Agencies, NSA and CISA, Advocate for Use of Safe Memory Programming Languages for Enhanced Security
A joint report titled Memory Safe Languages: Reducing Vulnerabilities in Modern Software Development has been released, emphasizing the urgent need for software modernization through the use of Memory Safe Languages (MSLs). The report, issued by organizations focused on cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, recommends adopting MSLs for organizations managing legacy systems or high-risk infrastructure.
The report highlights the foundational role of memory safety in modern development, as tools and ecosystems supporting MSLs like Rust mature. MSLs minimize entire classes of vulnerabilities, such as buffer overflows, which remain among the most exploited in cyber-attacks.
Academia is integrating MSLs into higher-level programming curricula, such as Python and Java. However, the transition to MSLs isn't without challenges. Existing codebases often rely on tightly coupled, non-MSL components. To address these barriers, the report encourages modular rewrites, robust dependency management, and targeted training programs that incorporate memory safety principles into both academia and workplace upskilling.
Industry players such as Prossimo and the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) are driving demand for memory safe code in the industry. They are building core internet infrastructure using memory safe code, and DARPA's TRACTOR and V-SPELLS programs aim to automate the modernization of legacy C code into Rust.
The report emphasizes that widespread MSL adoption is the most effective way to eliminate memory vulnerabilities at scale. Performance and interoperability concerns are acknowledged in the report, but the agencies argue that these challenges are surmountable and outweighed by the long-term benefits to system integrity.
The report does not view MSLs as a cure-all, acknowledging that they are not a solution for every situation. For constrained environments or situations where a full transition to MSLs isn't feasible, alternatives such as memory tagging hardware or compiler hardening are suggested.
The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have issued a renewed call to transition to memory safe languages. They argue that the strategic use of MSLs improves the security and reliability of critical systems by reducing vulnerabilities and enabling more robust and secure software design.
In conclusion, the report underscores the need for software modernization through the adoption of Memory Safe Languages. Organizations are encouraged to define memory safety roadmaps and adopt best practices to improve software resilience and ensure a safer digital landscape.
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