provides context around the vulnerabilities found in software components. This creates a comprehensive overview that aids stakeholders in understanding potential risks and compliance status.

An SBOM is essential for managing software supply chains, enabling organizations to trace component origins and assess associated risks. By maintaining an up-to-date SBOM, enterprises can quickly react to emerging threats and regulatory requirements. This documentation also plays a pivotal role in facilitating audits and ensuring that open-source components are consistently managed.

Static vs. Runtime SCA

Software composition analysis (SCA) tools offer two primary methods for evaluating the reachability of vulnerabilities in software: static reachability and deterministic exploitability analysis. Both approaches have distinct methodologies, benefits, and drawbacks.

Static SCA

Static SCA involves analyzing code repositories to identify vulnerabilities within open-source dependencies. It uses static analysis techniques to determine whether specific components or functions containing vulnerabilities are included in the application and, in some cases, theoretically reachable by the code.

Key features of static SCA:

• Package-level analysis: Identifies vulnerabilities in all packages declared in the project, even if some are unused.
• CI/CD & DevSecOps integration: integrates with build pipelines (GitLab Actions, GitLab, etc) and IDEs to catch vulnerabilities early in the development process

Pros of static SCA:

• Early detection: Integrates directly with source code repositories and CI/CD pipelines, enabling developers to identify vulnerabilities before deployment.
• Ease of integration: Can be set up quickly, providing results without requiring changes to the runtime environment.
• Workflow compatibility: Supports pull request scanning, enabling developers to validate fixes before deploying changes.

Cons of static SCA:

1. Lacks runtime and dynamic loading context: Static analysis cannot confirm whether vulnerable code paths are executed in production, and often cannot identify libraries that are loaded dynamically.
2. False positives: Flags theoretical vulnerabilities that are not exploitable in the deployed environment. A very large percentage of vulnerabilities found from static SCA tools are not actually exploitable in deployed, running applications. 
3. Performance impact: Detailed scans, especially at the function level, can increase scan times significantly.
4. Limited runtime protection: Provides no mechanism to monitor or block vulnerabilities during application execution.

Runtime SCA

Runtime SCA examines applications in real-time to assess whether vulnerable components are actively used and exploitable. Since it delivers a more accurate, real-time view into security risk, it relies on agents deployed alongside applications to track which libraries and functions are loaded and used.

Key features of runtime SCA:

• Function-level monitoring: Tracks vulnerable functions called during runtime, providing precise insight into exploitable issues.
• Application context awareness: Includes environmental details, such as workload execution paths, to assess the likelihood of exploitability.
• Vulnerable function identification: some runtime SCAs identify the actual function introducing the vulnerability, accelerating remediation efforts

Pros of runtime SCA:

1. High accuracy: Delivers definitive results by confirming whether vulnerable dependencies are loaded and/or executed in applications, opening an immediate attack vector for attackers.
2. Broader coverage: Combines both application-layer and OS-layer vulnerability analysis.
3. Proactive defense: Enables real-time responses to exploitation attempts, such as blocking malicious function calls without disrupting application performance.
4. Comprehensive insight: Provides environmental and execution context to prioritize vulnerabilities with real-world impact.
5. Nonintrusive access: runtime SCA doesn’t require access to source code, where sensitive intellectual property and information may reside

Cons of runtime SCA:

1. Deployment overhead: Requires agent installation, which may involve coordination with operations teams.
2. Pipeline limitations: Typically cannot provide reachability insights during the development phase, focusing instead on deployed applications.
3. Mixed developer support: May lack pre-deployment scanning features like CLI tools or registry scanning for containerized environments.

Choosing Between Static and Runtime SCA

The decision depends on organizational priorities:

• Static SCA is suitable for early-stage vulnerability detection and teams focused on integrating security into the development workflow.
• Runtime SCA is suited for operational environments where runtime exploitability and proactive defenses are critical.

For comprehensive security, many organizations combine static SCA for pre-deployment checks with runtime SCA for monitoring and protection in production environments. This dual approach ensures both theoretical and practical vulnerabilities are addressed effectively.

Key Features of Modern SCA Tools

Automated Dependency Management

Automated dependency management is a core feature of SCA tools. This functionality enables the tracking and updating of open-source components without manual intervention. The tools automatically flag out-of-date dependencies and suggest the latest or most secure versions available, facilitating the ongoing maintenance of software projects.

By streamlining dependency management, SCA tools reduce the burden on developers and mitigate the risk associated with unmaintained libraries. This automation ensures that applications always use the most reliable and secure codebases, optimizing performance and security. As software evolves, automated dependency management minimizes disruptions, maintaining developmental momentum and stability.

Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts

Real-time monitoring and alerts are crucial for keeping development teams informed about potential vulnerabilities and compliance issues. Runtime SCA tools employ real-time monitoring techniques to continuously assess the state of open-source components. Immediate alerts enable teams to act swiftly, addressing risks as they arise, which helps in maintaining a secured development environment.

This immediate feedback loop is essential for mitigating the risk of exposure to newly discovered vulnerabilities. Real-time monitoring supports agile responses, allowing for quick resolution of issues before they escalate into major threats. By maintaining constant vigilance through SCA, organizations uphold software integrity and operational security.

Detailed Reporting and Analytics

Detailed reporting and analytics provide insights into the composition and security status of software projects. Effective SCA tools deliver comprehensive reports that highlight vulnerabilities, compliance standings, and the overall health of open-source components. These reports are valuable for guiding security strategies and making informed decisions on software management.

Analytics from SCA tools also offer trend analysis, helping organizations track improvements and potential risks over time. By understanding these patterns, teams can refine their security practices and prioritize areas needing attention. Detailed reporting supports stakeholder communication, making it easier to illustrate risk management efforts and compliance adherence.

5 Best Practices for Using Software Composition Analysis

1. Focus on high-risk vulnerabilities that are exploitable in running applications

Prioritizing high-risk components is a critical best practice in software composition analysis. Not all vulnerabilities or compliance issues have the same impact, so focusing on the most critical components ensures efficient resource allocation. High-risk components are those with known severe vulnerabilities, relative ease of exploitation, and those that are confirmed to be running within an application.

Organizations should start by identifying high-risk vulnerabilities that are present for running code in their applications, and then have a business review process that ensures critical applications are remediated within agreed upon service level agreements (SLAs). By concentrating efforts on high-risk areas, teams can enhance security without overburdening the development process.

2. Educate Development Teams on Open Source Risks

Educating development teams about the risks associated with open-source components is crucial for effective SCA implementation. Awareness programs help developers understand potential vulnerabilities, licensing issues, and operational risks, equipping them to make informed decisions about component usage.

Training initiatives ensure alignment with organizational security goals and promote a culture of vigilance and responsibility. By fostering education around open-source risks, teams can integrate SCA practices more effectively, leading to a more secure development process.

3. Establish Clear Policies for Open Source Usage

Establishing clear policies for open-source usage is essential for guiding development practices. These policies outline acceptable licenses, usage constraints, and guidelines for incorporating open-source software into projects. Clear policies ensure that developers are well-informed and that the organization remains compliant with legal obligations.

Strong governance around open-source usage helps prevent inadvertent non-compliance and mitigates legal risk. By clearly defining policies, organizations set expectations and create structured processes for managing components effectively. 

4. Combine SCA with Other Security Tools

Combining SCA with other security tools strengthens the overall security posture of a software project. While SCA focuses on open-source components, other tools, such as static application security testing (SAST) and dynamic application security testing (DAST), address custom code vulnerabilities and runtime security risks, respectively.

Integrating SCA into a broader security framework enables a holistic approach to risk mitigation. Security orchestration platforms can unify these tools, providing centralized visibility and automated workflows.

5. Layer Application Detection & Response Capabilities on top of SCA

The reality is that vulnerabilities in open source software are being found at an alarming rate. An open source component that doesn’t have vulnerabilities today likely will tomorrow. SCA plays a pivotal role in identifying vulnerabilities, but Application Detection & Response offers more future proof. By monitoring open source components in real-time, security teams can identify exploit attempts even when there aren’t known vulnerabilities. Adding detection and response capabilities on top of SCA ensures security teams have defense-in-depth, proactively reducing known risks and responding swiftly to new, unknown attacks.

Real Time SCA with Oligo Security

Oligo is built on Deep Application Inspection (DAI), delivering a view into library and function-level activity within your apps. This gives customers a view into what’s truly exploitable, reducing CVE backlogs by 90% in just one hour.

The Oligo platform delivers:

1. CVE backlog reduction: focus only on the vulnerabilities that present an immediate attack vector (running vulnerable dependencies)
2. Runtime SCA + SBOM: an actionable bill of materials and vulnerability detection for every library, dependency, and function that’s used within the apps you build, buy, or use
3. Application-layer detection and response: detection and response for known CWEs, CVEs, as well as zero-day exploits
4. Workload threat detection: detection of suspicious and malicious workload events (malware/network/privileges/etc)
5. GenAI Security: protect against open-source GenAI frameworks embedded within your apps, and monitor AI-generated code for malicious behavior