5 Ways HeroDevs Tackles the OWASP Top 10 Risks for Deprecated Software

Of the OWASP Top 10 Risks for Open Source Software (OSS), five directly involve the use of end-of-life (EOL) OSS in your tech stack. OWASP’s report identifies the most critical risks impacting open-source software, ranging from security vulnerabilities to operational challenges. While these risks are relevant to any OSS, they become particularly pressing when dealing with unsupported or EOL software. OSS relies heavily on volunteer contributions, driven by the community’s interest and focus on actively maintained projects. Once software reaches EOL, maintainers and contributors often shift their attention to newer versions or more relevant initiatives, leaving the project without the community-driven support necessary to address emerging risks. This lack of active updates leaves organizations with limited options to manage vulnerabilities, compatibility issues, and other

Here are the ten risks highlighted in the OWASP report:

1. Known Vulnerabilities: Cataloged security vulnerabilities (e.g., CVEs) that, if left unpatched, leave systems exposed.
2. Compromise of Legitimate Packages: Attackers gain access to legitimate OSS packages to insert malicious code.
3. Name Confusion Attacks: Malicious packages using similar names to trusted components, tricking developers into installing them.
4. Unmaintained Software: OSS that is no longer developed, leaving unresolved security risks.
5. Outdated Software: Use of older OSS versions despite the availability of newer, more secure ones.
6. Untracked Dependencies: Hidden dependencies that developers may not be aware of, adding security risks.
7. License Risks: Legal issues when OSS licenses are incompatible with the intended use or requirements.
8. Immature Software: OSS projects lacking development best practices, increasing the likelihood of security risks.
9. Unapproved Changes: Code changes that haven’t been reviewed or approved, leading to potential vulnerabilities.
10. Under/Over-sized Dependencies: Dependencies that are either excessively small or large, complicating security efforts.

Of these, five are particularly relevant to End-Of-Life Open Source Software: Known Vulnerabilities, Compromise of Legitimate Packages, Unmaintained Software, Outdated Software, and Untracked Dependencies.

HeroDevs specializes in providing extended support for these types of risks in deprecated OSS through our Never-Ending Support (NES) program. Here’s how we tackle each of these risks to ensure that even unsupported OSS remains secure and compliant.

Breaking Down the OWASP Risks Relevant to Unsupported OSS

1. Known Vulnerabilities: Shielding Against Publicly Disclosed Flaws

Publicly disclosed vulnerabilities, or CVEs, are one of the most significant risks in OSS. When a version becomes deprecated, any vulnerabilities affecting these versions remain unpatched by the community, exposing applications to publicly-known attack vectors.

The HeroDevs Cybersecurity Approach
HeroDevs proactively mitigates this risk by identifying, patching, and releasing fixes for all known vulnerabilities in EOL software. In addition to patching these vulnerabilities, our HeroDevs Security Advisories go beyond traditional CVEs, covering hard-to-detect dependency vulnerabilities to ensure comprehensive protection even after official support ends​​.

2. Compromised Packages: Defending Against Malicious Code Insertion

In cases where attackers gain access to legitimate OSS repositories, they can insert malicious code into trusted packages. This risk becomes more prominent in unsupported software, where active oversight is minimal.

The HeroDevs Cybersecurity Approach
HeroDevs collaborates with OSS maintainers to create a secure foundation before official support ends. Once a project reaches EOL, we fork it into our own private repository where we uphold this secure version through regular audits and integrity checks, ensuring no unauthorized changes occur within our managed environments​​.

3. Unmaintained Software: Extending Support for Legacy Systems

As OSS reaches end-of-life, it is no longer maintained, leaving applications increasingly vulnerable as new threats emerge. Without updates, these software versions remain exposed to security risks.

The HeroDevs Cybersecurity Approach
HeroDevs’ NES solutions provide ongoing patches, compatibility updates, and compliance support tailored specifically for unmaintained OSS. This allows businesses to continue relying on versions of legacy frameworks like Node.js, jQuery, and Spring without needing disruptive migrations​​.

4. Outdated Software: Ensuring Security Without Major Upgrades

OSS versions may be updated often and major version updates (and sometimes even minor/patch changes) can introduce breaking changes.  Organizations may not be able to keep up with changing major versions while balancing their own application and service development which may leave them on outdated software versions.

The HeroDevs Cybersecurity Approach
HeroDevs provides simple, drop-in replacements for outdated OSS, maintaining security and regulatory compliance standards. NES products empower companies to keep their systems secure without major upgrades, eliminating the disruption of forced migrations​​.

5. Untracked Dependencies: Gaining Visibility into Hidden Vulnerabilities

Untracked dependencies can easily slip through unnoticed, especially in unsupported OSS, leaving organizations unaware of potential vulnerabilities within their systems.

The HeroDevs Cybersecurity Approach
HeroDevs provides a complete Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) for every NES-supported product, ensuring that all dependencies and sub-dependencies are accounted for and secure. This level of transparency enables proactive risk management, keeping your legacy applications secure and compliant​​.

Conclusion

The OWASP Top 10 report underscores the need for comprehensive security management in open-source software, especially when it reaches EOL. HeroDevs bridges the gap in OSS support, allowing organizations to operate EOL software securely and confidently by addressing the five OWASP risks most relevant to unsupported software.

With HeroDevs’ NES, businesses have a dedicated partner in maintaining their legacy systems, ensuring that applications remain secure, compliant, and reliable long after community support ends.

‍