Malicious code is the term used to describe any code in any part of a software system or script that is intended to cause undesired effects, security breaches or damage to a system. Malicious code is an application security threat that cannot be efficiently controlled by conventional antivirus software alone. Malicious code describes a broad category of system security terms that includes attack scripts, viruses, worms, Trojan horses, backdoors and malicious active content.
Best practices indicate the need for two key types of code reviews : (1) Open source code review and (2) extended review for malicious code. Best practices indicate the need for such reviews during the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to ensure the timely delivery of a secure and compliant product. By incorporating code testing early in the SDLC, you greatly reduce the cost of resolving errors and remediating vulnerabilities during late-stage testing or post deployment.
Open Source Review & SDLC
It is possible to streamline component tracking and vulnerability assessment by using automated solutions or Source code analysis tools, also referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Tools. By scanning and indexing your complete library of open source components, you can establish a comprehensive open source BOM. Now, you are able define and measure your risk using three key criteria:
- Security Risk – Resulting from vulnerabilities in open source code. Puts data, functionality, users, and intellectual property at risk of exploitation from malicious activity.
- Code Quality Risk – Resulting from inadequate open source community activity or outdated components. This risk requires time and resources to address, and can expose you to security breaches and application failures.
- Compliance Risk – A measure of risk for litigation consequent to failed open source license compliance. This requires significant effort to resolve, often refactoring code to remove the license-dependent components.
With an automated solution for managing open source, components can be mapped to vulnerability databases, allowing your development team to identify and remediate vulnerable components within your applications.
For a detailed list of both Open Source and Commercial tools, we recommend our clients to regularly visit the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) site.
How Robust or How Secure is your Code?
Source code analysis tools, also referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Tools, are designed to analyze source code and/or compiled versions of code to help find security flaws.
Malicious code is software that performs unauthorized functions causing the normal operation of an information system to be abnormal.
There are several types of malicious code such as viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and programming flaws. The programming flaws can be included with malicious intent or just be bad programming practices.
We often remind our clients that,
- It is important to ensure that the software packages are free of malicious
code. The companies (both private and public) as well as government entities should extend more
effort in precluding malicious code in their software development practices.
There are several ways that software development practices can
incorporate checks for malicious code thus promoting software that can be
used with an assurance that the product is free of malicious code.
- The companies (both private and public) as well as government entities should also ensure that any freeware
or shareware used in the development of a product be certified to be free of
malicious code. There are methods by which the freeware and shareware
can be certified as being reviewed for malicious code. The user of a
software product should be able to expect to trust the software.
There are many types of malicious code of which the most well known types
are viruses, worms, and Trojan Horses. Other types are intentional and
accidental coding flaws, logic bomb, and trapdoor/backdoor.
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