What is SAST & DAST? Difference between SAST & DAST.

SAST and DAST are both security testing methodologies used to identify vulnerabilities and security weaknesses in software applications. They serve different purposes and have distinct approaches to achieve their objectives:

1. SAST (Static Application Security Testing): SAST is a white-box testing technique, also known as “static analysis.” It involves analyzing the source code or application’s binaries without executing the code. The process typically involves the use of specialized tools to examine the code for potential security vulnerabilities, coding errors, and compliance issues. SAST tools can scan through the codebase and identify issues such as SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), buffer overflows, and other security weaknesses. The analysis is done during the development phase and can be integrated into the CI/CD pipeline to catch security flaws early in the software development life cycle.
2. DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing): DAST, on the other hand, is a black-box testing technique, also known as “dynamic analysis.” Unlike SAST, DAST assesses the security of a running application by interacting with it through its exposed interfaces, such as APIs and web interfaces. DAST tools simulate real-world attacks on the application, probing for vulnerabilities that could be exploited in a live environment. By doing so, DAST can identify issues that might not be apparent in the source code, such as configuration errors, authentication and authorization weaknesses, and issues related to how the application handles user inputs.

Differences between SAST and DAST:

1. Scope:

• SAST focuses on analyzing the application’s source code and binary files without executing it.
• DAST assesses the application while it is running, interacting with its interfaces to identify vulnerabilities.

1. Timing:

• SAST is typically performed during the development phase, integrating security testing into the coding process.
• DAST is performed on a running application, usually after the development phase, to assess its security posture in a real-world environment.

1. Level of access:

• SAST has access to the entire application’s source code, which allows it to detect a wide range of security issues and coding flaws.
• DAST operates as an external entity without access to the application’s internal code, focusing on identifying vulnerabilities from an outside perspective.

1. Testing approach:

• SAST identifies potential vulnerabilities by analyzing the code’s logic, data flow, and structure.
• DAST identifies vulnerabilities by actively interacting with the application and observing how it behaves in response to various inputs.

SAST (Static Application Security Testing) Tools:

1. Fortify Static Code Analyzer: A powerful SAST tool from Micro Focus that analyzes source code for security vulnerabilities and provides comprehensive reports.
2. Checkmarx: A widely used SAST tool that scans source code and identifies potential security issues, offering developers detailed feedback to fix problems.
3. SonarQube: An open-source platform that includes SAST capabilities and can be integrated into the CI/CD pipeline to detect and manage code quality and security issues.
4. Veracode: A cloud-based SAST tool that supports multiple programming languages and provides scanning capabilities for applications and APIs.
5. AppScan Source: IBM’s SAST solution that helps developers identify security vulnerabilities and compliance issues in their source code.

DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) Tools:

1. OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy): An open-source DAST tool designed to find security vulnerabilities in web applications through active scanning and penetration testing.
2. Burp Suite: A popular commercial DAST tool used for web application security testing, including scanning for various vulnerabilities like XSS, CSRF, and SQL injection.
3. Acunetix: A comprehensive web vulnerability scanner that performs DAST assessments to identify security issues in web applications and APIs.
4. Netsparker: A DAST tool that automatically identifies vulnerabilities in web applications, such as SQL injection and sensitive data exposure.
5. WebInspect: A DAST tool from Micro Focus that scans web applications and APIs for security flaws, providing detailed vulnerability reports.

In summary, SAST is more effective at finding code-level issues and is integrated into the development process, while DAST focuses on identifying security weaknesses from an external, runtime perspective. To achieve comprehensive security testing, both SAST and DAST can be used together to complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses.