What Is an Open Source Audit?
Open Source Audit is a comprehensive review of all open-source components used within a software application
What Is an Open Source Audit?
An Open Source Audit is a comprehensive review of all open-source components used within a software application.
Its main purpose is to identify and assess potential license compliance issues, security vulnerabilities, and operational risks linked to third-party open-source code.
An open source audit helps protect both your codebase and your business. It checks all open-source parts in your software to ensure they follow license rules and do not cause legal or security issues.
Today, most software uses a lot of open-source code, sometimes up to 70-90%. An open source audit helps teams see what is in their software, how the licenses work, and if it is safe to use.
Why Open Source Audits Matter
Open source libraries are powerful tools that speed up development and lower costs. However, they can also bring risks like outdated libraries, security issues, and license conflicts.
Without regular auditing, companies risk unknowingly:
- Use a component with vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.
- Violate open-source licenses (like GPL or Apache 2.0), which can lead to legal issues.
- Ship software with outdated or unmaintained dependencies
A proper open source audit helps teams ensure compliance, gain visibility, and improve security.
How an Open Source Audit Works
1. Inventory and Identification
The open source audit process scans the whole codebase to find all open-source libraries, frameworks, and dependencies.
2. License Review
Each part’s license, such as MIT, GPL, or Apache 2.0, is checked to make sure it matches the company or client rules.
3. Security Vulnerability Check
The audit looks for security problems by checking public databases like the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) or CVE lists.
4. Compliance and Risk Analysis
The audit summarizes potential legal issues and security risks. it also suggests mitigation steps, for instance : upgrading to a safer version or replacing a particular component that has vulnerabilities.
5. Reporting and Remediation
A detailed report will give you all the information about the findings. It will help your team to decide what to fix, replace, or continue to use
Example Open Source Audit in Action
During a pre-acquisition audit, a company discovered that one of its flagship applications contained a GPL-licensed library mixed into a proprietary codebase.
This posed a major legal compliance risk because the GPL requires source code disclosure if distributed.
The audit helped the company:
- Identify the problematic library,
- Replace it with an MIT-licensed alternative, and
- Proceed with the acquisition without legal complications.
This example shows how open source audits protect businesses from compliance issues and strengthen trust in due diligence processes.
Benefits of Conducting an Open Source Audit
- Improve application security by detecting vulnerable libraries and components.
- Ensure license compliances and prevents legal conflict.
- Provide visibility into third-party use.
- Build trust during partnership, procurement, or merger and acquisition.
- Supports governance and policy enforcement across teams
Related Terms
- SCA (Software Composition Analysis)
- CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures)
- Open Source License
- Dependency Management
- Vulnerability Management
FAQ: Open Source Audit
1. Is an open source audit the same as Software Composition Analysis (SCA)?
Not exactly. SCA tools perform ongoing automated scans, while an open source audit is often a comprehensive manual review, typically done before releases or acquisitions for full verification.
2. How often should companies perform open source audits?
It depends on the software’s lifecycle. Most organizations perform them before every major release or during due diligence for M&A or compliance reviews.
3. What tools are used for open source audits?
Common tools include Black Duck, FOSSA, Snyk, and Plexicus ASPM, which automate license and vulnerability detection.
4. What happens if a license violation is found?
Companies must either replace the component, obtain a proper license, or open-source their own code if the license (like GPL) requires it.
