CI/CD Security: Safeguarding Your Continuous Integration and Delivery Pipelines

CI/CD security has been a long-standing concern in the development community. DevOps and all the continuous practices that stream from it advocate for speed, usually, at the cost of security. However, the heightened risk of attacks, theft, and data corruption has forced developers to re-examine the vital issue of CI/CD security. This article will help you understand the threats most common to CI/CD pipelines, why CI/CD security is a must, and what CI/CD security best practices you can use to safeguard your entire software development process.

What are the Security Risks of CI/CD?

The adoption of CI/CD pipelines brought a monumental shift in development. It created a streamlined process that brought together various key elements (developers, QA engineers, system admins, and operations) to bring efficiency, quality, and speed to a long ossified process. However, CI/CD pipelines are not 100% secure. Several high-profile data breaches exposed how vulnerable CI/CD pipelines were. These breaches brought the importance of CI/CD security more into focus for the development community, and stakeholders quickly identified the greatest security risks to the CI/CD pipeline, which we’ll outline here.

Code Injection

The nature of any pipeline, including a CI/CD pipeline, means that it has various entry points an attacker can exploit. Depending on the motivation behind their attack, one of the most common (and disruptive) ways to attack a CI pipeline is by injecting malicious code masked as a harmless update or some other verified code. Attackers may inject malicious code into CI/CD pipelines via source code repositories or build scripts, exploiting vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and remote code execution (RCE). These attacks can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, or system compromise. For instance, in 2020, the SolarWinds supply chain attack exploited code injection, impacting multiple U.S. government agencies and private companies.

Dependency Confusion

Speed and automation are the main tenets of DevOps, and by extension, CI/CD pipelines. To maintain a fast pace, developers often rely on public code depositories with pre-built updates and packages. Except, these public code depositories are sometimes rife with malware. They may not seem like it, at first, because they are often hidden in seemingly harmless software packages. However, downloading and integrating third-party dependencies carries the risk of introducing malicious code into a CI/CD pipeline; this attack is called dependency confusion. Basically, dependency confusion occurs when attackers trick pipelines into using malicious third-party packages. In 2021, security researcher Alex Birsan notoriously demonstrated the ease with which an attacker could affect major companies such as Microsoft, Apple, and PayPal using dependency confusion. Birsan found that using a cunning technique called typosquatting - hackers deliberately misspell names of popular sites to fool unsuspecting developers - hackers could penetrate the internal systems of any company. Birsan showed that this attack vector can compromise software integrity and introduce severe security vulnerabilities, even in the most monolithic and sophisticated systems.

Insecure Configuration

The systems involved in a CI/CD pipeline come from various creators and vendors. This mish-mash of CI/CD security tools means that each tool has its settings, configurations, and architecture. This configuration, unfortunately, opens digital cracks throughout the CI/CD pipeline. Attackers use insecure configurations to gain access to more critical systems or access secure databases. A strategic hacker would typically seek to move laterally through the CI/CD pipeline after they gain entry. This movement means they infect every system they interact with. Because of the particular insidiousness of this type of attack, developers have created protocols to test for weaknesses through audits and test attacks. The most common issues they’ve found related to insecure configurations include default settings with weak controls and overly permissive access controls. A 2020 study also found that 60% of breaches were linked to these types of misconfigurations, underscoring the critical need for secure configurations.

Insecure Dependencies and Third-Party Integrations

Similar to the way that dependency confusion tries to trick susceptible systems by disguising themselves as legitimate, insecure dependencies and third-party integrations also rely on deception. Again, this vulnerability, unfortunately, is something inherent to the CI/CD pipeline. Since CI/CD processes often involve the integration of third-party libraries and dependencies, developers can often fail to scrutinize these third-party components, making the entire system vulnerable. Studies have shown that unvetted CI/CD pipeline security tools can carry risks such as outdated or insecure versions. To counter the threat of third-party integrations, DevSecOps teams have implemented CI/CD security best practices, such as using automated tools to scan and update dependencies and adopting policies for vetting third-party software.

Sensitive Data Exposure

Interestingly, CI/CD pipelines centralize and decentralize. Centralize in the sense that the workflow is directed into one code repository, and decentralize because the CI/CD pipeline created to deliver that code has several stages within it, all used and monitored by various developers. This decentralization means that sensitive information, such as credentials or API keys, passes through various hands, and they can be inadvertently exposed to hackers because of inadequate security controls. Typically, CI/CD security experts classify sensitive data exposures into three categories:

• Confidentiality Breach - when sensitive data is exposed
• Integrity Breach - when sensitive data is altered
• Availability Breach - when authorized users are unable to access sensitive data

Why Is CI/CD Security Important?

To understand why CI/CD security is important, think about everything you do online, both in your professional and personal life. At work, you send emails, read and create reports with sensitive information, and interact with colleagues and other stakeholders in faraway locations. At home, you shop, buy, bank online, post on social media, and interact with loved ones, both near and far. All this activity creates data. Some of this data is superfluous, and some of it is incredibly valuable and potentially dangerous if it lands in the hands of bad actors.

For example, take the Ashley Madison breach. This site was attacked, exposing the personal information of thousands of users who relied on its discretion and privacy. Hackers harvested the data and blackmailed the company. The hackers released some of the data as proof of their intentions, leading to serious consequences. But this is only one case. Recent history is rife with instances of hackers penetrating vulnerable systems to gain access to private, confidential, and potentially damaging information.

Ensuring Software Integrity and Trust

Aside from protecting sensitive data, keeping CI/CD pipelines safe from attack is also integral to keeping millions of applications and software running smoothly. These applications range from dating apps to network management systems used by Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Since DevOps preaches automation, the process of integrating code changes, running tests, and deploying applications is not as scrutinized as it once was.

This laissez-faire attitude means motivated attackers can more easily side-step the flimsy security measures that, unfortunately, many organizations use. However, the worst part of ignoring CI/CD security best practices is that a single intrusion can expose your entire organization and all its systems. Think of inhaling a virus that then gets into your bloodstream; once it is in your blood, it affects everything.

Essential Security Tips for CI/CD Pipelines

In this section, we’ll offer some of the CI/CD pipeline security best practices that have had a real-world impact on security in the CI/CD pipeline. As every pipeline is configured to its creator’s particular needs and goals, some of these tips might be more useful to some companies than others. Still, some of these tips are industry-standard now, given they were created in response to massive data breaches.

Secure Your Code Repositories

Code repositories are the backbone of CI/CD pipelines. Code repositories often contain sensitive information, such as configuration files, proprietary algorithms, and business logic. If compromised, attackers can introduce vulnerabilities, leading to potential data breaches or compromised software. A notable example is the 2020 SolarWinds attack, where attackers infiltrated the company's build system through compromised source code repositories, leading to a widespread supply chain attack. They sneaked into a backdoor opened by the company’s Orion Platform, which gave attackers access to all the organizations that use SolarWinds software. Over 18,000 different systems were affected when Softwinds customers automatically installed updates infected with malware. The lesson learned from this attack was that implementing robust access controls, using version control systems with built-in security features, and conducting regular audits can significantly reduce the risk of such breaches.

Protecting Secrets and Credentials

Secrets and credentials, such as API keys, passwords, and tokens, are critical for CI/CD pipelines. Since these pipelines need to interact with various services and environments, protecting these secrets is paramount. However, recent history has shown that mishandling secrets is a common issue in CI/CD pipelines, leading to significant security vulnerabilities. In 2019, Capital One suffered a breach that exposed the personal financial information of over 100 million people. The hacker relied on straightforward attacks that involved well-known vulnerabilities, such as using a server-side request forgery to exploit a misconfigured firewall that exposed AWS credentials. Analyses of the incident found there were company-wide lapses that led to the attack and recommended, among other steps, that companies begin routine security reviews and assessments to find vulnerabilities. Many researchers also found that using secret management tools, encrypting secrets, and avoiding hardcoding credentials in source code can mitigate these risks and protect sensitive information.

Implementing Secure Build Environments

An insecure build environment can introduce vulnerabilities into the software. Hackers can enter either through compromised build tools, malicious third-party dependencies, or unauthorized access. This point was made clear in the wake of the 2015 XcodeGhost incident, which involved a compromised version of the Xcode development tool that injected malicious code into apps developed using it. Using elements of dependency confusion, hackers were able to compromise Apple’s proprietary build tool and release malware to developers who believed it was a legitimate Apple X update. This breach affected numerous iOS apps, emphasizing the need for secure build environments. By isolating build environments, using trusted build tools, and regularly updating and patching software, organizations can prevent build process compromises.

Securing the CI/CD Environment:

• Isolate CI/CD pipelines: Ensure that the CI/CD infrastructure is kept separate from other production environments to minimize the attack surface and limit potential vulnerabilities.
• Apply least privilege access: Limit access to CI/CD systems, repositories, and resources according to the principle of least privilege. Implement role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure only necessary permissions are granted.
• Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Require MFA for all CI/CD accounts to enhance security and prevent unauthorized access.

Enforcing Security in the CI/CD Pipeline

Incorporating security into the CI/CD pipeline helps shift security left, allowing for early detection and remediation of vulnerabilities. Studies show that early identification of security issues is more cost-effective and less disruptive than addressing them in later stages. By enforcing security in the CI/CD pipeline, organizations can improve the overall security posture of their software development lifecycle.

Research indicates that organizations that integrate security into their CI/CD pipelines experience fewer security incidents and faster remediation times. Implementing static and dynamic code analysis, vulnerability scanning, and automated security testing are effective strategies for embedding security into the CI/CD process. These measures help ensure that security is continuously monitored and addressed, reducing the likelihood of vulnerabilities reaching production.

Monitoring and Logging

Effective monitoring and logging help detect security threats, such as unauthorized access, code injections, and configuration changes. The research underscores the importance of continuous monitoring in maintaining the security and integrity of CI/CD pipelines. By analyzing logs and monitoring activities, organizations can quickly identify and respond to security incidents, minimizing potential damage.

A study on security breaches found that organizations with robust monitoring and logging practices detected and mitigated security incidents more quickly and effectively than those without such practices. Implementing centralized logging, using security information and event management (SIEM) systems, and setting up alerts for suspicious activities are critical components of a secure CI/CD pipeline. These measures provide the necessary visibility and response capabilities to protect the pipeline from security threats.

Vodworks’ Strategies for Securing CI/CD Pipelines

CI/CD security is a fundamental practice that every organization should take seriously. Companies that are looking to implement CI/CD security best practices need an experienced and knowledgeable team to craft a unique solution for any attack vector. Fortunately, Vodworks is an established security partner for many global companies because of our experience in building, monitoring, and safeguarding CI/CD pipelines. We provide all our clients access to our experienced security and compliance experts, who have spent years staying up-to-date on the evolving nature of threats to CI/CD security. If data breaches and service interruptions are a constant source of anxiety, reach out to us so we can find a solution that gives you peace of mind.