How Manufacturers Can Defend Against Software Supply Chain Risks

The manufacturing supply chain is under constant risk from cyber vulnerabilities, particularly those tied to software supply chains. Memory safety flaws in open-source packages and vendor solutions—such as Linux, VxWorks, and QNX—account for the majority of security risks in embedded manufacturing systems. In some cases, these vulnerabilities make up 95% of the issues companies must patch or mitigate. Because many of these vulnerabilities allow remote code execution, they pose a significant risk to operational security.

To defend against these threats, manufacturers must implement strong vulnerability management programs, maintain regular software updates, and adopt long-term security measures. When patching isn’t an option, solutions like RunSafe Protect can secure devices from memory safety exploits, ensuring resilience even after the product’s end-of-life.