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The State of Trusted Open Source: Unveiling the Risks and Opportunities in Modern Infrastructure
A recent report by Chainguard reveals the complexities of modern infrastructure and highlights the risks associated with open source software. From AI-powered image dominance to longtail vulnerabilities, this article provides a detailed look at the challenges facing organizations today.
The landscape of trusted open source software is more complex than previously thought. AI-powered projects are reshaping the baseline stack, with Python being the most popular image. Risks to security come from the "longtail" images that make up the majority of production usage. Compliance can be a powerful driver for adoption, especially for FIPS encryption and other regulatory requirements. Teams require hardened, trusted open source software when working within compliance frameworks like FedRAMP or HIPAA.
The world of open source software has been a cornerstone of modern infrastructure for decades, providing a vast array of tools and technologies that underpin everything from web applications to complex AI systems. However, as with any industry, there are risks and challenges associated with this ecosystem. According to recent data analysis by Chainguard, the trusted source for open source, the landscape of trusted open source software is far more complex than previously thought.
Chainguard analyzed anonymized product usage and CVE data from its extensive catalog of over 1800 container image projects, 148,000 versions, 290,000 images, and 100,000 language libraries. This data paints a vivid picture of the challenges that modern organizations face when it comes to open source software security.
One key finding is that AI is reshaping the baseline stack, with Python leading the way as the most popular open source image among Chainguard's global customer base. However, this dominance does not necessarily translate to security. In fact, 98% of vulnerabilities found and remediated in Chainguard images occurred outside of the top 20 most popular projects.
This raises a crucial question: where are the risks coming from? The answer lies in the longtail of images that make up the majority of production usage. These images account for approximately 61.42% of the average customer's container portfolio, with over half of all production workloads running on these longtail images. This is not just a matter of edge cases; these are core components of modern infrastructure.
Another critical finding is that compliance can be a powerful driver for adoption. In the case of FIPS encryption, 44% of Chainguard customers run at least one FIPS image in production. This highlights the need for trusted open source software that mirrors commercial workloads and meets regulatory requirements.
The pattern observed by Chainguard suggests that when working within compliance frameworks like FedRAMP, DoD IL-5, PCI DSS, SOC 2, CRA, Essential Eight, or HIPAA, teams require hardened, trusted open source software. The most commonly used FIPS images align with the broader portfolio, but with cryptographic modules strengthened for audit and verification.
This report from Chainguard offers a unique glimpse into the world of modern infrastructure and highlights the risks and challenges associated with open source software security. As organizations navigate this complex landscape, it is essential to prioritize trusted open source solutions that meet both security and regulatory requirements.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-State-of-Trusted-Open-Source-Unveiling-the-Risks-and-Opportunities-in-Modern-Infrastructure-ehn.shtml
https://thehackernews.com/2026/01/the-state-of-trusted-open-source.html
https://www.linuxfoundation.org/blog/the-state-of-open-source-software-in-2025
https://opensource.org/blog/key-insights-from-the-2025-state-of-open-source-report
Published: Thu Jan 8 06:17:21 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
