Integrating SBOM and CVE Monitoring into Embedded CI/CD: A Strategic Imperative for Defense & Aerospace

In defense and aerospace, the integrity of embedded systems is paramount. As cyber threats evolve, traditional security methods are no longer sufficient. A proactive DevSecOps strategy, integrating Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) and Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) monitoring, is now essential. Beyond technical best practices, regulatory mandates from the DoD, U.S. Army, and Executive Order 14028 increasingly demand software supply chain transparency, making SBOM and CVE monitoring a non-negotiable requirement for compliance and operational continuity. 

The Unique Challenges of Embedded Systems Security

Securing embedded systems presents distinct challenges due to their inherent characteristics:

• Complexity and Legacy Code: Most embedded applications, especially in defense and aerospace, use memory-unsafe languages like C and C++, making them vulnerable to common exploits. Many mission-critical systems rely on decades-old, unpatched hardware and software, which are costly to rewrite. These systems also operate with limited resources, hindering the integration of comprehensive security tools.¹

• Expanding Attack Surface with Connectivity: Increased integration into networks via IoT, 5G, and cloud has dramatically expanded the attack surface of previously isolated devices. Many embedded systems weren't designed for external communication, leaving security gaps when retrofitted. This necessitates deep protection at the firmware and binary levels.¹
• Supply Chain Dependencies: Reliance on complex, multi-layered supply chains with third-party software and open-source components introduces hidden risks. A single vulnerability in a third-party component within legacy C/C++ code, if exploited remotely, can be exceptionally difficult to detect and remediate without comprehensive visibility.¹ 
  

SBOM: The Cornerstone of Software Supply Chain Transparency

An SBOM is a formal, detailed inventory of all software components within an application, providing transparency into its composition and supply chain.⁵

Why SBOM is indispensable for Embedded Systems

For Embedded Systems, SBOMs offer:

• Comprehensive Visibility: A clear, machine-readable understanding of every component in a Linux image or firmware, essential for managing dependencies and understanding the attack surface.³ 
• Vulnerability Identification: Enables prompt identification and remediation of known vulnerabilities, reducing cyber threat exposure.⁵ 
• License Compliance: Tracks licenses for each component, ensuring adherence to legal and contractual requirements.⁵ 
• Proactive Risk Management: Minimizes attack surface, prioritizes security efforts, and quantifies security strategy effectiveness.⁹ 
  

Figure 1. High level graphs showing unfixed vulnerabilities and packages in the users SBOM which have known vulnerabilities. 

Key SBOM Formats

Widely adopted, machine-readable formats include:

• SPDX (Software Package Data Exchange): A robust standard, natively supported by Yocto Project.⁷ 
• CycloneDX: A lightweight, JSON-based format focused on security and vulnerability management, supported by tools and GitLab CI/CD.² 
• SWID Tags: Supported by tools like the Intel CVE Binary Tool.³ 
  

The Importance of Build-Time SBOM Generation 

Generating SBOMs directly from the build system (e.g., Yocto, Buildroot) is most effective for embedded systems. This captures comprehensive, accurate metadata, including configurations and applied patches, significantly reducing false positives (up to 75%) and providing a precise representation of the deployed software.²  Specialized tools like Vigiles for Yocto/Buildroot capture granular details, creating actionable SBOMs that improve the precision of vulnerability assessments.⁴

Figure 2. Example of the SBOM Dashboard. This shows the components in the SBOM as well as compliance alerts and other checks.

^{Beyond Basic CVEs: Intelligent Vulnerability Monitoring}

Relying solely on public databases like NVD for embedded systems is problematic due to incorrect data, high false positives, and significant reporting delays.⁴

The Need for Curated, Context-Aware Vulnerability Data

Effective CVE monitoring requires a sophisticated approach, incorporating data from diverse sources like Linux distribution advisories and SoC advisories. Dedicated security research and intelligent curation algorithms actively correct inaccuracies and identify backported fixes, leading to up to 40% higher accuracy and earlier notifications (up to 4 weeks sooner).⁴

Intelligent Applicability Filters 

Advanced tools employ filters to reduce false positives, focusing on truly applicable vulnerabilities: 

• Configuration-based filters: Exclude vulnerabilities based on specific drivers or modules enabled. 

• Platform/Hardware architecture filters: Exclude vulnerabilities irrelevant to the target OS or processor. 

• Attack vector filters: Focus on vulnerabilities exploitable via specific vectors, useful for air-gapped devices. 

• Status filters: Exclude vulnerabilities already fixed by maintainers.⁴ 

Continuous Monitoring, Triaging, and Actionable Remediation

Effective vulnerability management requires continuous monitoring, robust triage capabilities (e.g., filtering by CVSS severity, custom scoring, whitelisting), and precise remediation information (e.g., minimum software version for fixes, links to patches).¹ For embedded systems, specialized tools transform raw CVE data into prioritized, actionable intelligence, allowing teams to efficiently focus on exploitable threats relevant to their specific configurations.

VEX: Prioritizing Actionable Security Intelligence

VEX (Vulnerability Exploitability Exchange) is a standardized security advisory that clarifies whether a product is affected by known vulnerabilities, moving beyond mere component listings.¹⁶  It helps security teams prioritize efforts by indicating if a vulnerability is exploitable in a specific product context.¹⁶

How VEX Clarifies Exploitability Status 

VEX documents are machine-readable, integrating seamlessly into security tools. They enable suppliers and users to focus on significant risks, avoiding time spent on non-exploitable vulnerabilities.¹⁶  VEX documents must include product status (NOT AFFECTED, AFFECTED, FIXED, UNDER INVESTIGATION) with clear impact or action statements.¹⁶  The analogy of VEX as "safety warnings" on a medication bottle, complementing the SBOM's "prescription label," highlights its role in accurate threat assessment.¹⁹

Role in Streamlining Incident Response and Compliance Reporting 

VEX data streamlines vulnerability patching and remediation, accelerating response times to new vulnerabilities and preventing cyberattacks.¹⁹  VEX-enabled reporting is crucial for demonstrating compliance with regulations and generating audit-ready reports.¹⁴  By bridging the "exploitability gap," VEX optimizes scarce security and engineering resources, ensuring efforts are focused on actual, high-impact threats in safety-critical embedded systems. 

Integrating SBOM and CVE/VEX into Embedded CI/CD Pipelines

The "Shift Left" approach, integrating security early in the development lifecycle, is paramount for embedded systems, leading to continuous security testing, improved code quality, and accelerated compliance.¹⁵

Automating SBOM Generation in CI/CD

Integrating SBOM generation directly into the Continuous Integration (CI) build process is the most accurate method for embedded systems.²

• Yocto-based projects: Use INHERIT += “create-spdx” for SPDX generation or meta-cvescan for detailed JSON inventories. 
• C/C++ projects: Tools like RunSafe Security generate accurate SBOMs at build-time, capturing static and dynamic libraries.⁹ 
• Binary Scanning: The Intel CVE Binary Tool scans compiled binaries and generates SBOMs (SPDX, CycloneDX) for CI integration. 

Continuous CVE/VEX Analysis in CI/CD 

Integrating security scanning tools into CI/CD stages enables automatic vulnerability detection. 

• GitLab CI/CD: Offers native Dependency Scanning and Container Scanning, generating CycloneDX SBOMs and integrating findings into developer workflows.  
• Specialized Embedded Tools: Integrate solutions like Lynx Vigiles for embedded Linux, providing curated alerts and intelligent applicability filters.  
• Intel CVE Binary Tool: Utilized in CI/CD for binary scanning, SBOM scanning, and VEX generation, providing exploitability context.  
• VEX Integration: Leverage VEX capabilities to prioritize remediation based on actual risk.¹³ 

• Centralized Management: Platforms like Dependency-Track can centralize SBOMs and vulnerability data for long-term tracking and policy enforcement, with GitLab CI/CD components available for integration. 
  

CI/CD platforms like GitLab CI/CD facilitate these integrations through flexible configurations and crucial support for offline environments, indispensable for defense contractors in air-gapped networks. Vendor integrations, such as RunSafe Security's seamless integration with GitLab, automate SBOM generation with every commit. 

Conclusion

Integrating SBOM and CVE monitoring into embedded CI/CD pipelines is a strategic imperative for defense and aerospace. The unique challenges of embedded systems, coupled with escalating threats and regulatory mandates, demand a proactive and comprehensive security posture.

SBOMs provide transparency into software composition, enabling rapid vulnerability identification and compliance. Build-time SBOM generation, especially for embedded systems, ensures contextually rich "ingredient lists" for accurate security analysis. Intelligent vulnerability monitoring, leveraging curated data and applicability filters, transforms overwhelming reports into actionable intelligence, optimizing limited engineering resources. 

VEX documents further refine this intelligence by clarifying vulnerability exploitability, allowing teams to prioritize actual risks, accelerate remediation, and streamline compliance. 

The CI/CD pipeline serves as the central orchestration hub, automating SBOM generation, continuous CVE/VEX analysis, and integrating specialized tools. This transforms security into an automated, continuous, and integral part of the development lifecycle. For defense and aerospace contractors, this integrated DevSecOps approach is vital for meeting stringent regulatory requirements, safeguarding mission-critical systems, and maintaining a competitive edge. 

Contact us to learn how automated SBOM, CVE, and VEX integration can safeguard your mission-critical systems, and keep you compliant with DoD and industry mandates.

Work Cited

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