Analysis and Minimization of the Risks of Harmful Dependencies in the Process Of Continuous Integration and Implementation of Software Code

Continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) processes have become essential elements of modern software development, enabling automation and optimization of work processes. However, these processes come with risks associated with vulnerabilities in the dependency chain, which can lead to serious consequences such as unauthorized access and data leakage. The article discusses the need to implement reliable mechanisms for detecting and mitigating dependency risks to improve the reliability of CI/CD.

The main risk in CI/CD processes is the exploitation of malicious dependencies used during the software build and deployment process. The main types of attacks include dependency confusion, dependency hijacking, and typo cybersquatting. To prevent these threats, various protection methods are proposed, such as controlling access to private packages, using automated tools for monitoring and checking dependencies, and implementing machine learning systems to detect suspicious packages. These measures are aimed at ensuring the integrity and security of software products, minimizing the risks associated with dependencies in CI/CD.

Purpose. Analyze dependency chain attacks and identify effective risk management methods to ensure high security of continuous integration and deployment processes to improve software development practices by identifying and eliminating potential vulnerabilities and stability issues, which provides safer and more reliable software delivery pipelines, reducing the likelihood of failures and disruptions in production environments.

Methodology.  This work includes the results of both international and local scientific research. To identify the relationships and obtain original conclusions, the author uses theoretical research methods, paying special attention to the search and analysis of information. The authors apply theoretical research methods related to the search and analysis of information to identify connections and obtain unique conclusions.

Results. The analysis of the risks of malicious dependencies in the process of continuous integration and implementation of the program code is carried out. Methods have been identified to minimize the risks of dependency abuse, the need to implement multi-level security measures, including automated monitoring and analysis tools, strict access control to repositories and the use of cryptographic methods to verify the integrity of packages. In addition, regular audits and employee training help maintain a high level of security and awareness of potential threats.

Practical implications It is advisable to apply the results obtained in the field of DevOps development in order to optimize the application development and release process by eliminating a known bottleneck: minimizing the risks of malicious dependencies in the process of continuous integration.