Overrated and underperforming: transitive reachability analysis

Transitive reachability analysis, while theoretically valuable for assessing vulnerabilities in layered dependencies, is fraught with challenges such as low actionability and a high rate of false positives, primarily due to the limitations of static analysis and complex dependency layers. Vendors like Semgrep, which focus on direct dependency analysis and prioritize accuracy by using abstract syntax trees, offer more actionable insights, reducing false positives and enabling developers to address vulnerabilities more effectively. Semgrep's approach, which includes features like license compliance and dependency search, aligns with user preferences for tools that provide immediate, tangible security improvements rather than broad but less actionable data. Consequently, transitive reachability is not a priority for Semgrep, which aims to focus on impactful security solutions that empower developers to remediate issues efficiently, though it remains hopeful about future advancements in managing transitive vulnerabilities.