Open source software is deeply woven into modern embedded development. From compilers and build systems to networking stacks and device libraries, it enables teams to move faster and innovate more efficiently.
But speed introduces tradeoffs.
The same open source dependencies that help teams ship quickly can also introduce long-term security and maintenance risks that remain hidden until devices are already deployed in the field. This is a particularly critical problem in embedded environments where products often operate for years or even decades.
As discussed in the Exploited: The Cyber Truth podcast, early software decisions often shape the entire lifecycle of embedded security and maintainability. A single open source library can introduce hidden dependency chains, licensing obligations, and long-term operational commitments that teams never anticipated.
The real challenge is not whether to use open source. It is how to use it responsibly.
Why Open Source Dependencies Become Long-Term Risk
In many development environments, dependencies change frequently and software updates are routine. Cloud applications and web services are designed to evolve rapidly.
Embedded systems operate under very different conditions.
Devices may run in industrial environments, transportation systems, medical equipment, or infrastructure networks where updates are difficult to deploy. Even when firmware updates are technically possible, organizations often delay them due to operational constraints.
That reality means developers must think about security differently.
Embedded systems expert Elecia White uses a memorable analogy to explain the responsibility that comes with open source:
“We don’t really talk about the idea of open source software sometimes being free like a puppy.”
The point is simple. A puppy might not cost anything upfront, but ownership comes with long-term responsibility. Open source dependencies create the same dynamic. Teams inherit the obligation to track vulnerabilities, maintain compatibility, and monitor the health of upstream projects.
In embedded environments, those responsibilities can last as long as the device itself.
Dependency Sprawl: The Problem Most Teams Discover Too Late
One of the most common risks in embedded development is dependency sprawl.
Developers often pull in a library to solve a specific problem. That library may depend on several additional packages, which themselves rely on other components. Over time, the dependency chain grows beneath the surface.
The result is software that is larger, harder to maintain, and more difficult to secure.
In embedded systems, where memory, compute power, and storage are limited, these dependencies also affect performance and device stability. What started as a quick development shortcut can eventually create a complex software supply chain that is difficult to fully understand.
Without visibility into those open source dependencies, organizations may struggle to answer a simple but critical question when vulnerabilities appear: Are we affected?
Building Embedded Systems That Are Secure by Design
The solution is not abandoning open source. The benefits of community collaboration, mature libraries, and shared innovation are simply too valuable.
Instead, organizations must adopt a secure by design approach that treats open source dependencies as a core architectural consideration rather than an afterthought.
Joe Saunders, RunSafe Security Founder and CEO, emphasizes that security cannot be something teams address only after a product ships:
“Think secure by design, whether it’s in the planning phase or the architectural phase. … Expediting to get something out the door feels good in the short term, but can pay huge costs in the long term.”
Secure by design thinking encourages teams to evaluate how every dependency affects the long term resilience of a system. That includes considering maintainability, vulnerability disclosure practices, and how easily components can be updated or replaced.
For embedded systems expected to operate for decades, these architectural decisions matter far more than short-term development convenience.
Practical Ways to Manage Open Source Dependencies
Organizations that successfully balance speed and embedded security tend to follow a similar set of principles. They recognize that open source is powerful but requires deliberate governance and visibility.
Some practical steps teams can take include:
- Evaluate libraries carefully before adopting them
- Prefer mature projects with active maintainers and transparent security practices
- Limit dependency chains where possible to reduce the attack surface
- Generate Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) during the build process to understand what software actually ships
- Architect firmware boundaries that isolate third-party components
These practices help teams move quickly while still maintaining control over their software supply chain.
Organizations can also reduce risk by deploying technologies designed specifically for embedded security hardening, helping protect devices even when vulnerabilities exist and patches are difficult to deploy.
Learn more about approaches to cyber hardening embedded systems: https://runsafesecurity.com/platform/
Open Source Is Not the Problem. Unexamined Dependencies Are.
The conversation around open source often focuses on whether teams should use it at all. In reality, open source is already deeply embedded in modern development workflows.
The real risk comes from treating dependencies as temporary shortcuts rather than long-term commitments.
When teams understand their open source dependencies, track them properly, and design systems secure by design, they can benefit from open source without inheriting uncontrolled risk.
Embedded devices may remain in operation for twenty years or more. The decisions made during development will continue shaping their security posture long after deployment.
For organizations building connected products, embedded security begins with understanding what you ship and designing systems that remain resilient long after release.
Developing, operating, or managing embedded software products? Talk to our team to learn how we help teams ship secure, compliant, and resilient devices faster.
