Static Application Security Testing (SAST) is a security tool for analyzing source code to detect security vulnerabilities in applications. It’s a form of white box testing that scans an application before the source code is compile to check for vulnerabilities.
There are several benefits to SAST, but it’s especially useful in detecting vulnerabilities early in the Software Development Life Cycle. In these early stages, developers can use code analysis to detect which line the vulnerability lies on so that they can fix potential issues before deployment to production.
When SAST is integrate into a CI/CD pipeline, it helps secure your agile environment and transforms your development environment into a more secure one from the moment your developers start writing code and beyond.
What Problems Does SAST Solve?
SAST occurs extremely early in the SDLC since it does not involve a working application and can occur without code execution. SAST allows developers to discover vulnerabilities early in the development process and address issues rapidly without causing breakages in builds or transferring vulnerabilities to the shipped application release.
The SAST tools provide immediate feedback to developers as they write the code, so they can correct problems before passing the code to the next stage of the SDLC. Security-related problems has not made to be an afterthought. SAST tools even give graphical depictions of the problems identified, from source to sink. These make it easier for you to navigate the code. Some identify the precise place where vulnerabilities lie and mark the risky code. Tools can also offer detailed advice on how to correct problems and where in the code to correct them without the need for in-depth security domain knowledge.
Developers are also able to generate the customized reports they require with SAST tools; these can offline-exporte and monitored with dashboards. Monitoring all the security vulnerabilities reported by the tool in a structured manner can enable developers to remediate these vulnerabilities early and deliver applications with minimal defects. This aids in the development of a secure SDLC.
It’s noteworthy that SAST tools need to execute against the application regularly, such as on a daily/monthly build, whenever code is check in, or during code release.
Key Steps to Run SAST Effectively
There are six easy steps require to execute SAST effectively in organizations with an extremely high number of applications developed using various languages, frameworks, and platforms.
Finalize the tool
Choose a static analysis tool that is capable of conducting code reviews of software applications coded using the programming languages you employ. The tool must also be capable of understanding the underlying framework employed by your application.
Set up the scanning infrastructure and deploy the tool
This is complete by addressing the licensing needs, establishing access control and authorization, and acquiring the resources need (e.g., servers and databases) to install the tool.
Customize the tool
Refine the tool to fit the organization’s needs. For instance, you could set it up to eliminate false positives or detect more security vulnerabilities by adding new rules or modifying existing ones. Incorporate the tool into the build process, develop dashboards for monitoring scan results, and construct specialized reports.
Prioritize and onboard apps
After the tool is prepare, onboard your apps. If you have a multitude of apps, prioritize the critical apps to scan first. Later, all of your apps would be onboard and scann frequently, with app scans aligned to release cycles, daily or monthly builds, or code check-ins.
Scan results analysis
This is the process of filtering out false positives from the scan results. After the list of issues is complete, they should be monitor and handed over to the deployment teams for timely and appropriate remediation.
Offer training and governance in place
Good governance guarantees your development teams are scanning with the tools appropriately. The software security touch points must be there in the SDLC. SAST in cyber security must be integrate as part of your application deployment and development process.
How Does SAST Work?
Static Application Security Testing makes use of a code analysis process to check code for any issues that may lead to more serious vulnerabilities in production. SAST may be use to identify different security issues, including SQL injections, Un sanitized input, error handling, and much more.
It’s usually a good idea to set up SAST at the onset of a project to avoid starting the analysis process with increased code complexity.
SAST is often contrast to Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST).
SAST makes use of white box testing to analyze the actual source code to detect and help remove potential vulnerabilities. DAST, on the other hand, doesn’t access the source code and uses the process of black-box testing to scan a compiled, production-ready application to detect any vulnerabilities that exist within.
SAST, as a form of static code analysis, is the perfect first step for getting security off to the right start. As a static analysis tool, SAST might set up with pre-determine rules to make sure code is up to standard from the start. Critical vulnerabilities can find quickly and dispatch before they become serious security flaws down the line.
Benefits Of SAST In DevOps
There are numerous benefits to using SAST in DevOps and to setting up your SDLC with a security-forward mindset from the onset.
Discover Vulnerabilities
One major benefit is the detection of vulnerabilities in source code. They help developers and security teams to detect security bugs that other security tools may not detect. SAST vulnerabilities also helps build security awareness into your dev teams by promoting a security-first mindset.
Early Detection
SAST helps development and security teams diagnose an issue early on and well before the issue becomes more serious in a production environment
Because SAST doesn’t need to interact with a running application, it can analyze source code directly for possible vulnerabilities. This helps detect and mitigate prospective issues with the programming language itself and any libraries you may be using. It also helps with language-specific vulnerabilities, such as cross-site scripting in JavaScript, or serialization errors in Java.
Simplify Root-Cause Analysis
SAST helps detect vulnerabilities in specific lines of code, reducing the total amount of time needed to debug and find the root cause issue downstream.
This simplifies the task of the developer, saves them time, and allows for more time to be spend on developing new features. Simplified processes are a welcome byproduct of introducing an application security testing tool that can be use from the start of the development process.
SAST And Vulnerability Detection
SAST capabilities depend largely on the programming language, libraries, dependencies, and development environment used. Open source SAST tools for security testing and pairs well with dynamic application security testing.
The Pros of Using SAST
Whether you’re just getting start in application security or have a mature program in place that lacks SAST, Static Application Security Testing is a solid foundation on which to build the rest of your security program.
Early SDLC Vulnerability Detection
AST analyzes source code and scans your code even as you write it. It checks your code against best practices and makes sure that the code isn’t writing in a way that introduces potential vulnerabilities. By implementing SAST early, you set up your SDLC for a security-forward approach from the beginning.
Detection At Each Line of Code
SAST tools help detect vulnerabilities and make it clear where the issues are at the source of the issue. No more going line by line through code to find the root of the issue. It’s also a great opportunity for developers to learn what makes their code secure or prone to vulnerabilities.
Defined And Predefined Rules
SAST tools may be use to apply rules to source code to better detect issues. These rules might set manually or can automate to streamline security analysis and speed up workflows.
Using SAST With Other Security Tools
SAST tools are a great first step for detecting and preventing security vulnerabilities. Combine with dynamic application security testing, these two tools complement each other and may be use to detect vulnerabilities the other can’t detect.
When combined with Software Composition Analysis tools, SAST works well to help jumpstart your security program and help with producing an MVP that is both viable and dependent on software that is safe, vetted, and more secure. SAST code scanning helps with programming language libraries, and SCA helps ensure open-source dependencies are up-to-date and secure.
SAST tools are a great first step for detecting issues and resolving them at the source of the prospective problems. By using SAST tools early, you also create a security-forward development environment that promotes security best practices through the SDLC.
Qualysec and SAST
Qualysec is the perfect complement to your AppSec needs. With the ability to use predetermined rules and provide code security analysis throughout your SDLC, your teams can rest easy knowing they’re safe and secure from the first line of code and beyond. All without changing your workflow or adding needless complexity to your development process.
FAQs
Q1. What is SAST?
SAST is a security testing method that, on some level, is define as the analysis of code, binary code, or byte-code. Some vulnerabilities may have existed without the program being execute; thus, the information provided would, at the very least, allow developers to gain some knowledge about their security from the beginning and throughout the development process.
Q2. How does SAST differ from DAST?
The difference is that the SAST runs static tests before code execution, while DAST runs checks on an actual running instance of the application; it is valuable as a tool to find coding issues, while DAST captures vulnerabilities by observing real-time application behavior.
Q3. What is static analysis?
Static analysis, or static application security testing (SAST), is a method that examines the code of an application without executing it. The purpose is to identify vulnerabilities, bugs, or code quality issues that can lead to security incidents. Static analysis checks code against a pre-established set of coding rules and standards, giving an overall view of potential security risks.
Q4. What is Parsing?
Parsing is source code analysis to detect grammaticality in the specific programming language applied. Parsing the source code involves tokenization by the parser into meaningful structures like keywords, identifiers, operators, and literals. The parser further examines the tokens’ grammar to ensure conformance and proper structure. Upon validation of syntactic structure correctness of the code, the parser constructs an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST).
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