How Parasoft Static Analysis Could Have Prevented the CrowdStrike Catastrophe

In the fast-paced world of automated software delivery (CI/CD) safeguarding the integrity and reliability of software updates is crucial. The recent incident at CrowdStrike, involving a critical Windows sensor update, underscores the imperative of comprehensive pre-deployment testing. This event, which led to significant issues post-update, serves as a cautionary tale for software developers: automated testing must rigorously assess not only cybersecurity but also reliability and safety. CrowdStrike’s protocol begins with a suite of automated tests. CrowdStrike states:

“The sensor release process begins with automated testing, both prior to and after merging into our code base. This includes unit testing, integration testing, performance testing and stress testing.”

Interestingly there is no mention of static code analysis in their testing regimen. Given that safety-critical sectors have long championed static analysis to preempt issues, the omission is striking. Static analysis tools like those from Parasoft have proven highly effective in enhancing software robustness.

Early Detection With Static Analysis in Shift-Left Testing

Automated software deployments rely on comprehensive software testing performed early in the cycle—also known as shift-left testing—to detect potential flaws and vulnerabilities before they reach production. It’s crucial for early testing to prioritize code safety and reliability along with security to avoid incidents that erode trust and cause significant disruption.

Static analysis plays a crucial role in shift-left testing, identifying and mitigating issues early in the development process. Unlike dynamic testing, which requires executing the code, static analysis examines the source code without running the program. This allows for the early detection of potential errors, security vulnerabilities, and coding standard violations early in the software lifecycle.

In the case of the CrowdStrike Falcon update issue, adhering to coding standards like MISRA, CERT, and CWE through static analysis tools would have been instrumental in detecting and mitigating this logic defect.

• MISRA provides guidelines for safe and reliable software, particularly for embedded systems.
• CERT focuses on secure coding practices to prevent security vulnerabilities.
• CWE offers a comprehensive list of software weaknesses.

These standards all contain coding guidelines to identify the use of NULL Pointers, the root cause of this failure. Parasoft offers deep coverage for these standards and deploying a robust set of checkers focused on security, safety, and reliability could have detected these types of bugs early.

Here are just a few static analysis coding guidelines from three different standards that could be used to find these types of software defects.

By integrating these standards into their development process, CrowdStrike could have identified coding errors, security flaws, and compliance issues before they reached production. This would have ensured that the update was robust, secure, and compliant with best practices, thereby preventing the disruption and potential security risks experienced by an estimated 8.5 billion devices.

How Parasoft’s Static Analysis Could Have Helped 

Parasoft’s static analysis tools are designed to catch a wide range of issues that could lead to software failures. Integrating these tools into the continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) pipeline allows developers to automatically scan their code for potential problems with each change. This proactive approach can identify:

1. Security vulnerabilities. Static analysis can detect common security flaws, such as buffer overflows and SQL injection vulnerabilities before they become exploitable.
2. Code quality issues. Ensuring that code adheres to best practices and coding standards is essential for maintainability and reducing technical debt. Parasoft’s tools help enforce these standards automatically.
3. Logic errors. Subtle logic errors can be challenging to detect through manual reviews. Automated tools can identify these issues by analyzing the code’s structure and flow.
4. Compliance with safety standards. For industries like automotive and healthcare, compliance with safety standards is crucial. Parasoft’s static analysis tools support compliance with standards like MISRA and CERT, ensuring that the code meets regulatory requirements.

The Benefits of Proactive Testing

Implementing Parasoft’s automated testing solutions can significantly reduce the risk of incidents like the CrowdStrike Falcon update issue. The key benefits include:

• Early detection of issues. Catching issues early in the development process allows teams to address them before they escalate into costly problems.
• Increased efficiency. Automated testing reduces the need for extensive manual reviews, freeing up developers to focus on more critical tasks.
• Enhanced security. With the rise of cyber threats, ensuring software security is more important than ever. Static analysis helps identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
• Improved compliance. For companies in regulated industries, automated testing helps ensure that their software meets all necessary compliance standards.

Conclusion

The CrowdStrike Falcon update incident highlights the importance of thorough testing in software development. Leveraging automated testing solutions like Parasoft’s static analysis tools can significantly reduce the risk of introducing issues in software updates. This not only protects a company’s reputation but also ensures a smoother experience for users. In today’s competitive and security-conscious market, investing in robust testing solutions is not just a best practice—it’s a necessity.

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