Coverity Scan Discovers Vulnerabilities in the Android Code
The 2010 security report looks at more than 291 projects, with special focus on the Android 2.6.32 kernel
Since 2006, Coverity has worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to identify software security vulnerabilities. In 2010, Coverity analyzed more than 61 million lines of open source code from more than 291 projects, including Android, Linux, Apache, Samba and PHP. According to the Coverity Scan 2010 Open Source Integrity Report, 45 percent of the identified vulnerabilities are considered "high-risk defects". The report also says that little has changed since 2008 in software development testing to help identify these security concerns and goes on to say, "It also demonstrates how easy it is to make these types of coding errors when the human factor comes into play."
This year's report takes an in-depth look at the Android 2.6.32 kernel and says that HTC Droid Incredible has about half the defects that would be expected for similar software of the same size, with about 1 defect per 1,000 lines of code, 359 of them in the currently shipping version of the HTC Droid Incredible. The report points out the fragmented accountability for Android software development, saying, "Android is based on Linux, which has thousands of contributors. Compound that with the Android developers from Google, the contributors to Android from the larger development community, and OEMs that supply components for specific configurations of Android to support different types of devices, and the lines of accountability are quickly blurred."
The entire report is free and available for download on the Coverity site: http://www.coverity.com/
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
OSJH and LPI Release 2024 Open Source Pros Job Survey Results
See what open source professionals look for in a new role.
-
Proton 9.0-1 Released to Improve Gaming with Steam
The latest release of Proton 9 adds several improvements and fixes an issue that has been problematic for Linux users.
-
So Long Neofetch and Thanks for the Info
Today is a day that every Linux user who enjoys bragging about their system(s) will mourn, as Neofetch has come to an end.
-
Ubuntu 24.04 Comes with a “Flaw"
If you're thinking you might want to upgrade from your current Ubuntu release to the latest, there's something you might want to consider before doing so.
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.