April 16, 2024 at 10:15AM
Open source groups are cautioning about recent attacks targeting project maintainers, similar to the attempted backdoor incident in a core Linux library. The OpenJS Foundation and OpenSSF are observing suspicious emails aiming to manipulate project maintainers and have shared tactics to identify potential threats. They emphasize the need to support and fund security talent in the open source community.
Based on the meeting notes, key takeaways include:
1. Open source groups have warned about ongoing attacks targeting project maintainers similar to the recent attempted backdooring of a core Linux library.
2. Higher-ups at OpenJS Foundation and Open Source Security Foundation believe that the attempt to plant a backdoor into Linux’s xz data compression library “may not be an isolated incident” based on recent observations.
3. The OpenJS Foundation Cross Project Council received suspicious emails attempting to manipulate the project maintainers and their status without providing details on vulnerabilities.
4. The suspicious pattern observed in JavaScript projects was reported to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the United States Department of Homeland Security.
5. Project maintainers should be cautious of unknown users requesting elevated status, especially if the communications are overly persistent or aggressive. They should also be wary of code suggestions that are intentionally obfuscated or deviate from typical project practices.
6. Funding developers for security has had a proven impact through initiatives like the security-focused Alpha-Omega project and the support offered by the German government’s Sovereign Tech Fund.
7. There is a recommendation for more global public investment in initiatives like the Sovereign Tech Fund to strengthen infrastructure and security in the open source ecosystem.
These takeaways provide a clear understanding of the security concerns within the open source community and the proactive steps being taken to address them.