OWASP Dependency-Check Product Overview
Introduction
OWASP Dependency-Check is a free, open-source Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tool designed to help developers and organizations identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in the third-party libraries and dependencies used within their software applications.
What it Does
OWASP Dependency-Check scans project dependencies to detect publicly disclosed vulnerabilities. It achieves this by identifying Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) identifiers for each dependency and matching them against a list of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) from databases such as the National Vulnerability Database (NVD).
Key Features and Functionality
Automated Vulnerability Detection
Dependency-Check automates the process of scanning project dependencies for known vulnerabilities, freeing developers from manual reviews. This automation ensures consistent and standardized detection of vulnerabilities, allowing for proactive remediation.
Integration with Build Tools
The tool integrates seamlessly with various build tools and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. It offers a command line interface, as well as plugins for Maven, Ant, and Jenkins. This integration enables automatic scanning of dependencies during the application build process, allowing vulnerabilities to be detected early in the development cycle.
Analyzers and Data Sources
The core engine of Dependency-Check includes a series of analyzers that inspect project dependencies, collecting evidence to identify CPEs. It utilizes data from multiple sources, including the NVD Data Feeds hosted by NIST, NPM Audit API, OSS Index, RetireJS, and Bundler Audit, to ensure comprehensive vulnerability detection.
Reporting and Updates
Dependency-Check generates detailed reports that link identified vulnerabilities to their corresponding CVE entries. The tool automatically updates itself using the NVD Data Feeds, ensuring that the local data remains current with minimal overhead after the initial setup.
Configuration Options
The tool provides configurable options such as specifying paths to scan or exclude, setting a CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) threshold for vulnerability severity, and using specific Docker images for scanning. These options allow for tailored scans to fit the needs of different projects.
Benefits
- Early Detection: Identifies vulnerabilities early in the development process, reducing the risk of security breaches.
- Automation: Automates the vulnerability detection process, saving time and resources.
- Comprehensive Integration: Integrates with popular build tools and CI/CD pipelines, ensuring continuous security checks.
- Proactive Remediation: Enables developers to address vulnerabilities proactively, enhancing overall application security.
In summary, OWASP Dependency-Check is a valuable tool for any development team aiming to secure their software applications by identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities in third-party dependencies efficiently and effectively.