Software companies are facing a growing problem—security debt. According to a recent Veracode report, about 42% of software programs have security flaws that haven’t been fixed for over a year. This isn’t just a minor issue; these flaws are often ticking time bombs that could lead to serious breaches if not addressed.
What is Security Debt?
Think of security debt as the pile of issues that accumulate when software vulnerabilities aren’t patched. Just like financial debt, if it keeps growing, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage. The Veracode report, which analyzed nearly 13 million code scans across 1 million applications, shows that security debt is a widespread issue. Approximately 63% of first-party code and 70% of third-party code have vulnerabilities. The report also highlights that 71% of organizations are struggling with this problem, making it a significant concern for the industry.
Legacy Technologies and Third-Party Risks
Not all programming languages are created equal when it comes to security. Older technologies like Visual Basic 6, Perl, and COBOL are particularly vulnerable. These legacy systems often run critical applications, but they’re also prone to security issues that are challenging to fix. Third-party open-source components also contribute heavily to security debt. Many of these components are maintained by small teams, making it harder to address vulnerabilities promptly.
The Bright Side: Python
Python, on the other hand, stands out as one of the least susceptible to long-term security flaws. This could be due to its active community and the frequent updates that keep potential issues at bay. For example, the report indicates that a flaw in a Java application has a 46% chance of becoming security debt, while in Python, the risk is halved.
AI: The Double-Edged Sword
AI-generated code is another factor to consider. The report suggests that AI isn’t necessarily better or worse at producing secure code compared to human developers. However, AI has the potential to help fix security issues more quickly, especially when it’s trained on common software weaknesses. While AI can accelerate the process of fixing code, it can also introduce new vulnerabilities if not properly managed.
What Is The Way Forward
So, what can developers do to manage this growing security debt? The key is to integrate security into the software development lifecycle from the start. Regularly scanning for vulnerabilities, keeping all components up to date, and patching issues as soon as they are discovered can go a long way in reducing security debt. The report also recommends that companies retire outdated technologies like Visual Basic 6, which are particularly prone to security issues.
Conclusion
Security debt is a real and growing problem in the software industry. Companies that ignore it do so at their own peril. But by taking proactive steps—like integrating security into the development process and leveraging AI—developers can start to chip away at this debt and build more secure, reliable software. The stakes are high, but the path to a more secure future is clear.