Learn how the new ISO/IEC 24772-1 standard for secure software development describes vulnerabilities and offers practical mitigation measures.
Importance of the transition from TR to an international standard
ISO/IEC 24772-1 was originally published as a Technical Report (TR) and was adopted as an international standard in October 2024. This change is more than formal: international standards benefit from broad global recognition and professional consensus. Such a standard gives companies in safety-critical industries and regulated environments a reliable foundation that facilitates acceptance and implementation.
Structure and contents of ISO/IEC 24772-1
ISO/IEC 24772-1 describes vulnerabilities that can occur in various programming languages and gives language-independent approaches to avoid them. Each vulnerability is explained in detail, from common sources of error to potential risks and how to avoid them. The standard covers, among other security-relevant topics:
- Memory management: Risk factors such as incorrect memory allocation and deallocation that often lead to security vulnerabilities.
- Control flow and concurrency: Vulnerabilities in control flow and parallel processing that are particularly risky for safety-critical applications.
- Common vulnerabilities and avoidance strategies: Practical measures to reduce risk that are relevant to many programming languages.
This structured approach gives developers a useful tool for systematically avoiding security-critical vulnerabilities and serves as a solid basis for secure software development.
Benefits of ISO/IEC 24772-1 for companies
ISO/IEC 24772-1 is versatile and aimed at different audiences who can be supported in their respective tasks by systematically identifying and minimizing programming vulnerabilities:
- Developers: Programmers familiar with the vulnerabilities of a particular language will find general descriptions of those vulnerabilities and learn how they may appear in less familiar languages. The language-independent presentation provides a solid foundation for avoiding security-relevant mistakes across projects.
- Tool vendors: Providers of development and analysis tools can select specific vulnerabilities from the standard and integrate them into their products. ISO/IEC 24772-1 supplies detailed descriptions that can help analysis tools identify and prevent vulnerabilities.
- Organizations developing their own coding standards: Companies creating internal coding guidelines to secure their software products will find useful support in the standard for identifying relevant vulnerabilities. ISO/IEC 24772-1 serves as guidance when selecting and enforcing appropriate coding rules and security standards.
Benefits for IEC 62443-4-1 certification
The SI-2 requirement “Secure coding standards” from IEC 62443-4-1 states that organizations should use secure coding standards to minimize vulnerabilities in their products. ISO/IEC 24772-1 is a valuable aid in meeting this requirement. While the standard itself is not a coding standard, it supports organizations by providing a comprehensive presentation of vulnerabilities and avoidance strategies. It also references other coding standards, giving companies practical guidance for selecting and applying secure practices.
ISO/IEC 24772-1 as a practical guide
ISO/IEC 24772-1 is a practical guide that supports safety-critical software development projects. Without prescribing fixed coding rules, the standard offers a cross-language description of typical vulnerabilities and avoidance strategies. It is particularly suitable for organizations aiming for conformity with IEC 62443-4-1 and strengthens secure product development through pragmatic recommendations and orientation aids.