1217
XZ backdoor in a nutshell
(lemmy.zip)
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I think going forward we need to look at packages with a single or few maintainers as target candidates. Especially if they are as widespread as this one was.
In addition I think security needs to be a higher priority too, no more patching fuzzers to allow that one program to compile. Fix the program.
I'd also love to see systems hardened by default.
Packages or dependencies with only one maintainer that are this popular have always been an issue, and not just a security one.
What happens when that person can't afford to or doesn't want to run the project anymore? What if they become malicious? What if they sell out? Etc.
What if the repository becomes stupid and takes a package away from a developer and said developer deletes his other packages. See leftpad.
https://xkcd.com/2347