What Is Software Composition Analysis (SCA Security)

The Role of SCA in Software Security

Software composition analysis (SCA) plays a foundational role in modern software security by addressing the risks introduced through open source and third-party dependencies. According to The Sonatype State of the Software Supply Chain Report, it's common for 90% of all applications to include open source components. Security teams must understand not only their own code, but also the vulnerabilities, licenses, and quality of the software they inherit.

SCA helps organizations identify, track, and manage open source components across applications and services. By continuously analyzing dependencies, SCA tools surface known vulnerabilities, outdated components, and risky licenses before they become exploitable security or compliance issues. This visibility allows teams to prioritize remediation based on risk, exploitability, and business impact rather than reacting to vulnerabilities after they reach production.

Beyond vulnerability detection, software composition analysis strengthens software security programs by supporting policy enforcement, risk governance, and supply chain integrity. As software supply chain attacks increase, SCA provides a critical layer of defense by ensuring that the components entering an organization’s codebase meet defined security and compliance standards.

Where Does SCA Fit in the SDLC and DevSecOps?

To understand the value of SCA in DevSecOps, it’s important to recognize how open source dependencies move through the software development life cycle (SDLC). Dependencies are introduced early, updated often, and remain in use long after an application is deployed. As a result, software composition analysis can’t be treated as a single checkpoint or a one-time SCA scan. It must flow continuously through the SDLC, providing visibility and control wherever software is built, tested, and run.

Software composition analysis serves as a shared control layer that enables development, security, and operations teams to manage open source risk without slowing delivery. By integrating SCA early and automating it throughout the SDLC, organizations can address dependency risk as part of normal development workflows rather than reacting to issues late in the process.

Development

During development, SCA software is integrated directly into IDEs and source control workflows. This gives developers immediate, actionable feedback when they introduce new or updated software dependencies, highlighting known vulnerabilities, license issues, or policy violations before code is merged. This shift-left approach is foundational to SCA in DevSecOps, helping teams reduce remediation costs and make safer dependency decisions from the start.

CI/CD Pipelines

As code moves through CI/CD pipelines, SCA software analyzes dependencies during build and deployment time. Robust SCA tools like Sonatype Lifecycle will automate dependency management, saving development teams even more time and resources during build cycles. Security and compliance policies can be enforced consistently, blocking releases that introduce critical vulnerabilities or unacceptable licenses. In a DevSecOps model, this automation ensures security is applied at scale without relying on manual reviews or creating friction between teams.

Production and Operations

Once applications are deployed, SCA software continues to monitor open source components for newly disclosed vulnerabilities that may impact production systems. Because risk changes over time, ongoing analysis is essential. SCA in DevSecOps provides operations and security teams with continuous visibility into exposure, enabling faster response to emerging threats and better protection of the software supply chain.

By embedding software composition analysis across the SDLC, organizations enable DevSecOps teams to deliver software at speed while maintaining strong security, license compliance, and governance — turning open source risk management into a continuous, automated practice rather than an afterthought.

Open Source Components and Risk

These days, software is rarely built from scratch. Development teams rely on third-party and open source components to ship code and innovate faster without reinventing the wheel. This reliance on open source software has drastically changed the amount of first-party code, or code written by your development team, in an application. These components are called dependencies, and each dependency introduces potential risks in the form of security vulnerabilities, license problems, or quality issues.

Many dependencies rely on other open source components, or transitive dependencies, making it harder to identify the original sources of risk. By using these third-party components in their applications, organizations are assuming responsibility for code that their teams did not write. The risk to a project from open source software can be managed and prevented through software composition analysis (SCA).

In short, SCA security is about looking at all the components in a project and determining the potential risk from those components. Software composition analysis is done using SCA security tools to find and identify risks in your applications. These SCA security tools can be automated and monitor components across the entire SDLC.

How Do SCA Security Tools Work?

Software composition analysis (SCA) tools analyze an application to identify the open source and third-party components it contains, then evaluate those components for security, license, and quality risks. While implementations vary, most SCA tools follow the same core workflow.

1. Submit the Application for Analysis

The process begins when an application, its source code, or build artifacts is submitted to an SCA tool. This can occur during development, as part of a CI/CD pipeline, or when scanning production artifacts.

2. Analyze Components and Generate a SBOM

SCA tools identify all the direct and transitive dependencies as well as and third-party components in the application and produce a software bill of materials (SBOM). Every SBOM includes standardized component identification information, such as component names, versions, and dependency relationships.

SCA tools generate SBOMs using one or more of the following methods:

Manifest Scanning | SCA software generates a list of dependencies using the application's build manifest files, such as package-lock.json for JavaScript projects. This approach is best used when scanning applications without the final build artifacts or from a source control management (SCM) system.
Binary Scanning | SCA software examines the build artifacts and identifies the open source components using binary fingerprinting. This method only identifies packages included in the final build of your application which reduces false positives and catches third-party software added to your application in a non-standard way. Not every software composition analysis tool is capable of binary scanning. Binary scanning is superior to manifest scanning as it assesses the actual artifacts released to production
A Combined Approach | Some SCA tools, like Sonatype Lifecycle, use a combination of binary scanning and manifest scanning to give more precise results.

3. Analyze Components for Risk

Once the SBOM is generated, it is checked against a variety of public and private databases to identify security vulnerabilities, license information, and other potential sources of risk. The depth and quality of this analysis depends heavily on the data sources behind the software composition analysis tool. Since many vulnerabilities are not publicly disclosed or assigned a CVE score, choosing an SCA tool that leverages proprietary data and vulnerability research is critical.

4. Apply Policies and Prioritize Issues

The SCA security tool compares the collected component data against the organization’s governance and security policies. The result is a prioritized list of policy violations, typically ranked by threat or risk score to help teams focus on the most critical issues first.

5. Deliver Results and Remediation Guidance

Finally, the SCA tool returns detailed findings, including vulnerability data, license information, and component metadata. If working with a sophisticated software composition analysis solution, it can also provide remediation guidance such as safer versions or alternative components along with the generated SBOM, enabling teams to resolve issues efficiently and maintain ongoing visibility into their software supply chain.

What Does SCA Scan For?

Software Composition Analysis (SCA) scans applications to identify and assess the risks introduced by open source and third-party components. Because modern software relies heavily on open source dependencies, SCA focuses on the areas of risk that traditional application security tools don’t cover.

At a high level, SCA scans identify the following issues:

Known Security Vulnerabilities

SCA tools identify known vulnerabilities in open source components by correlating dependency data with vulnerability databases and proprietary research. This includes vulnerabilities that have been assigned CVEs as well as issues that may not yet be publicly disclosed. Advanced SCA solutions go beyond basic severity scores by incorporating exploitability, reachability, and real-world threat intelligence to help teams prioritize what actually matters.

License and Compliance Risks

Open source licenses come with operational and legal obligations. SCA scans components to identify license types, detect conflicts, and flag licenses that violate organizational or license policies. This helps organizations avoid unintentional intellectual property exposure and ensures compliance throughout the software supply chain.

Outdated and Vulnerable Dependencies

SCA software solutions identify direct and transitive dependencies that are outdated or no longer maintained, even if no vulnerability has yet been reported. Older versions often carry higher risk due to missing security fixes, lack of community support, or incompatibility with modern security practices.

Transitive Dependencies

Many of the most serious risks come from transitive dependencies, which are introduced indirectly as part of another library’s dependency chain. SCA scans the full dependency tree to uncover hidden risks that developers may not be aware of, providing complete visibility into what is actually included in an application.

Component Quality and Operational Risk

Beyond security and licensing, some SCA tools also evaluate indicators of component quality for both direct and transitive dependencies, such as project maturity, maintenance activity, and release history. These signals help teams assess whether a dependency is suitable for long-term use in production environments.

By scanning for these risks continuously, software composition analysis enables organizations to manage open source usage proactively. Instead of reacting to vulnerabilities after deployment, teams gain early insight into component risk and can make informed decisions throughout the SDLC — an essential capability for modern DevSecOps and software supply chain security.

Benefits of Software Composition Analysis Tools

Identifying every component and every risk from components is a daunting task. The State of the Software Supply Chain Report says that "development teams use an average of 135 software components." While it's theoretically possible for humans to monitor components for new vulnerabilities, license changes, and other potential issues, software composition analysis is a task much better handled by machines. SCA security tools are fast, accurate, and provide benefits beyond risk identification.

Automated SCA tools allow teams to ship higher-quality code faster and take a proactive approach to risk management. By identifying risks across the software development life cycle (SDLC), software composition analysis tools can help your organization Shift Left or move security considerations earlier in the development process. Developers can use the information from a software composition analysis tool to select more secure components early in the development process, resulting in more secure code. This speeds up development time by preventing rework during security reviews. If a development team needs to use a component that has known risk elements, these flaws are known when the component is first introduced. The SCA security process lets organizations understand their application's risk and ensure they're using the component in a safe way.

In addition to identifying risk, SCA tools also generate and maintain software bills of materials (SBOMs), which are increasingly required for compliance, customer assurance, and software supply chain transparency. Sonatype SBOM Manager extends these capabilities by providing a centralized way to store, manage, and analyze SBOMs across applications and teams. Rather than treating SBOMs as static files, SBOM Manager enables continuous visibility into component usage, vulnerability exposure, and dependency relationships, helping organizations respond faster to newly disclosed risks, support audit and regulatory requirements, and strengthen overall software supply chain security.

Common Use Cases for SCA

Software Composition Analysis (SCA) is a foundational capability for organizations building modern applications with open source and third-party components. While SCA provides broad visibility into component risk, it is most commonly used in the following scenarios:

1. CI/CD Pipeline Security

SCA is frequently integrated into CI/CD pipelines to automatically scan dependencies as code is built and deployed. By identifying vulnerable, outdated, or noncompliant components early in the development process, SCA enables teams to address issues before they reach production. This approach to CI/CD pipeline security reduces last-minute security review bottlenecks and allows developers to remediate risks in the context of their existing workflows without slowing delivery.

2. Open Source License Compliance

Managing open source license obligations at scale is challenging without automation. SCA tools continuously analyze both direct and transitive dependencies to identify license types, detect conflicts, and enforce organizational policies. This helps legal, security, and engineering teams ensure compliance, avoid intellectual property exposure, and confidently distribute software without unexpected licensing risks.

3. Software Supply Chain Risk Management

SCA plays a critical role in managing software supply chain risk by providing complete visibility into all components included in an application. Beyond known open source vulnerabilities, SCA helps organizations assess broader risks such as unmaintained projects, insecure dependency chains, and exposure to emerging threats. This insight supports proactive risk management, informed dependency selection, and stronger governance across the software supply chain, which are key requirements for modern DevSecOps and regulatory compliance initiatives.

SCA vs. Other Application Security Tools

Modern application security programs rely on multiple testing techniques to identify different classes of risk. Software Composition Analysis (SCA), Static Application Security Testing (SAST), and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) each play a distinct role. Understanding how they differ — and how they work together — helps organizations build more effective application and software supply chain security strategies.

SCA vs. SAST

SCA and SAST both analyze code without running the application, but they focus on very different risk domains. SAST scans custom, first-party source code to identify coding flaws such as injection risks, insecure functions, or logic errors. It helps developers find vulnerabilities introduced during development and fix them before the application is deployed.

SCA, on the other hand, focuses on third-party and open source components used within an application. Instead of analyzing how the code is written, SCA examines what the application is built from by identifying known vulnerabilities, license risks, outdated dependencies, and supply chain issues across both direct and transitive dependencies.

In short, SAST answers “Is our code written securely?” while SCA answers “Are the components we depend on safe and compliant to use?”

SCA vs. DAST

DAST analyzes applications while they are running, typically in a test or staging environment. It simulates real-world attacks to identify exploitable vulnerabilities such as authentication flaws, misconfigurations, and runtime weaknesses.

SCA does not require a running application. Instead, it analyzes dependencies during development and build time, providing visibility into component risk long before deployment.

While DAST is valuable for uncovering runtime and configuration issues, it cannot reliably identify vulnerabilities buried within open source libraries or determine licensing and supply chain risks. SCA fills this gap by detecting risks at the component level, often earlier in the SDLC.

SCA + SAST + DAST

No single security tool provides complete coverage. SCA, SAST, and DAST are most effective when used together as part of a layered application security strategy.

SAST identifies vulnerabilities in custom code
SCA identifies risks introduced by open source and third-party components
DAST validates exploitable issues in running applications

When combined, these tools provide end-to-end visibility across the software development life cycle from code creation and dependency selection to deployment and runtime behavior. This integrated approach reduces blind spots and helps teams prioritize remediation based on real-world risk.

Why SCA Is Essential for Open Source Risk

Open source components make up the majority of modern applications, yet they introduce unique risks that traditional application security tools are not designed to address. Vulnerabilities, license obligations, and software supply chain threats often originate outside an organization’s codebase and can change long after an application is deployed.

SCA is essential because it continuously tracks these external risks across all dependencies, including transitive components developers may not even know they are using. It enables organizations to proactively manage open source risk, make informed dependency decisions, and respond quickly to newly disclosed vulnerabilities or policy violations.

Without SCA, security teams lack visibility into a significant portion of their application attack surface. With it, organizations gain the insight needed to secure the open source foundation their software depends on making SCA a critical pillar of modern application and software supply chain security.

Common Challenges with SCA Tools

While Software Composition Analysis (SCA) is essential for managing open source risk, not all SCA implementations deliver the same results. Organizations often encounter challenges that limit the effectiveness of their SCA programs if the tools or processes are not mature.

Alert Fatigue

One common challenge is alert fatigue. Basic SCA tools may surface a high volume of vulnerabilities without sufficient context, making it difficult for teams to determine which issues are actually exploitable or relevant. Without prioritization based on factors like reachability or real-world threat data, teams can become overwhelmed and struggle to take meaningful action.

Incomplete Dependency Information

Another challenge is incomplete dependency visibility. Some tools fail to accurately identify transitive dependencies, dynamically loaded components, or dependencies introduced through build tools and containers. This can leave critical gaps in visibility and a false sense of security.

False Positives and Negatives

False positives and inaccurate data are also frequent pain points. Poor vulnerability intelligence, outdated databases, or imprecise matching techniques can lead to wasted time investigating issues that do not apply to the application.

Poor Integration

Finally, poor developer experience and integration can limit adoption. SCA tools that are difficult to integrate into CI/CD pipelines or that disrupt developer workflows are often bypassed, reducing their overall impact on security and compliance.

Best Practices for Software Composition Analysis

To maximize the value of Software Composition Analysis (SCA), organizations should adopt SCA best practices that embed open source risk management directly into development and delivery workflows:

Integrate SCA early and continuously
Run SCA scans during development, at build time, and throughout the CI/CD pipeline to identify risky components before they reach production.
Scan both direct and transitive dependencies
Ensure full visibility into all open source components, including indirect dependencies that are often the source of critical vulnerabilities and compliance issues.
Prioritize issues based on real risk
Focus remediation efforts on vulnerabilities that are exploitable, reachable, and relevant to the application rather than attempting to fix every finding.
Establish and enforce open source policies
Define acceptable licenses, security thresholds, and usage guidelines, and enforce them automatically to reduce manual reviews and inconsistency.
Provide actionable remediation guidance
Enable developers with clear upgrade paths, safer alternatives, and context-rich recommendations that support faster and more effective fixes.
Integrate SCA into developer workflows
Embed SCA feedback into tools developers already use, such as IDEs, source control systems, and CI platforms, to reduce friction and improve adoption.
Continuously monitor for new risk
Track deployed applications for newly disclosed vulnerabilities, license changes, and emerging supply chain threats over time.
Align SCA with a broader security strategy
Use SCA alongside SAST, DAST, SBOMs, and governance processes to provide comprehensive application and software supply chain security.

What to Look for in a Software Composition Analysis Solution

Choosing the right Software Composition Analysis solution is critical to effectively managing open source and software supply chain risk. At a minimum, an SCA solution should provide accurate and comprehensive dependency detection, including full visibility into both direct and transitive dependencies across languages, package managers, and build systems.

Strong vulnerability intelligence is another key requirement. Look for solutions that go beyond public CVE data by incorporating proprietary research, exploitability analysis, and real-world threat context to help teams focus on what matters most.

License identification and policy enforcement should be built in, enabling organizations to automatically detect license risks, enforce usage policies, and generate compliance reports without manual effort.

Effective SCA solutions also integrate seamlessly into developer workflows and CI/CD pipelines, providing actionable feedback early in the SDLC. This includes support for build tools, source control systems, and IDEs, as well as clear remediation guidance developers can act on quickly.

Finally, look for scalability and continuous monitoring. Open source risk does not stop once software is deployed, so an SCA solution should continuously monitor applications for newly disclosed vulnerabilities and changes in component risk over time.

Automated SCA with Sonatype Lifecycle

Sonatype Lifecycle brings these core SCA capabilities together in a solution designed to support modern development practices. It provides comprehensive visibility into both direct and transitive dependencies, helping teams understand exactly what open source components are included in their applications.

With strong vulnerability intelligence and continuous monitoring, Sonatype Lifecycle enables organizations to identify newly disclosed risks and respond as open source conditions change. Built-in license detection and policy enforcement help teams manage compliance consistently across projects and environments.

Sonatype Lifecycle integrates into CI/CD pipelines and developer workflows, allowing open source risk to be addressed early and often without disrupting delivery. By combining accurate dependency management, contextual risk insights, and automation across the SDLC, Sonatype Lifecycle supports a proactive approach to open source and software supply chain security making it a practical foundation for organizations looking to scale SCA as part of a broader DevSecOps strategy.

What is the difference between SCA and SAST?

Software Composition Analysis (SCA) and Static Application Security Testing (SAST) address different types of application risk. SAST analyzes an organization’s custom source code to identify coding flaws such as insecure functions or logic errors. SCA focuses on third-party and open source components, identifying risks introduced by external dependencies, including security vulnerabilities, license issues, and software supply chain concerns. Together, they provide more complete coverage than either tool alone.

Why is SCA important for open source security?

Open source components make up the majority of modern applications, but they are developed and maintained outside an organization’s control. Vulnerabilities, license changes, and abandoned projects can introduce risk long after software is deployed. SCA is important because it provides continuous visibility into open source usage, helping teams identify, prioritize, and remediate risks before they impact security, compliance, or operations.

Does SCA scan transitive dependencies?

Yes. Modern SCA tools scan both direct dependencies that developers explicitly include and transitive dependencies that are introduced indirectly through dependency chains. This is critical because many high-impact vulnerabilities originate in transitive components that developers may not be aware are included in their applications.

What types of vulnerabilities does SCA detect?

SCA primarily detects known security vulnerabilities in open source and third-party components by correlating dependency data with vulnerability databases and research sources. This typically includes vulnerabilities assigned CVEs, as well as issues identified through additional security research. Many SCA tools also provide context such as severity, exploitability, and reachability to help teams assess real-world risk.

When should SCA be used in the development lifecycle?

SCA is most effective when used throughout the software development life cycle. This includes scanning during development to guide dependency selection, during builds and CI/CD pipelines to prevent risky components from progressing, and after deployment to monitor for newly disclosed vulnerabilities. Continuous use enables proactive risk management rather than reactive remediation.

Software Composition Analysis (SCA)