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Unpacking the Power of OX Security’s Multi-Dependency Graph

Dependencies are an inevitable element of software. They exist everywhere — in open-source libraries, proprietary code, APIs, and all throughout the digital ecosystems in which software is built, tested, deployed, and used. Dependencies often have their own layers of connections, creating an intricate web of relationships. This web can become a daunting challenge for AppSec teams tasked with ensuring application security. Without the right tools, tracking, analyzing, and remediating vulnerabilities hidden within dependencies can feel like chasing shadows.

Enter: OX Security’s multi-dependency graph, an enhanced feature with the OX Platform that helps developers and security teams easily and accurately track, analyze, and understand the dependencies in their software. This up-leveled functionality doesn’t only enhance visibility; it accelerates remediation, improves understanding, and empowers AppSec and DevOps teams with unprecedented clarity.

The Challenges of Software Dependency Management

Modern applications are a patchwork of components sourced from multiple repositories, languages, and files. While this accelerates innovation, it also increases complexity. Consider these common issues:

  • Hidden Indirect Dependencies: Manifest files might reveal direct dependencies, but what about the nested, indirect ones? These “dependencies of dependencies” can introduce vulnerabilities that often go unnoticed.
  • Fragmented Dependency Views: Different files in a repository can list dependencies differently, creating gaps in visibility. Without correlating these files, teams risk overlooking critical connections.
  • Language-Specific Limitations: Dependency management varies by programming language. Some ecosystems excel at tracking relationships, while others struggle with accuracy.

Without the ability to connect these dots, development and AppSec teams are left with incomplete information, increasing the likelihood of missed vulnerabilities and slower response times.

How OX Security’s Multi-Dependency Graph Solves These Challenges

OX Security’s multi-dependency graph is designed to provide a comprehensive view of dependencies, going beyond surface-level insights to uncover the true scope of potential risks. Here’s how it works and why it matters:

1. Greater Transparency

The OX multi-dependency graph offers complete clarity into software dependencies, including indirect and compound ones. By correlating data from multiple files and repositories, the graph ensures no dependency is left untracked. Whether a package appears in different files or has varying paths, OX identifies and maps it accurately.

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2. Cross-File Analysis

Dependencies don’t exist in isolation, and neither should their analysis. OX now tracks dependencies across files, offering a unified view that highlights relationships between packages, regardless of their location or source.

3. Improved Accuracy in Multi-Language Environments

Different programming languages handle dependency tracking differently. OX’s multi-dependency graph accounts for these variations, ensuring accurate tracking even when languages or listing methods fall short. This eliminates blind spots and strengthens security posture.

4. All-Inclusive Path Analysis

Understanding vulnerabilities requires knowing how they’re connected. OX provides a complete map of all paths between dependencies, allowing teams to visualize how one package affects another. This comprehensive view is key to addressing issues holistically.

The Benefits of OX’s Multi-Dependency Graph

Faster Mean Time to Remediate (MTTR)

Time is critical when addressing risks. With the ability to correlate dependencies across files and repositories, OX helps teams identify and address risks faster. By pinpointing the origin and trigger packages, AppSec DevOps teams can now remediate issues with greater precision.

Enhanced Understanding of Vulnerabilities

The multi-dependency graph provides context around dependencies, answering crucial questions:

  • Where is this dependency coming from?
  • Which other components rely on it?
  • How is it connected to the overall application?

For example, the following screenshot, illustrates how the OX Platform can be used to identify a dependency that is associated with a concerning vulnerability. The dependency graph make sit simply to triage these vulnerabilities via their SBOM package.

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This clarity allows teams to prioritize efforts and allocate resources efficiently — to focus on the 5% of risks that matter.

Accelerated Cyber Risk Identification

By highlighting compound and indirect dependencies, OX speeds up the identification process. Teams can uncover hidden vulnerabilities that would otherwise require manual effort or go unnoticed altogether.

Empowered AppSec Teams

The accuracy and depth of the multi-dependency graph give AppSec teams the confidence to act decisively. No more second-guessing or sifting through incomplete data — OX ensures every decision is backed by actionable insights.

Why It Matters for AppSec

In today’s threat landscape, every second counts, and every overlooked vulnerability is a potential attack vector. OX Security’s multi-dependency graph equips organizations with the tools they need to tackle even the most intricate dependency chains. By offering greater transparency, improving MTTR, and accelerating risk identification, OX helps organizations secure their software supply chain and deliver with confidence.

Want to see the multi-dependency graph in action? Contact us today to learn how OX Security can help you stay ahead of evolving threats and achieve unparalleled clarity in your AppSec strategy.

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