Source Code
Go Security Vulnerability Skill
Use Go tooling to identify, assess, and fix security vulnerabilities in Go modules. This skill helps detect and remediate vulnerabilities while maintaining application functionality.
Vulnerability Detection
Scan for vulnerabilities in your Go project:
go install golang.org/x/vuln/cmd/govulncheck@latest
govulncheck ./...
Check specific modules for known vulnerabilities:
govulncheck -show verbose ./...
Assessment Process
- Identify Affected Packages: Determine which dependencies contain vulnerabilities
- Check Severity: Review the CVE details and potential impact
- Verify Usage: Confirm if the vulnerable functions are actually used in your code
- Plan Remediation: Choose the appropriate fix strategy
Common Fix Strategies
Direct Dependency Update
Update vulnerable packages to secure versions:
go get -u vulnerable/package@latest
go mod tidy
Transitive Dependency Handling
For vulnerabilities in transitive dependencies:
go mod why vulnerable/package # Understand why it's included
go mod edit -replace vulnerable/package=newer-version # Replace if needed
go mod tidy
Removal Strategy
If a dependency is unused or can be replaced:
- Remove direct imports of the vulnerable code
- Run
go mod tidyto clean up unused dependencies - Verify application functionality remains intact
Verification Steps
After applying fixes:
# Verify no vulnerabilities remain
govulncheck ./...
# Ensure application still builds
go build ./...
# Run tests to verify functionality
go test ./...
Common Vulnerabilities
JWT Libraries
- Issue:
github.com/golang-jwt/jwtGO-2025-3553 (excessive memory allocation) - Fix: Update to newer version or switch to
golang.org/x/oauth2alternatives
Standard Library Updates
- Keep Go version updated for security patches
- Run
go vulnto check for stdlib vulnerabilities
Best Practices
- Regularly scan dependencies with
govulncheck - Keep dependencies updated with
go get -u - Use
go mod tidyto remove unused dependencies - Test thoroughly after vulnerability fixes
- Monitor for new vulnerabilities with automated tools