Unstable ownership
Severity
High
Short Description
A new collaborator has begun publishing package versions. Package stability and security risk may be elevated.
Suggestion
Try to reduce the number of authors you depend on to reduce the risk to malicious actors gaining access to your supply chain. Packages should remove inactive collaborators with publishing rights from packages on npm.
Information
An Unstable Ownership Alert is generated when there are changes in the ownership or maintenance of a package, indicating that a new collaborator has started publishing versions. This is flagged as a high severity risk because frequent changes in ownership can lead to inconsistent quality, potential security risks, and lack of long-term support.
Changes in ownership or maintenance of a package can have significant implications for its security, reliability, and support. Frequent changes can result in:
- Inconsistent Quality:
- New maintainers may have different coding standards and practices, leading to variations in the package's quality.
- Potential Security Risks:
- A new maintainer might introduce vulnerabilities, either intentionally or accidentally, which can compromise the security of the package.
- Lack of Long-term Support:
- Unstable ownership may result in the package becoming unmaintained or abandoned, leaving users without necessary updates and support.
Why Unstable Ownership is a Concern
- Security Vulnerabilities:
- New maintainers may introduce security vulnerabilities, either intentionally (maliciously) or unintentionally (due to lack of knowledge or oversight).
- Inconsistent Updates:
- Frequent changes in ownership can lead to irregular updates, which can affect the stability and performance of the package.
- Trust and Reliability:
- Users may find it difficult to trust a package with unstable ownership, leading to decreased adoption and potential abandonment of the package.
Recommended actions
Monitor for Updates:
- Keep an eye on the package for any unusual or suspicious updates.
- Ensure that the new maintainer follows good security practices.
Evaluate Alternatives:
- Consider using alternative packages that have a more stable maintenance history.
- Assess the long-term support and reliability of alternative packages.
Notify Your Team:
- Inform your team about the changes in ownership and the potential risks associated with the package.
- Update your documentation to reflect the new information and any decisions made regarding the package.
Examples
Package: dagster-docs
- Issue: This package has seen recent changes in ownership, with a new collaborator publishing versions.
- Action: Monitor the package for any unusual updates and consider finding more stable alternatives.
Package: luucy-embed
- Issue: This package has experienced changes in ownership, indicating potential instability.
- Action: Monitor the package and notify your team of potential risks.
Detection Method
Socket's security system identifies changes in the ownership or maintenance of a package by analyzing the list of collaborators and their activity. When a new collaborator starts publishing versions, an Unstable Ownership Alert is generated. This helps users stay informed about potential risks associated with the package's maintenance.