End of Life for Applications: The Beginning of Life for Hackers

Software end-of-life and end-of-support dates are critical factors in the cybersecurity landscape, as highlighted in a recent commentary. Organizations in the IT industry often struggle with aging software and the challenge of keeping up with patches and updates. However, it is equally important to monitor the end-of-life and end-of-support dates for all software assets to mitigate security risks associated with outdated applications.

End of life signifies the point when an application will no longer receive functionality updates, but may still receive critical security patches. On the other hand, end of support denotes the cessation of all updates, leaving the software vulnerable to security threats. Threat actors often target applications that have reached end-of-life or end-of-support status, making it essential for organizations to proactively manage these risks.

While there are exceptions to the rule, such as Microsoft releasing an update for Windows XP years after the official end of support, organizations cannot solely rely on such occurrences. In the coming year, over 35,000 applications are set to reach end-of-life status, posing a significant challenge for IT teams. Internally developed applications that depend on specific software components, like Apache Log4j, are particularly susceptible to security vulnerabilities if not updated promptly.

Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are aware of the risks associated with outdated software but often struggle to garner support for necessary changes. Some applications may no longer receive official vendor support, while others are tied to obsolete operating systems or hardware. The reluctance to invest in migrations or updates stems from concerns about costs and operational disruptions, leading to delays in addressing security vulnerabilities.

To address these challenges, organizations must adopt a proactive approach towards managing end-of-life software. Tracking all software assets and identifying those nearing end-of-life can provide the necessary lead time to plan for migrations or updates. Early engagement with application owners and developers, focusing on the business case for migration, can facilitate smoother transitions.

As more applications transition to the cloud, organizations have an opportunity to eliminate unsupported software components. Refactoring or re-engineering features during migration can enhance performance and reduce costs while minimizing security risks. Despite potential obstacles to migration, transparency about the risks involved and continuous monitoring can drive decision-makers to prioritize security measures.

For assets deemed too costly to replace entirely, implementing risk mitigation strategies, such as network segmentation, becomes crucial. While transitioning from legacy systems is inevitable, it offers an opportunity to enhance long-term security measures. Managing long-term risks associated with end-of-life software requires a concerted effort between security teams and business stakeholders to ensure a secure and resilient IT environment. By demonstrating the business value of security investments and engaging collaboratively with application owners, organizations can effectively navigate the challenges posed by aging software assets.

Source link