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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteThe Open Source Project Security (OSPS) Baseline is a versioned catalog of security requirements organized by project maturity. It is voluntary by default, but a sponsor can require it. The catalog’s current page is labeled v2026.08.28; that is the version to consult for new compliance work, as of October 4, 2026. The official release notes date the initial release to February 25, 2025, so this is not a newly launched October 2026 program.
What is the OpenSSF Security Baseline?
The OSPS Baseline is a set of security criteria intended to help open source projects demonstrate a strong security posture. The official project page describes it as a minimum definition of requirements relative to project maturity and identifies the OpenSSF Security Baseline SIG as its maintainer. The OpenSSF overview summarizes the catalog as 41 requirements across three maturity levels and six lifecycle stages.
Its controls address areas such as repository visibility and change history, dependency records, release integrity and authorship, support and security-update documentation, software bills of materials (SBOMs), testing and review, and vulnerability reporting. They are not a one-size-fits-all checklist: each control has its own applicability and conditions, so use the current catalog’s wording rather than assuming every requirement applies to every project.
The official catalog defines the Baseline as “a set of security criteria that projects should meet to demonstrate a strong security posture.” Read the OSPS Baseline project page.
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What is the current OSPS Baseline version?
As of October 4, 2026, the official landing page labels v2026.08.28 as current. The release history records the initial release on February 25, 2025, followed by releases dated October 10, 2025, February 19, 2026, and August 28, 2026. The site preserves prior versions for historical reference, but says to use the current version for new compliance efforts and to identify the exact version when making a compliance claim.
That version distinction matters for both maintainers and downstream users: a statement that a project “meets the OSPS Baseline” is incomplete unless it names the version assessed. Check the landing page before starting an assessment because the current label can change. Check the official current-version page and review the release history.
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What changed in v2026.08.28?
The August 28, 2026 release notes list no new or removed controls. They record modifications to two controls: OSPS-LE-03.01 now accepts a LICENSES/ directory, and OSPS-GV-03.01 also accepts a clear statement that public contributions are not accepted. The release also removed the “While active” qualifier from all control requirement texts and migrated the machine-readable mappings to the Gemara v1 schema.
These are changes to wording, accepted evidence, and schema rather than an expansion in the number of controls. For exact current text and mappings, use the v2026.08.28 catalog. Mappings can help orient users to related frameworks, but the catalog cautions that they are references and are not guaranteed to be 100% matches.
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Is the OpenSSF Baseline mandatory?
No, not for every project. The official FAQ says projects are not required to satisfy the controls unless a sponsoring organization imposes that condition. OpenSSF encourages projects to adopt at least Level 1, and projects can self-attest to compliance.
Self-attestation is a project’s own claim, not evidence of independent certification. The FAQ says evaluation tooling is still being developed; the sources do not establish that a tool check or self-attestation amounts to third-party certification. A sponsor, foundation, or downstream customer may still require a particular level or version as a condition of participation or use. See the official FAQ.
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What does Level 1 require?
There is no useful universal answer that lists Level 1 requirements without pinning the answer to a version: the control text and applicability are versioned, and requirements can vary by project circumstances. In v2026.08.28, consult the Level 1 controls in the catalog and check each control’s applicability and stated conditions. The following examples illustrate the kinds of evidence involved; they should not be read as a complete Level 1 checklist.
- The version control system must keep a publicly readable record of changes, including who made them and when.
- For a project that has released software, the applicable control calls for compiled assets to be delivered with an SBOM at the relevant maturity level.
- A listed control requires primary-branch changes to receive at least one approval from a person who is not the change’s author.
For an orientation to the level model, the February 19, 2026 version described Level 1 as applicable to any code or non-code project regardless of the number of maintainers or users; Level 2 as intended for code projects with at least two maintainers and a small number of consistent users; and Level 3 as intended for code projects with a large number of consistent users. Those descriptors are from a prior version, not a substitute for the current definitions and control applicability. Open the current catalog before deciding which level fits.
How can a project show it complies?
The FAQ permits self-attestation. A credible claim should make it possible for a reader to understand what was assessed and check the underlying evidence, rather than presenting a level label without context.
- Pin the version. Use the current catalog for a new assessment and record its exact version, such as v2026.08.28. If a sponsor or customer specifies a version, follow that requirement.
- Determine the applicable level and controls. Use the current definitions and read each control’s scope, conditions, and applicability. Do not infer that a control applies just because it appears in the catalog.
- Gather evidence against each applicable control. Link to or describe the relevant project records, policies, release artifacts, or review practices so that a self-attestation can be checked.
- State the scope of the claim. Identify the project, the assessed version, and the level or controls covered. Be clear about controls that are not applicable or not yet met rather than implying blanket compliance.
The Baseline FAQ notes that tooling to evaluate projects is still being developed. Accordingly, do not describe an automated result as an OpenSSF certification unless a relevant official source establishes that status.
How should maintainers and consumers use the levels?
For maintainers choosing an adoption target, consider the project’s maturity and user and maintainer context, the requirements that apply at each level, the work and evidence needed to meet them, and any level or version specified by a sponsor or downstream customer. Level 1 is OpenSSF’s encouraged starting floor, not an automatic proof that a project is suitable for every use.
Consumers evaluating a project should look beyond a self-attested level label. Check which catalog version was used, what evidence supports the claim, and which controls matter to the consumer’s own risk. The Baseline is a structured reference for security practices, not a guarantee that a project has no vulnerabilities or that two frameworks with mapped controls are equivalent.
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An OpenSSF guide dated January 7, 2026 says that up to 96% of modern codebases include FOSS, describing the figure as an estimate without naming the original estimator. That figure should not be attributed to Linux Foundation Census III. The guide separately says Census III research shows nearly every industry depends on open source, but gives no percentage for that statement in the cited passage. Read the OpenSSF guide.
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