Original
release date: April 26, 2021
A software supply chain attack—such as the recent SolarWinds Orion
attack—occurs when a cyber threat actor infiltrates a software vendor’s network
and employs malicious code to compromise the software before the vendor sends
it to their customers. The compromised software can then further compromise
customer data or systems.
To help software vendors and customers defend against these attacks, CISA
and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) have released Defending
Against Software Supply Chain Attacks. This new interagency
resource provides an overview of software supply chain risks and
recommendations. The publication also provides guidance on using NIST’s Cyber
Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) framework and the Secure Software
Development Framework (SSDF) to identify, assess, and mitigate risks.
CISA encourages users and administrators to review Defending
Against Software Supply Chain Attacks and implement its recommendations.