Software identification in focus as CISA endeavors to strengthen supply chain security
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a request for comment on creating a harmonized system of software identification, as part of a larger initiative to improve software security. The goal is to establish a unified, reliable software identification framework to strengthen trust and security in software supply chains.
According to a white paper released by CISA, a more robust software identifier ecosystem is needed for a harmonized software identification system. The agency is seeking input on the requirements for an effective software identification ecosystem, with a focus on improving the quality, trustworthiness, and consistency of software bills of materials (SBOMs).
Currently, different SBOM tools produce divergent outputs even for the same software, undermining their reliability for security purposes. This divergence arises from imprecise definitions, varying standards, inconsistent handling of uncertainties, and different implementation decisions across tools and organizations.
To tackle these problems, the harmonization effort seeks to define standardized practices and terminologies for generating SBOMs to ensure all relevant software content is captured accurately. The aim is to reduce inconsistencies and discrepancies that create gaps in software supply chain visibility, which can represent vulnerabilities risking critical infrastructure and national security.
CISA is also encouraging community collaboration and interoperability testing, exemplified by the SBOM Harmonization Plugfest involving multiple vendors and standards bodies to analyze differing SBOM outputs and explore ways to align them.
The Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute is collaborating with CISA to identify essential components of a software identification system. Federal authorities aim to create a global authority responsible for setting common rules and assigning responsibilities related to software identification.
The challenges and benefits of existing identifier formats are under consideration. Comments on the harmonized software identification system must be submitted by Dec. 11.
Brian Fox, co-founder and CTO of Sonatype, emphasizes the need for a shared understanding of software identification for the automation of SBOMs and vulnerability details, comparing it to the chaos that would result if food vendors had their own names for sugar. Sandy Radesky, associate director for vulnerability management at CISA, stated that this system would facilitate greater automation, inventory visibility, and the broad adoption of software bill of materials (SBOMs).
The executive order on improving cybersecurity, issued by President Joe Biden in 2021, has been a driving force behind these efforts to prioritize software security. This request for comment is part of a larger effort by CISA and other federal agencies to address software supply chain security.
While other direct search results did not address CISA's specific request for comment on this harmonized software identification system, the focus on software supply chain security and SBOMs is central in the available sources.
- To address the inconsistencies in software bills of materials (SBOMs), which pose vulnerabilities and risk critical infrastructure and national security, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is requesting input on the requirements for an effective software identification ecosystem.
- The harmonized software identification system proposed by CISA aims to reduce inconsistencies and discrepancies by defining standardized practices and terminologies for generating SBOMs, ultimately strengthening cybersecurity in data-and-cloud-computing and technology domains.
