Application Security Testing: SCA, SAST, DAST, IAST Methods

Nowadays, companies are actively implementing technologies, and therefore ensuring application security is a priority. Attackers seek to exploit vulnerabilities to access data, violating confidentiality and creating risks for the business. To prevent such situations, there are many security testing methods, including SCA, SAST, DAST, and IAST. API security testing is also an important area since APIs often act as a link between different systems and platforms.

What Are The Security Threats to Applications?

Applications are vulnerable to a variety of threats, including but not limited to:

• SQL injection. Injecting and executing arbitrary SQL code into the database, which can lead to unauthorized access to, modification of, or deletion of data.
• Cross-site scripting (XSS). Injecting malicious code into web pages that are displayed to other users. This can include stealing users’ personal data, distributing malware, and other unwanted actions.
• Insecure direct object references. A vulnerability that allows attackers to access files and folders that should not be publicly accessible.
• Insufficient authentication and authorization. Failure to sufficiently check the identity of users and their access rights, which can lead to unauthorized access.
• Buffer overflow. When a program attempts to store more data than the buffer can hold, it can cause the program to crash or execute arbitrary code.
• Denial of Service (DoS and DDoS). Attacks designed to make a system unavailable to legitimate users.

Key Tools For Identifying Vulnerabilities

To reduce the risk of software vulnerabilities being detected after products have entered the market and are in use, information security teams and developers should ensure that applications are secure at the creation stage. A set of checks, including such types of analysis as SAST, DAST, SCA, and SCS, can help with this:

1. SAST (Static Application Security Testing) is used to identify vulnerabilities and problems in the source code. It is called the “white box” method, it involves immersion in the application structure and access to the source code. Such testing is performed without deploying the software product in the production environment, does not require large computing power, provides almost 100% code coverage, and is easily integrated into the secure software development process. Due to these advantages and ease of use, SAST has become one of the most popular types of analysis.
2. DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) allows testers to test finished working software. It is implemented by simulating a real attack on the program deployed in the production environment. DAST is a “black box” method (it does not require deep immersion in the product structure).
3. VSCA (Software Composition Analysis) is a tool for identifying vulnerabilities that arise as a result of using open source components. SCA allows you to detect vulnerabilities, backdoors, obsolete fragments, and licensing issues that exist in third-party components. SCA is usually performed at the software development stage to promptly identify vulnerabilities in the borrowed components used and prevent them from being introduced into the software being developed.
4. SCS (Supply Chain Security) allows testers to track all stages of the software path – from its creation or purchase to its use in the development process. The supply chain is understood as all processes occurring with the application, the participation of stakeholders (software creators, component suppliers, testers, etc.), and the technologies and tools used. Because of this, the use of third-party components can be associated with a large number of security risks that SCS allows testers to identify.

Each of the listed application analysis options has its weaknesses, for example, during a static check, it is difficult to predict how the finished software product will perform in operation. To mitigate the disadvantages of each check, it is recommended to monitor software security as a whole at all stages of development.

When And What to Choose: SAST Or DAST?

The choice between SAST and DAST depends on various factors:

1. Maturity of the process.

If a company is just starting to build processes for instrumented code testing, then it is worth starting with SAST tools, since they are built in at an earlier stage of the development cycle and have the ability to integrate with popular development environments, which allows testers to fix found vulnerabilities even before the vulnerable code is entered into the version control system.

Companies that have already successfully integrated static analysis into their development process should consider adapting dynamic testing to reduce the number of potential vulnerabilities that could not be detected at the static analysis stage.

Although, under certain conditions, the instrumented testing process can be started with dynamic testing right away.

2. Application type.

For applications built on their own code, it is usually recommended to use both approaches, which will ensure maximum coverage.

If you are testing third-party solutions or closed-source applications, DAST will be the only suitable option.

3. Resources and budget.

SAST typically requires lower upfront costs, especially if you already have CI/CD processes in place. DAST can require more resources and time per test cycle, especially if your application is complex.

SAST benefits:

• By analyzing the code before launching the application, it is possible to avoid the spread of vulnerabilities at later stages.
• Integration with CI/CD processes allows you to automatically test the code with each commit.
• The ability to identify various vulnerabilities, including logic errors and access control flaws.

DAST benefits:

• The ability to detect vulnerabilities that occur only during application execution.
• DAST can be used even when the source code of the application is not available, which is especially useful for testing third-party solutions.
• The method allows testers to find vulnerabilities related to incorrect server configuration.

Wrapping It Up

Comprehensive application security testing based on SCA, SAST, DAST, IAST, and testing methods of API security is an important element of protecting modern digital solutions. These approaches not only identify vulnerabilities but also minimize risks, ensuring the reliability of systems. If you are looking for a reliable provider of API security testing services, you should pay attention to ImmuniWeb, a company with effective tools for assessing the security of digital solutions. In addition, the company provides services for scanning and testing web applications, cloud solutions, as well as dark web monitoring.