Static Application Security Testing (SAST) is a type of security testing that is performed on an application’s source code or binaries without actually executing the code. It is a proactive security measure that aims to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the code early in the development lifecycle, before the application is deployed.
SAST analyzes the entire codebase to identify potential vulnerabilities, such as buffer overflows, SQL injections, cross-site scripting (XSS), and insecure coding practices. This is done by using static code analysis techniques, including pattern matching, data flow analysis, control flow analysis, and taint analysis.
Pattern matching involves searching for known insecure coding patterns, such as hard-coded credentials or insecure cryptographic algorithms. Data flow analysis tracks how data flows through the application and identifies potential sources of untrusted data that can be exploited. Control flow analysis examines the sequence of instructions in the code to detect any potential vulnerabilities in the logic. Taint analysis identifies how user inputs are used in the application and checks if they are appropriately validated and sanitized before being used to prevent security vulnerabilities.
SAST tools are used to automate the process of analyzing the source code or binaries. These tools parse the code and perform the various analysis techniques to identify potential vulnerabilities. They generate reports that highlight the vulnerabilities found and provide recommendations for remediation.
One of the main advantages of SAST is that it can be performed early in the development process when the cost of fixing vulnerabilities is relatively low. By identifying vulnerabilities at this stage, developers can implement security controls and best practices to mitigate those risks before they become more complex and costly to fix.
SAST also helps to uncover vulnerabilities that are difficult to identify through other testing methods, such as dynamic testing. Dynamic testing involves executing the application and observing its behavior to detect vulnerabilities, whereas SAST can analyze the entire codebase and uncover vulnerabilities that may be hidden or difficult to observe during runtime.
Another advantage of SAST is that it can be used to ensure compliance with security standards and best practices. SAST tools can be configured to check if the code adheres to coding guidelines, security coding standards, and industry best practices. This ensures that developers are following secure coding practices and reduces the likelihood of introducing vulnerabilities into the application.
However, there are also some limitations to SAST. It may generate false positives or false negatives, meaning it may flag code as vulnerable when it is not or miss vulnerabilities that are present. False positives can be time-consuming to investigate and can lead to a loss of trust in the SAST tool. False negatives can give developers a false sense of security, leading to the deployment of a vulnerable application.
Furthermore, SAST tools may not be able to identify vulnerabilities that are introduced at runtime or through complex interactions between different components of the application. Therefore, SAST should be used in conjunction with other security testing methods, such as dynamic testing and penetration testing, to achieve a comprehensive security assessment of the application.
Static application security testing is a valuable security testing technique that helps identify potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses in an application’s source code or binaries. By analyzing the code early in the development process, organizations can proactively address security issues and reduce the risk of deploying vulnerable applications. However, SAST should be used in conjunction with other testing methods to ensure comprehensive security testing.
SNYK
Snyk Code that uses AI for code security testing and provides actionable suggestions right when the code is written.
- Real-time scanning and fixing
- Language & tool coverage
- Revolutionary knowledge base
- Prioritize top code risks
MICROFOCUS
Micro Focus Fortify Static Code Analyzer finds security issues at the speed of DevOps using static application security testing (SAST).
- Fast, frictionless static analysis without sacrificing quality, covering 30+ languages and frameworks
- Confidently find security issues early and fix at the speed of DevOps
- Automate security in the CI/CD pipeline with a robust ecosystem of integrations and open-source component analysis tools
CODIGA.IO
Static Code Analysis in VS Code, JetBrains, VisualStudio, GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket.
- Works everywhere
- Create your code analysis rules
- Code reviews in seconds, not minutes
- Works in every CI/CD pipeline
- Find Software Vulnerabilities
- Git Hook Support
- Monitor your code quality score
- Code Metrics made easy
- Dependency scanning
VERACODE
Manage risk with Veracode Static Analysis (SAST), a white box testing solution that provides feedback in the IDE and pipeline with a policy scan for compliance.
- End-to-End Static Scanning
- Lowest False Positives
- Seamless Developer Experience
- Prioritization & Remediation
- Reporting & Analytics
- Scalable Cloud Architecture
PERFORCE
Klocwork is a static code analysis and SAST tool. This tool for C++, C#, Python, Kotlin JavaScript, and Java static code analyzer identifies software security, quality, and reliability issues helping to enforce compliance with standards.
- Klocwork integrates with CI/CD tools, containers, cloud services, and machine provisioning making automated security testing easy
- CWE, OWASP, CERT, PCI DSS, DISA STIG, and ISO/IEC TS 17961
- SQL Injection, Tainted Data, Buffer Overflow, Vulnerable Coding Practices, and many more
- Null Pointer Dereferences/Exceptions, Memory/Resource Leaks, Uncaught Exceptions, and many more
CHECKMARX
Checkmarx Static Application Security Testing (SAST) provides fast and accurate incremental or full scans and gives you the flexibility, accuracy, integrations, and coverage to secure your applications.
- Find AppSec issues earlier without interruption
- Effortlessly scale application security testing
- Integrate with the software development tools you’re already using
- Identify security issues at the source
- Remediate vulnerabilities with expert guidance
- Fix the most critical AppSec issues first
KIUWAN
Kiuwan – secure your code at every stage in the development cycle, with automatic code scanning to help you remediate and identify vulnerabilities in real time.
- Application Misconfiguration
- Code Injection
- Control Flow Management
- Error Handling & Fault Isolation
- Encryption & Randomness
- Information Leaks
BEYONDSECURITY
Beyond Security static application security testing to your security development detects vulnerabilities in applications before hackers find them.
- Inspecting both code quality and security at once
- Reducing cost by early detection of source code vulnerability
- Improving maintenance efficiency by enforcing secure coding standards
- Preventing system failure by pre-inspection of source code quality
- Support compiler free inspection. Testing raw source code
- Semantic static analysis – patented technology that takes from the source code without running an application
- On-Demand Inspection using supported incremental analysis
- Prevent security violation and hacking by pre-detection of vulnerabilities
SONARSOURCE
Sonar Static Application Security Testing tool gives clear actions for security issue, no false-positives with our comprehensive Security Analysis.
- Real-time feedback
- Connected Mode with SonarLint
- Safe Code
- Security Rules Explained
CYCODE
Identify vulnerabilities and fix them in your normal development workflows with Cycode Static Application Security Testing (SAST).
- Lightning Fast Scanning
- Accuracy from End-to-End Context
- Broad Language Coverage
- Effectively Tackling Hardcoded Secrets With A Secret Management Maturity Model
- Complete Software Supply Chain Security
CLOUDDEFENSE.AI
CloudDefense.ai is an industry-leading CNAPP platform that provides instant, 360 deg visibility and risk reduction for your Cloud and Applications.
- Agentless instant onboarding
- Unify security for multi-cloud & applications in a single platform
- Remediate in minutes
- Shift left with confidence for Code, OSS and IaC
- Detect and investigate threats in real time
- Security is a team sport
APPKNOX
Appknox’s Static Code Analysis (sast) platform upload any APK, AAB, or IPA files and get the results from Static Scan in under 5 minutes.
- Surface vulnerabilities before they escalate into a threat
- Avoid unpredictable security threats when you go to market
- Integrate security into existing SDLC process seamlessly
- DevOps to DevSecOps, with no extra time
FLUIDATTACKS
Fluid Attacks application security testing combines automation and penetration testing to find all vulnerabilities so you can deploy secure software, achieve DevSecOps and reduce cyber risks.
- Quick vulnerability detection
- Minimal rates of false positives
- Scanning based on standards
- Low rates of false negatives
- An element of comprehensive tests