OWASP Dependency Check

What is OWASP Dependency Check?

OWASP Dependency Check is an open-source Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tool that detects publicly disclosed vulnerabilities in project dependencies. It can be used to scan applications and their dependent libraries to identify any known vulnerable components. The tool supports a wide range of programming languages and package managers, making it versatile for different types of projects.

Key Features

• Multiple Language Support: Analyzes dependencies for Java, .NET, JavaScript, Ruby, Python, PHP, and more.
• Comprehensive Vulnerability Database: Uses the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) and other sources to identify known vulnerabilities.
• Multiple Integration Options: Available as a command-line tool, Maven plugin, Gradle plugin, Ant task, Jenkins plugin, and more.
• Detailed Reporting: Generates reports in multiple formats including HTML, XML, CSV, and JSON.
• False Positive Suppression: Allows for the suppression of false positives through a configuration file.
• CI/CD Integration: Easily integrates with CI/CD pipelines for automated vulnerability scanning.

Integration with DevOps Pipeline

OWASP Dependency Check can be integrated into your DevOps pipeline to automatically scan your project dependencies for vulnerabilities. Here's how you can integrate it into your pipeline:

1. Maven Integration

Add Dependency Check to your Maven project by including the plugin in your pom.xml:

<build>
    <plugins>
        <plugin>
            <groupId>org.owasp</groupId>
            <artifactId>dependency-check-maven</artifactId>
            <version>7.4.4</version>
            <executions>
                <execution>
                    <goals>
                        <goal>check</goal>
                    </goals>
                </execution>
            </executions>
        </plugin>
    </plugins>
</build>

2. Gradle Integration

Add Dependency Check to your Gradle project by including the plugin in your build.gradle:

plugins {
    id 'org.owasp.dependencycheck' version '7.4.4'
}

dependencyCheck {
    failBuildOnCVSS = 7
    formats = ['HTML', 'JSON']
    suppressionFile = file("$projectDir/dependency-check-suppressions.xml")
}

3. Jenkins Integration

Add Dependency Check to your Jenkins pipeline:

pipeline {
    agent any
    
    stages {
        stage('Build') {
            steps {
                sh 'mvn clean install'
            }
        }
        
        stage('Dependency Check') {
            steps {
                sh 'mvn org.owasp:dependency-check-maven:check'
            }
            post {
                always {
                    dependencyCheckPublisher pattern: 'target/dependency-check-report.xml'
                }
            }
        }
        
        stage('Deploy') {
            when {
                expression { currentBuild.resultIsBetterOrEqualTo('SUCCESS') }
            }
            steps {
                echo 'Deploying application...'
            }
        }
    }
}

4. GitHub Actions Integration

Add Dependency Check to your GitHub Actions workflow:

name: Build and Scan

on:
  push:
    branches: [ main ]
  pull_request:
    branches: [ main ]

jobs:
  build-and-scan:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v3
        
      - name: Set up JDK
        uses: actions/setup-java@v3
        with:
          java-version: '17'
          distribution: 'temurin'
          
      - name: Build with Maven
        run: mvn clean install
        
      - name: Dependency Check
        run: mvn org.owasp:dependency-check-maven:check
        
      - name: Upload Dependency Check Report
        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
        with:
          name: dependency-check-report
          path: target/dependency-check-report.html

Best Practices

• Run Dependency Check regularly as part of your CI/CD pipeline to catch vulnerabilities early.
• Set appropriate CVSS thresholds based on your organization's risk tolerance.
• Use suppression files to manage false positives, but review them regularly.
• Keep the NVD database up to date by running Dependency Check with the latest data.
• Include Dependency Check reports in your security review process.
• Implement a process for addressing vulnerabilities found by Dependency Check.
• Consider using Dependency Check alongside other security tools for comprehensive coverage.

Conclusion

OWASP Dependency Check is a valuable tool for identifying vulnerabilities in your project dependencies. By integrating it into your DevOps pipeline, you can ensure that your applications are not using components with known vulnerabilities, reducing your security risk.