HackMD
Methods to identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities in software
Static Application Security Testing (SAST)
- What it is: SAST tools analyze source code, byte code, or binaries for vulnerabilities without executing the program.
- Pros:
- Can be used early in the development process, making it easier and cheaper to fix issues[2].
- Provides complete code coverage and can detect theoretical issues[10].
- Cons:
- May produce false positives and require expert tuning[10].
- Cannot identify runtime vulnerabilities or third-party interface defects[15].
- Examples: SpotBugs, PMD[1].
Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)
- What it is: DAST tools test applications from the outside while they are running, simulating attacks to find vulnerabilities.
- Pros:
- Language agnostic and takes a real-world approach to testing[8].
- Can identify vulnerabilities in the outer layers of applications[9].
- Cons:
- Requires a running application, so it's used later in the development process[2].
- May miss vulnerabilities if not configured properly[4].
- Examples: ZAP[1].
Software Composition Analysis (SCA)
- What it is: SCA tools analyze open source components within an application to detect known vulnerabilities.
- Pros:
- Provides detailed security information about vulnerabilities in third-party components[1].
- Can be used to meet compliance standards like PCI[2].
- Cons:
- Not a real-time process and success depends on the currency of vulnerability databases[7].
- Does not analyze proprietary source code[9].
- Examples: OWASP Dependency-Check[1].
Manual Penetration Testing (MPT)
- What it is: MPT involves human testers attempting to find and exploit vulnerabilities in an application or network.
- Pros:
- Can catch complex vulnerabilities like authorization issues and business logic flaws[4].
- Provides a human perspective that can uncover issues automated tools might miss[4].
- Cons:
- Time-consuming and typically more expensive than automated testing[4].
- Requires skilled professionals to perform the tests effectively[10].
Similarities
- All methods aim to identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities in software.
- They can be part of a comprehensive security testing strategy, often used in combination for better coverage[4].
When to Use Each
- SAST: Early in the development process for in-house code analysis[2].
- DAST: Later in the development process for running applications, especially web applications[5].
- SCA: Throughout the development process to manage third-party component vulnerabilities[7].
- MPT: Periodically, to catch vulnerabilities that automated tools may not detect[4].
Combining Approaches
- Using SAST, DAST, SCA, and MPT together provides a defense-in-depth strategy, covering different aspects of application security and reducing the risk of vulnerabilities slipping through[4].
- For example, SAST can be used to identify potential vulnerabilities early, while DAST can test those vulnerabilities in a running application to see if they are exploitable[5].
- SCA complements SAST by covering third-party components, and MPT provides the final human verification[4].
In conclusion, each testing method has its strengths and weaknesses, and the best approach often involves a combination of SAST, DAST, SCA, and MPT to ensure comprehensive application security.
Citations:
[1] https://fluidattacks.com/blog/differences-between-sast-sca-dast/
[2] https://snyk.io/learn/application-security/sast-vs-dast/
[3] https://www.trustradius.com/products/veracode/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons
[4] https://www.veracode.com/blog/managing-appsec/defense-depth-why-you-need-dast-sast-sca-and-pen-testing
[5] https://www.csoonline.com/article/568049/top-sast-and-dast-tools.html
[6] https://techbeacon.com/sast-dast-iast-rasp-pros-cons-how-choose
[7] https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/tip/Understanding-3-key-automated-DevSecOps-tools
[8] https://praetoriansecure.com/sast-vs-dast-vs-sca-which-method-works-best/
[9] https://forwardsecurity.com/sast-sca-dast-iast-rasp-what-they-are-and-how-you-can-automate-application-security/
[10] https://www.clouddefense.ai/the-differences-between-sca-sast-and-dast/
[11] https://www.reddit.com/r/devsecops/comments/159d4zd/security_tools_for_devsecops_toolchain/?rdt=59709
[12] https://fluidattacks.com/blog/security-testing-fundamentals/
[13] https://securityboulevard.com/2020/12/defense-in-depth-why-you-need-dast-sast-sca-and-pen-testing/
[14] https://docs.fluidattacks.com/about/compare/mpt/
[15] https://devops.com/sast-dast-sca-whats-best-for-appsec-testing/
[16] https://blog.shiftleft.io/sast-vs-dast-vs-sca-a-comparison-2d42cea6579f?gi=abc9059e009e
