Vulnerable and Outdated Components
Tags: programming, opensource, vulnerabilities, cybersecurity
Published: 2023-10-27 12:30:49

## Introduction


I'm sure you use some pre-built libraries or packages when you design applications to help with the process, don't you?

Take a look at any straightforward GET request Python code. It's likely that the requests library or something compactable would be used. You could utilize Pillow to work with photos if you'd like.

If you work in web development, you may be using popular libraries and frameworks like Angular, ReactJS, VueJS, the Bootstrap framework, and jQuery.

Both you and your clients and application users would be impacted if the components you are using to develop your apps become out-of-date or have a significant vulnerability. 

Keeping track of your dependencies takes a lot of effort. It involves more work than just getting the most recent dependencies and packages or executing the update command. But it goes much beyond this: the most recent updates to your apps may cause them to malfunction; some features or functionalities may become obsolete; dependencies may be dropped; or the patch may not run on your system without interfering with other dependencies, causing chaos. 

Updating and ensuring that everything stays up to date may seem easy, but it takes a lot of work and isn't always that simple. Unless you're prepared to invest additional time and update your code to make it compatible with the newest and best updates, this process can be difficult.

Let's talk about the number 6 vulnerability in OWASP's TOP 10 security risks i.e Vulnerable And Outdated Components



![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/zy8o41rwcdkcrode76qd.jpg)



## Vulnerable and Outdated Components


**Vulnerable Components**: 

Vulnerable components refer to those pieces of software that contain security flaws, often referred to as "software vulnerabilities." These vulnerabilities can be exploited by malicious actors to compromise the security of your application. Common examples include code injection vulnerabilities, cross-site scripting (XSS), and SQL injection. These issues are typically discovered after a component has been released and may not be immediately visible.

**Outdated Components**:

Outdated components are software elements that have not been updated to their latest versions. This might occur because developers are unaware of updates, or they fear that updates could break existing functionality. Outdated components can pose a significant risk because security patches and improvements provided in newer versions are not applied, leaving your software exposed to known vulnerabilities.

Vulnerabilities over such components may exist for several years before they are discovered, fixed, or disclosed. Sometimes, a vulnerability may not even be identified until it has been exploited. Some of such vulnerabilities include:

1. Injection Vulnerabilities 
2. Buffer Overflows
3. Cross-Site Scripting 

**Types of Vulnerable And Outdated Components **

1. Failure to maintain components
2. Out-of-date support systems
3. Component Misconfiguration

Successful attacks on vulnerable and Outdated components can result in 
Distributed Denial Of Service, Remote Code Execution attacks, and mass disclosure of records intended for private access.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8f3a1u9r54jt32ch5ki4.jpg)


## Steps to identify Vulnerable and Outdated Components


1. **OWASP Scanner:**  This scanner tests all the software packages against the latest OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities and their mapped CWEs.

2. **API Vulnerability Scanner:** This scanner checks for safe API implementation and raises an alert if the interface includes misconfigured HTTP directives.

3. **Command Injection Scanner:** Verifies inputs to see if the program is susceptible to code injection attacks, such as user-supplied URLs, message boards, and comment areas.

4. **Microservices scanner:** This scanner examines all containerized services and functionality for common vulnerabilities.

5. **XSS Scanner:** Examines program components for vectors used in cross-site scripting attacks.


## The Best Ways to Handle Outdated and Vulnerable Components


The following are a few recommended techniques for handling vulnerable and Outdated components:

1. Use automated techniques to regularly check your web applications for vulnerabilities.
2. Make a list of all the third-party frameworks and libraries that you utilize in your web apps.
3. Keep an eye out for security alerts from the component's creators and install updates as soon as possible.
4. Steer clear of employing components without an active development community or ones that haven't received updates in a long time.


Online applications are significantly in danger from Vulnerable and Outdated components. Attackers may use these flaws to take over the system or obtain unauthorized access to private information. It is crucial to keep these components up to date with regular security updates or patches from their developers in order to reduce these risks. It's also imperative to use components with an active development community that are regularly maintained only. You may assist in safeguarding the security of your web apps from attacks that take advantage of obsolete and vulnerable components by adhering to certain recommended practices.

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Happy Hacking!