What is DevSecOps?
In response to the increasing complexity of cyber threats, many organisations are adopting a practice known as DevSecOps. This approach involves integrating security measures directly into the development process, rather than treating them as an afterthought. By doing so, security becomes a fundamental part of the software development lifecycle, ensuring that potential vulnerabilities are addressed early on. However, this shift also comes with challenges, as teams must be agile and proactive in adapting to new threats.
Cyber Incidents in 2023
In 2023, there was a noticeable increase in incidents that negatively affected the operation of DevOps services. GitHub, the largest of these platforms, experienced 13.94% of the reported incidents, while Bitbucket accounted for 8.33%, GitLab for 7.89%, and Jira for 4%. Most of these issues involved problems with key components that led to degraded performance and service disruptions.
One of the most alarming threats to GitHub in 2023 was the rise of a hacking method called "RepoJacking." This type of attack exposed millions of repositories to potential risks. Research indicated that as many as 9 million repositories on GitHub could be vulnerable to this kind of attack. Moreover, it was discovered that over 4,000 software packages were at risk, along with more than 15,000 Go module repositories.
Hackers also used GitHub as a platform to host malicious software. By taking advantage of GitHub's public services, attackers could create a cost-effective and reliable infrastructure for their activities, making it difficult for users to detect and respond to these threats. This method allowed hackers to retrieve malicious commands through seemingly legitimate interactions on GitHub, posing a significant risk to users' data.
Challenges Faced by Bitbucket, Jira, and GitLab
While Bitbucket saw a slight decrease in incidents in 2023, the difference was minimal, with only a 2.04% reduction compared to the previous year. Unfortunately, Jira experienced a 50% increase in incidents, with 75 recorded events, meaning users encountered an incident roughly every five days. Many of these issues were severe, involving vulnerabilities that could have serious consequences for users.
GitLab also faced challenges, with 32% of reported incidents impacting the platform's performance. This hindered users' ability to fully utilise the service. June and August were particularly problematic months for GitLab, with several events that disrupted services. In one instance, a sophisticated attack exploited a critical vulnerability (CVE-2021-22205), which could have led to ransomware attacks and data theft. GitLab's response highlighted the need for organisations to be prepared with robust security and disaster recovery plans.
The Importance of DevOps Security
One of the biggest challenges in DevOps security is ensuring that development and security teams work together effectively. Developers often focus on quickly pushing new software updates, while security teams prioritise finding and fixing vulnerabilities. Without a well-integrated security approach throughout the development process, organisations are at greater risk of cyberattacks, data breaches, and operational disruptions.
The increasing number of incidents affecting platforms like GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Jira serves as a wake-up call for organisations to strengthen their security practices. By embedding security into every stage of the development process and fostering collaboration among all teams, organisations can better protect their systems and data from cyber threats.
It’s crucial for organisations to prioritise security at every stage of software development. The challenges faced by major DevOps platforms in 2023 highlight the need for vigilance, collaboration, and proactive security measures to safeguard our digital infrastructure. By adopting a DevSecOps approach and integrating security from the start, organisations can better brace themselves.
