Why We Built Backslash Upgrade Simulation: Solving a Persistent AppSec Pain Point

Every AppSec team and developer knows that upgrading to a new software version can feel like navigating a maze with hidden traps. Any version upgrade can introduce unforeseen code dependencies, undoing all your progress, and pushing you back to square one. This is why we developed Backslash Upgrade Simulation: to help developers handle the complexities of version upgrades without compromising security or productivity.

For developers, the fear of breaking changes is real. Even a minor package upgrade can unexpectedly disrupt the functionality of an application. Worse, these changes are not always documented, and the higher the version bump, the more likely it is to introduce breaking changes. Upgrade Simulation helps developers identify the potential impact of different upgrades, so they can make informed decisions without fearing unexpected disruptions.

Upgrades Introduce New CVEs

Standard security tools often provide simplistic recommendations that only consider existing vulnerabilities in a package. Unfortunately, following these suggestions can introduce other critical vulnerabilities that violate the organization's security policies, wasting valuable time and resources. Upgrade Simulation tackles this issue by simulating various upgrade paths and their potential security outcomes, allowing teams to make well-informed choices that align with security policies and avoid unforeseen vulnerabilities.

The Hidden Risks of Direct and Transitive Packages

Packages carry risks not just from direct vulnerabilities but also from their transitive dependencies—the dependencies that your dependencies rely on. Traditional Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools ignore these risks in their recommendations, providing incomplete remediation advice. Backslash Upgrade Simulation considers both direct and transitive risks, providing a holistic view of your application's security status.

Backslash Upgrade Simulation

Our Upgrade Simulation feature offers AppSec teams a robust tool to manage risks associated with version upgrades. By simulating multiple scenarios, developers can visualize the impact of their choices before making them, ensuring security decisions are made swiftly and confidently. This feature also fosters stronger collaboration between security and development teams, keeping everyone focused on delivering secure, high-quality applications.

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