Conan Launches C/C++ Audit Functionality

Overview

Conan is a leading software package manager for C/C++ development environments. As an open source multi-platform package manager, it is used to create, manage and share native binaries and their dependencies based on C/C++ code.

C/C++ is often the preferred language for developing embedded systems, mobile platforms, and real-time applications due to its low-level control, high performance, and direct memory management capabilities. It is also widely used in IoT devices, robotics, machine learning, operating systems, and high-performance computing serving industries such as microprocessor technology, automotive, gaming, finance, aerospace and defense.

As a free open source package manager, Conan is decentralized and supports multiple platforms, helping to manage dependencies, build configurations, and binaries across different operating and build systems. Conan works with various build systems like CMake, MSBuild, and Makefiles, and supports cross-compilation, making it suitable for diverse development environments.

The Problem

Security Challenges

With increasing concern about security and vulnerabilities in software dependencies, especially in compiled binaries based on languages such as C/C++, developers, DevOps and Security teams are becoming increasingly vigilant about securing dependencies, recognizing that a single vulnerable package can compromise an entire application.

In addition to security concerns, the situation is further complicated by the fragmented nature of the C/C++ ecosystem making it difficult to manage dependencies in general and security in particular. Unlike higher-level languages with well-established build systems, package managers, and repositories, the C and C++ community has lacked in the past an accepted general, portable solution for building, packaging, and managing software packages.

Management Challenges

This fragmentation has resulted in developers having to rely on a hodgepodge of tools and methodologies to manage their dependencies, which are often time-consuming and prone to human error. In its current state, the lack of a standardized approach to C/C++ package management makes it difficult to ensure that all dependencies are up-to-date and free from known vulnerabilities.

Given these challenges, it is crucial for developers of C and C++ to have a clear understanding and visibility of their dependencies and the potential vulnerabilities they may contain.

The Solution

Reliable Package Management

Conan is a free open-source package manager for C/C++ that has established itself as a reliable and widely-used tool across both small development operations and large enterprises. Conan’s comprehensive model of dependencies ensures that applications can manage their dependencies in a cross-platform, portable, and universal manner.

As mentioned above, this is particularly important in the C and C++ ecosystem, where the lack of a standardized packaging solution has historically been a significant challenge. By providing a robust and tested framework, Conan helps developers streamline their dependency management, reducing the risk of security vulnerabilities and ensuring that their applications are built on a solid foundation.

Secure Vulnerability Auditing

To address the growing concern over security and vulnerabilities, Conan has introduced Conan Audit, a powerful feature powered by JFrog’s security database that allows developers to check the potential vulnerabilities for their dependencies – even before the project is built. Conan Audit has a limit of 100 scans per day, which should be enough to scan most applications.

Conan Audit reports which packages have potential vulnerabilities and which are safe to use.

By integrating this capability directly into its package manager, Conan empowers developers, DevOps, and Security teams to proactively identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, thereby enhancing the overall security of their applications. It is particularly effective in the context of C/C++, where memory safety issues can have severe consequences.

It is important to emphasize that achieving enhanced application security not only requires the use of robust package managers such as Conan, but also the implementation of continuous security checks and CI/CD deployment practices that include the latest security updates. By leveraging tools and practices that provide detailed dependency graphs and vulnerability reports, developers can better manage the security of their applications and reduce the risk of security breaches.

The JFrog Advantage

For organizations using JFrog Curation and Catalog, Conan Audit can be configured to use a specified JFrog instance, offering scanning a limitless number of dependencies with greater flexibility and control over the C/C++ security checks. This configuration allows organizations to tailor the audit process to their specific needs. Additionally, JFrog Advanced Security features such as code scanning and analysis further enhance the application security.

Together, these features provide a comprehensive approach to security, ensuring that applications are not only free from known vulnerabilities, but are also optimized for performance and reliability. By leveraging these advanced capabilities, developers can build and maintain secure, high-quality C and C++ applications with confidence.

Benefits of Adopting Conan and Its Audit Functionality

In the world of C and C++ development, managing dependencies and ensuring the security of software applications is critical. The fragmented ecosystem and the inherent risks associated with memory safety issues have made it increasingly important for development teams to adopt robust and reliable management and security solutions.

Conan’s well-established and widely-used open-source package manager, along with Conan Audit and integration with the JFrog Platform offers a comprehensive solution to these challenges, including the following benefits:

• Enhanced Security: Conan Audit allows developers to check for vulnerabilities in their dependencies before the project is built, significantly reducing the risk of security breaches.

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Conan’s cross-platform and portable dependency management model ensures that developers can manage their dependencies consistently across different operating systems and environments.

• Comprehensive Dependency Management: Conan provides a full model of dependencies, making it easier for developers to understand and manage the complex dependency graphs of their projects.

• Integration with JFrog: For JFrog customers, Conan Audit can be configured to use existing JFrog instances, offering more control and flexibility over the audit process.

• Improved Efficiency: By automating the dependency management and security audit processes, Conan helps development teams save time and reduce the risk of human error.

• Scalability: Conan’s robust and scalable architecture supports both small projects and large enterprise applications, making it a versatile tool for any development environment..

Take Aways

Adopting the Conan Package Manager with its integrated Conan Audit functionality offers numerous benefits for development, operations, and security teams working with C/C++, by providing a comprehensive and secure dependency management solution. Conan helps teams build and maintain high-quality, secure applications with the option of integrating the advanced security features of the JFrog Platform, resulting in consistent, reliable, and secure C/C++ applications.

See for yourself how Conan and JFrog can simplify and secure C/C++ package management in your organization by downloading Conan Audit or speaking with one of our engineers at your convenience.