Unlocking The Power Of Combining SAST and DAST For Greater Security

What are SAST and DAST? If you’re not into IT, but you’re looking to increase your online security this post will help shine some light on the topic.

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As the threat landscape evolves and cyber-attacks become increasingly sophisticated, organizations are looking for ways to improve their security posture. One effective approach is to combine two popular security testing methods: static application security testing (SAST) and dynamic application security testing (DAST). 

 

In this blog, we’ve encased the benefits of using both SAST and DAST and how they can work together to provide a more comprehensive view of an organization’s security vulnerabilities. 

 

From identifying and analyzing potential vulnerabilities to providing actionable insights for remediation, we will delve into the power of combining SAST and DAST for greater security.

 

What is SAST & Why is it Important?

 

SAST (Static Application Security Testing) analyzes application source code, bytecode, and binaries for security vulnerabilities. It is a cost-effective method of identifying security vulnerabilities, as it can be performed by automated tools that scan the code and seek patterns that indicate potential security issues, like SQL injection or cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities.

 

Benefits of using SAST for greater security:

 

• SAST is vital for security as it allows developers to identify and fix security issues early in the development process before the application is deployed. It can reduce the risk of a security breach and save time and resources.

 

• SAST helps organizations comply with security regulations and standards, such as PCI-DSS and OWASP. 

 

• SAST enables collaboration between development, security, and operations teams and helps to promote a culture of security within the organization. It can also help enhance the quality of code by identifying and correcting coding errors and best practices.

 

• SAST provides a detailed analysis of the vulnerabilities and the related code, which allows developers to understand and fix the issues more effectively.

 

• The automated nature of SAST enables consistent scanning and testing, ascertaining that vulnerabilities are identified and fixed before they can cause harm.

 

What are the Drawbacks of SAST? 

 

Static Application Security Testing (SAST) has been widely adopted as a crucial step in ensuring the security of software applications. 

 

However,  SAST is not without its limitations. From false positives to limited context, this post delves into the various challenges that organizations may encounter when implementing SAST as a security measure. 

 

Furthermore, will also discuss how SAST can be used in conjunction with other security testing methods to achieve a more comprehensive security posture.

 

Let’s explore the drawbacks of SAST and provide insight into how they can be addressed to enhance the overall security of an application. 

 

• False positives: Automated SAST tools may produce a high number of false positives, which can waste time and resources for developers, as they need to investigate and verify each one.
• Limited coverage & context: SAST tools can only analyze the source code and binaries of an application and cannot detect vulnerabilities that are introduced during runtime or in the environment. SAST tools may not be able to provide enough context or understanding of the application’s architecture and design, which can make it difficult for developers to fix the identified vulnerabilities.
• Dependency on the development process: SAST is only effective when integrated into the development process, which requires developers to have the necessary knowledge and skills to use the tools and fix the identified vulnerabilities.
• Can’t find dynamic issues: SAST is based on static analysis of the code; as such, it can’t find issues that are found dynamically (i.e., runtime issues)
• Lack of remediation advice: Some SAST tools may not provide adequate remediation advice, making it difficult for developers to fix the identified vulnerabilities.

 

What is DAST & Why is it Important?

 

DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) is a method of testing the security of an application by simulating attacks on it from outside the network. DAST tools interact with the application by sending various types of inputs, such as HTTP requests, and analyzing the responses for vulnerabilities. DAST is also referred to as “black-box” testing, as it does not require access to the application’s source code or internal architecture.

 

DAST is essential for greater security because it allows organizations to identify vulnerabilities that may not be detected by other types of testing, such as SAST. 

 

Benefits of using DAST for greater security:

 

• Identifies vulnerabilities in the runtime environment: DAST can identify vulnerabilities in the application’s runtime environment, such as misconfigurations or vulnerabilities in third-party components.
• Simulates real-world attacks: DAST can simulate real-world attacks and identify vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers, which can help organizations prioritize and address the most critical security issues.
• Compliance with security regulations: DAST can help organizations comply with security regulations and standards, such as PCI-DSS and OWASP.
• Easy to use: DAST tools are typically easy to use and do not require access to the application’s source code or internal architecture.
• Testing from the attacker’s perspective: DAST can perform testing from the attacker’s perspective, which allows organizations to identify potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers and take appropriate actions.

 

What are the Drawbacks Of DAST?

 

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) has become a popular method for identifying vulnerabilities in software applications. However, DAST also has certain drawbacks. 

 

From false positives to limited scope, this post delves into the various challenges that organizations may encounter when implementing DAST as a security measure. 

 

Furthermore, it will also discuss how DAST can be used in conjunction with other security testing methods to achieve a more comprehensive security posture.

 

Let’s check out the limitations of DAST  to enhance the overall security of an application:

 

• False positives & negatives: DAST tools may produce a high number of false positives, which can waste time and resources for developers, as they need to investigate and verify each one. Also, DAST can only find vulnerabilities that can be found dynamically. Hence, it can miss issues that are not triggered during the test.
• Limited scope: It can only test the application from the outside and cannot detect vulnerabilities introduced during development or in the environment.
• Environment Dependency: DAST is dependent on the environment being accurately configured to match the production environment, which can be challenging to achieve.
• Time-consuming: DAST can be time-consuming, as it requires significant time to set up, run the test, and analyze the results. Also, it only finds the exploitable issues. It may identify unexploitable problems that could lead to security breaches.

 

Insight on A Combined Approach For Application Security: SAST and DAST

 

A combined approach of using both SAST (Static Application Security Testing) and DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) can provide a more comprehensive view of the security of an application. SAST can be used to analyze the application’s source code and binaries for security vulnerabilities, while DAST can be used to simulate attacks on the application from outside the network.

 

However, it’s important to note that both SAST and DAST have their own limitations and false positives; therefore, it’s crucial to have a transparent process in place to validate and prioritize the vulnerabilities found.

 

Benefits Of Using SAST And DAST Together

 

Let’s check out the benefits of using SAST and DAST together and how they can provide a more comprehensive view of the security of an application:

 

• Comprehensive security coverage: By using both SAST and DAST, organizations can cover all possible attack vectors and identify vulnerabilities that may not be detected by other types of testing. This provides a more comprehensive view of the application’s security.
• Early identification and prevention of security vulnerabilities: SAST can help identify and fix security vulnerabilities early in the development process before the application is deployed, while DAST can help identify vulnerabilities in the runtime environment, such as misconfigurations or vulnerabilities in third-party components.
• Prioritization and addressing of critical security issues: DAST can simulate real-world attacks and identify vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers. This helps organizations prioritize and address the most critical security issues.
• Compliance with security regulations and standards: By using both SAST and DAST, organizations can comply with security regulations and standards, such as PCI-DSS and OWASP and reduce the risk of a security breach.
• Increased collaboration: Using both SAST and DAST promotes collaboration between development, security, and operations teams and helps to promote a culture of security within the organization.
• Better remediation: SAST provides a detailed analysis of the vulnerabilities and the related code, while DAST offers insight into the exploitable vulnerabilities, which allows developers to understand and fix the issues more effectively.
• Cost-effective: Combining SAST and DAST can be cost-effective, as it allows organizations to use automated tools for both types of testing and reduces the need for manual testing.

 

Final Takeaway

 

The use of a combined approach of SAST and DAST can provide a more comprehensive view of the security of an application. This approach can help organizations cover all possible attack vectors, identify vulnerabilities that may not be detected by other types of testing, prioritize and address the most critical security issues, and comply with security regulations and standards.

 

Additionally, using both SAST and DAST can lead to increased collaboration between development, security, and operations teams, better remediation, and cost-effective solutions. 

 

However, note that both SAST and DAST have their own limitations and false positives. Hence it’s crucial to have a straightforward process in place to validate and prioritize the vulnerabilities found. 

 

The use of both SAST and DAST should be part of a larger security strategy that includes other security measures such as secure coding practices, threat modeling, incident response planning, and regular security reviews. By taking a holistic approach to security, organizations can protect their applications from a wide range of threats and minimize the risk of a security breach.