OpenSource Dependency Enumeration

OpenSource Dependency Enumeration is a reconnaissance sub-technique focused on identifying and cataloging open-source libraries, frameworks, and dependencies utilized by target applications. In the reconnaissance phase, attackers systematically analyze public repositories, package manager files (like package.json, requirements.txt, build.gradle, or Gemfile), source code, and application fingerprinting to map the complete dependency tree of an application. This intelligence gathering enables attackers to pinpoint specific vulnerabilities in outdated or unpatched dependencies, evaluate the potential attack surface, and plan subsequent exploitation strategies. By examining metadata in HTTP responses, GitHub repositories, and software composition analysis (SCA) data, adversaries can identify specific versions of components that may contain known security flaws (CVEs) without directly engaging with the target systems, thus maintaining stealth during the initial phase of the attack chain.