CITRIX - SECURE BY DESIGN - OPEN ARCHITECTURE SYSTEMS

09 Apr

Citrix has cultivated a robust reputation for creating secure and flexible hybrid work environments, underpinned by Citrix’s outstanding virtualization, secure access, and application delivery solutions. For many years, Citrix has empowered businesses to remain agile while upholding stringent security standards. Citrix’s recent commitment to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure by Design Pledge exemplifies Citrix’s steadfast dedication to security and underscores Citrix’s efforts to integrate it into every phase of Citrix’s product development.

By aligning with over 200 other companies in this initiative, Citrix’s is committing to implement concrete, measurable advancements in security—thereby enhancing the trust of Citrix’s customers. In this article, OAS will outline how Citrix is operationalizing this pledge and detail Citrix’s comprehensive strategy for incorporating Secure by Design principles in key areas such as virtual desktops, application delivery, and endpoint management.

The seven objectives of the Secure by Design initiative are essential for organizations aiming to bolster their overall security posture. For Citrix, this commitment enhances Citrix’s established security practices and aligns seamlessly with Citrix’s mission to deliver secure, scalable, and user-centric enterprise solutions. The initiative delineates specific, actionable measures:

The elimination of default passwords,
The default activation of multi-factor authentication (MFA),
The mitigation of various vulnerabilities,
Streamlined patch management, and
The promotion of a culture of accountability.

These elements are particularly significant for Citrix, given the complexity of Citrix’s products that support hybrid workforces worldwide. Regarding virtual desktops, the focus is on fortifying the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops platform to proactively defend against emerging threats. This effort includes integrating built-in security features that mitigate risks such as session hijacking and data leakage, all while preserving a seamless user experience. In terms of application delivery,

Citrix is enhancing Citrix Gateway and Secure Private Access to enforce least-privilege access and implement more sophisticated threat detection, thereby minimizing potential attack surfaces. The strategy to fulfil the Secure by Design Pledge is both intentional and forward-thinking and tailoring the approach to meet the demands of virtualized environments and hybrid work, not merely responding to CISA's guidance but also taking the initiative in enterprise security.

Authentication

In today's hybrid work environments, credential-based attacks, such as phishing, pose significant threats to security. To mitigate these risks, Citrix is expanding the implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA) across platforms, including Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, ensuring it is user-friendly and set as the default option.

The emphasis is on phishing-resistant strategies, such as FIDO2 passkeys, and are facilitating seamless integration with identity providers through established standards like SAML 2.0 and OpenID Connect. Furthermore, it is mandated that password changes during the onboarding process to address vulnerabilities associated with default passwords, thereby ensuring secure deployments from the outset and fostering a proactive security mindset among users.

Eliminating Classes of Vulnerabilities

To mitigate vulnerabilities, such as privilege escalation and memory corruption, Citrix has strengthened the Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC). By employing advanced tools and custom scripts, the system is able to identify and rectify issues at an early stage, adopt safer programming practices, and implement both compile-time and runtime protections.

The objective is to eliminate these vulnerabilities at their source. When critical vulnerabilities are identified, Citrix’s Product Security team performs a root cause analysis, prioritizes preventive measures, and incorporates them into the workflows. Regular evaluations by security and product leadership guarantee continuous resilience against emerging threats.

Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (VDP)

Citrix has long followed established best practices when it comes to vulnerability disclosure. The Citrix Product Security Vulnerability Response page offers detailed information on how Citrix handle security issues, fully aligned with the ISO/IEC 29147:2018 standard. It gives customers and security researchers a clear path to report vulnerabilities via the PSIRT team at secure@cloud.com and works hand-in-hand with Citrix’s bug bounty program to ensure transparency. The process is constantly being improved by creating a machine-readable version of Citrix’s vulnerability disclosure documentation—something the pledge specifically recommends. This change will make it easier for the broader security community to engage with Citrix and understand the process more efficiently.

CVE Reporting

CWE information is always included in the CVE reports, helping customers better understand and manage risk . However as a CVE Numbering Authority (CNA), Citrix has taken this a step further by ensuring that all CVE records include precise CWE and CPE fields. For example, a buffer overflow might be linked to CWE-120 with details on affected versions through CPE identifiers. This extra clarity helps customers respond to threats more quickly and accurately. Beyond internal processes, Citrix also working closely with other security teams and organizations to strengthen the larger cybersecurity ecosystem. By sharing data and response strategies, will improve collective threat intelligence across the industry.

Evidence of Intrusions

Assisting customers in identifying and responding to intrusions is a top priority, facilitated by solutions such as Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops and NetScaler. These tools generate essential logs for threat detection and incident management, which can be integrated with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems like Splunk and Microsoft Sentinel for centralized monitoring. The ADC Console Analytics provides real-time insights into security events and user behaviors, which is instrumental in recognizing unusual activities. Additionally,

Citrix Web Application Firewall (WAF) enhances system protection by validating incoming requests. Together with WAF logs from various sessions, these features empower customers to detect breaches early and respond effectively.