SBOMs, IP Concerns & the Case for Transparent Security
#SBOM
#SupplyChainSecurity
#IPConcerns
#TransparentSecurity
Why treating Software Bills of Materials like source code is missing the point—and what we can do instead.
At a recent roundtable on software supply chain security, a security officer from a major OEM (automotive manufacturer) made an intriguing comment: “There are two types of people - those who treat their SBOM like it’s their source code, and those who publish it without hesitation.”
It sparked a spirited discussion, bordering on the philosophical - some might even say, religious. The dividing line? Intellectual property (IP), copyright concerns, and how public a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) should really be.
At Exodos, we believe there’s a middle path. And that understanding it is key to building real trust, transparency, and resilience in today’s connected software ecosystems - especially in high-stakes sectors like automotive.
Debunking the IP Myth
Let’s start with the IP concern. At face value, it sounds reasonable: revealing a list of third-party components and their versions might make it easier to reverse-engineer your software, right?
In practice, however, that fear rarely holds up.
We’ve yet to meet a team capable of reconstructing complex, proprietary systems from a list of open-source libraries. The real value lies in how components are used - how they’re integrated, tuned, tested, and maintained. None of that lives in an SBOM.In practice, however, that fear rarely holds up.
The belief that a list of libraries reveals trade secrets often reflects a misunderstanding of software development - or SBOMs themselves. Worse, it’s sometimes used to stall transparency initiatives that could genuinely improve security.
The Real Risk: Known Vulnerabilities
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: what happens if your SBOM shows a known vulnerable version of a package - say, OpenSSL?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: hiding it doesn’t make your software safer.
Yes, it may be embarrassing to admit that Model Z still includes a vulnerable version of OpenSSL. But the alternative - leaving that vulnerability unaddressed and hidden - puts your customers, your brand, and your entire ecosystem at risk.
The faster vulnerabilities are patched, the faster we collectively improve. And transparency drives that speed.
With tools like VEX (Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange), organizations can contextualize vulnerabilities - showing whether they’re actually exploitable and what’s being done. This isn’t a liability - it’s a message: “We take our customers, and their security seriously.”
Beyond Black and White
SBOMs don’t need to be fully public or tightly locked away.
With platforms like Exodos, access can be controlled down to individual entries. You can share only what’s necessary - with regulators, customers, auditors, or even the public - while still safeguarding sensitive integration logic or product strategy.
Especially in industries like automotive, where safety and trust are paramount, equating SBOMs to source code is a false equivalence. What the public really needs is confidence: that when risks arise, manufacturers are aware, responsive, and responsible.
A Call for Balance
Security is not secrecy. Transparency is not recklessness.
At Exodos, we enable the intelligent, policy-driven exchange of SBOMs - empowering organizations to balance compliance, IP protection, and public trust.
The question isn’t whether to publish your SBOM. It’s how to do it right.
Exodos Labs is launching soon. Be one of the first organizations to automate your SBOM processes.
