Imagine a food or nutrition label, only to discover later that some of the ingredients used in its recipe were unlisted, untested, and possibly unsafe. This is exactly the challenge that undeclared open source dependencies present in software development. These hidden components, which your application relies on but doesn’t explicitly acknowledge, can introduce serious risks—leaving your software vulnerable to security threats, licensing conflicts, and other risks.
In an increasingly complex and interconnected software ecosystem, understanding what’s in your code isn’t just a best practice—it’s a necessity. This is where a complete Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) comes in.
Undeclared dependencies often exist in the shadows of your software, brought in unintentionally through the use of generative AI or a simple copy-and-paste, for example. These hidden components are undocumented but can still play a critical role in your application’s functionality. The challenge lies in their invisibility—developers may unknowingly inherit risks, such as security vulnerabilities or incompatible licensing terms, without realizing these dependencies are part of their codebase. Understanding these “invisible ingredients” is key to ensuring your software’s security, quality, and compliance.
A truly complete SBOM serves as a comprehensive inventory of all open source components, files and even code fragments within a software application and lists both declared and undeclared dependencies. Complete SBOMs provide full visibility allowing developers to identify not just the libraries they have explicitly included but also all other components that may be included.
To effectively detect undeclared dependencies, organizations should prioritize automating SBOM generation using tools capable of detecting undeclared open source, integrating SBOMs into development workflows, educating teams about dependency management, and conducting regular reviews. Automating SBOM creation during the build process ensures accuracy and minimizes the risk of overlooking critical open source in their code. Incorporating SBOMs into the development lifecycle guarantees they remain up-to-date as software evolves. Promoting a culture of dependency awareness among development teams is equally crucial for tracking both declared and undeclared dependencies.
Having visibility into your software’s open source dependencies is essential in today’s complex development landscape. By taking steps to identify undeclared dependencies in addition to declared dependencies, you can reduce risks and streamline development. Ready to take control of your undeclared dependencies? Contact us to learn how we can help.
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