Secure Management of Source Code, Development Tools, and Software Libraries
Introduction
Source code is a vital part of any software development effort, representing both intellectual property and the foundation for organisational systems. Ensuring that read and write access to source code, development tools, and associated artefacts is strictly controlled helps prevent unauthorised changes, safeguards against malicious modifications, and maintains the confidentiality of valuable code assets.
Purpose
The aim of restricting and managing access to source code is to protect its integrity, minimise the risk of unauthorised alterations, and preserve the confidentiality of proprietary developments. This includes preventing unintentional errors, malicious attacks, and misuse of development tools.
Key Guidelines
Centralised Storage and Source Code Management
Store all source code in a central repository or source code management system.
Maintain clear version control procedures, ensuring that every modification is logged and attributable to a specific individual or team.
Role-Based Access Permissions
Grant read and write permissions based on an individual’s job responsibilities.
In many cases, broad read-only access can be granted to developers who require visibility of the codebase, while write access should be reserved for authorised personnel only.
Secure Access to External Code Components
Where open-source or third-party libraries are integrated, allow read access for developers who need to study or reference the code.
Restrict write access to such libraries to trusted maintainers or designated owners, following established contribution processes.
Formal Change Control
Adhere to documented change management procedures (see Section 8.32), ensuring that any updates to source code or associated artefacts are properly authorised.
Ensure that developers only interact with the repository via approved development tools that enforce these access and authorisation rules.
Protection of Development Tools and Assets
Limit access to compilers, build systems, test environments, and other development platforms to authorised individuals.
Monitor and log usage of these tools to detect and investigate unauthorised or suspicious activities.
Audit and Logging
Maintain detailed records of all read and write actions, including the date, time, and user credentials.
Regularly review audit logs for signs of anomalous or unauthorised changes.
Secure Environment and Infrastructure
House source code listings in environments with both physical and logical protections.
Employ strong authentication (e.g., multi-factor authentication) to minimise the risk of compromised developer accounts.
Protecting Publicly Released Code
If source code is intended to be made public, implement additional controls such as digital signatures to provide assurance of authenticity and integrity.
Supporting Measures
Access Management Policies: Develop and enforce clear policies for granting, reviewing, and revoking permissions.
Developer Awareness: Ensure developers understand the importance of code security and the processes required to handle source code securely.
Regular Reviews: Periodically review access permissions, ensuring that dormant or unnecessary accounts do not accumulate elevated privileges.
Conclusion
By consistently applying role-based permissions, centralised code management, formal change controls, and comprehensive auditing, organisations can mitigate the risks associated with source code exposure and ensure the resilience of their software development processes. Adopting these measures not only preserves intellectual property and system integrity but also promotes a culture of security within the development lifecycle.
Comments