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What is third-party software validation?
Third-party software validation is the process of assessing and verifying the security, functionality, and compliance of software obtained from external vendors, open-source communities, or other non-internal development sources. This validation ensures that software components integrated into your systems do not introduce hidden risks, malware, or vulnerabilities.
It is a key component of software supply chain security and risk governance.
Why is it important to validate third-party software?
Modern software often depends heavily on external code, from open-source libraries to commercial APIs and SaaS integrations. Without proper validation, these third-party components can:
- Harbor known or unknown vulnerabilities
- Contain malicious code or backdoors
- Violate licensing or regulatory requirements
- Undermine application trust and integrity
Organizations are increasingly required by regulators, customers, and cybersecurity best practices (e.g., NIST SSDF, EO 14028) to validate third-party software before use.
How software validation work?
A comprehensive validation workflow may include:
- Static and Dynamic Scanning: Detect vulnerabilities, secrets, or malicious behavior in the code or binary
- SBOM Analysis: Review software bills of materials to understand components, licenses, and CVEs
- Threat Intelligence Integration: Cross-reference against known malicious indicators or supply chain attack reports
- Reputation and Vendor Risk Assessments: Evaluate the security posture and trustworthiness of the software provider
- Runtime Behavioral Analysis: Observe actual execution of the software in a sandbox or monitored environment
- License Compliance Checks: Confirm alignment with enterprise or legal licensing policies
This process can be performed during the procurement, onboarding, or integration phases and is refreshed periodically.
Benefits
- Reduces Supply Chain Risk: Blocks compromised or vulnerable software from entering your environment
- Improves Compliance: Satisfies regulatory requirements around software sourcing and documentation
- Protects Customer Trust: Ensures that the entire stack, including third-party components, is secure and validated
- Supports Procurement Due Diligence: Streamlines vendor onboarding and contract negotiations
Third-party software validation vs
|
Practice |
Focus Area |
Key Differences |
|
Software Composition Analysis |
Dependency scanning |
SCA is a tool; validation includes broader risk assessment |
|
Penetration Testing |
Application vulnerability testing |
Focuses on your app; validation targets imported software |
|
Vendor Risk Management |
Business-level assessment |
Software validation is technical and often automated |
Best practices for third-party software validation
- Mandate validation before approving or integrating external software
- Scan all software for malware and CVEs — not just open source
- Require SBOMs and attestations from suppliers
- Reassess vendor software after major updates or known breaches
- Maintain a centralized inventory of validated third-party components
Use cases
- Vendor Procurement Workflows: Validate security posture before purchase or onboarding
- Open Source Software Usage: Ensure public libraries meet internal security standards
- Regulatory Audit Preparation: Provide documentation of third-party risk management
- Cloud Integration Security: Validate SaaS and PaaS connectors for enterprise use
Additional considerations
- Ensure validation is repeatable and documented for audit readiness
- Leverage threat feeds and vulnerability databases for real-time risk evaluation
- Don’t rely solely on vendor assurances — perform independent checks when possible
- Build third-party validation into CI/CD pipelines and application onboarding workflows
- Track validation status over time to detect drift, updates, or emerging risks