The LLM-SPL approach can be extended to handle vulnerabilities that span across multiple software projects or repositories by implementing a cross-repository knowledge graph that integrates information from various OSS projects. This graph would map vulnerabilities (CVE entries) to their corresponding patches across different repositories, allowing the model to recognize and recommend patches that may not be directly linked within a single repository.
To achieve this, the following steps can be taken:
Data Integration: Collect and standardize data from multiple repositories, including CVE entries, commit messages, and patch details. This would involve creating a unified dataset that encompasses various software projects.
Enhanced Feature Extraction: Utilize LLMs to extract features not only from individual commits but also from the broader context of related projects. This could include analyzing similar vulnerabilities across different repositories and identifying common patterns in patching strategies.
Inter-Project Relationships: Develop algorithms to identify relationships between vulnerabilities and patches across different projects. This could involve leveraging LLMs to analyze commit histories and detect patterns of collaboration or shared vulnerabilities.
Collaborative Learning: Implement a federated learning approach where models trained on different repositories can share insights without compromising the privacy of their respective datasets. This would allow the LLM-SPL to learn from a diverse set of patches and vulnerabilities, improving its overall accuracy.
Cross-Project Ranking: Modify the ranking algorithm to consider patches from multiple repositories when recommending solutions for a given CVE. This would enhance the model's ability to suggest the most relevant patches, even if they originate from different projects.
By extending LLM-SPL in this manner, it can effectively address vulnerabilities that are not confined to a single software project, thereby improving the overall security posture of interconnected software systems.