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| Aspect | SAST (Static Application Security Testing) | DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Analyzes source code, binaries, or bytecode without executing the application. | Analyzes the application during runtime by simulating attacks. |
| Testing Method | White-box testing: examines the internal structure of the application. | Black-box testing: interacts with the application externally as an attacker would. |
| Purpose | Detect vulnerabilities in the codebase before the application is executed. | Detect vulnerabilities that appear during the execution of the application. |
| Stage of Testing | Performed during the development or build phase. | Performed during the testing or staging phase on a deployed application. |
| Code Access | Requires access to the source code, binaries, or bytecode. | Does not require source code access; interacts with the application externally. |
| Vulnerabilities Found | Code-level issues such as: | Runtime and environment-based issues such as: |
| - SQL injection, XSS, buffer overflows. | - SQL injection, XSS, authentication flaws. | |
| - Hardcoded secrets or credentials. | - Session management flaws, misconfigured headers. | |
| - Unused variables, uninitialized memory. | - Runtime misconfigurations, server-side logic flaws. | |
| Examples | Finds vulnerabilities like unvalidated inputs in a login form. | Detects vulnerabilities like a login form bypass using crafted payloads. |
| Environment Required | No runtime environment needed; works on code. | Requires a running application in a staging or production-like environment. |
| Integration | Easily integrates into CI/CD pipelines for early detection. | Usually integrated during functional testing or after deployment. |
| Effectiveness | Effective for identifying code-based vulnerabilities early. | Effective for identifying runtime issues and server misconfigurations. |
| Output | Provides a detailed report of vulnerabilities in the source code. | Reports vulnerabilities seen from an attacker’s perspective. |
| Tool Setup | Relatively easier to set up within development environments. | Requires a fully operational application environment to test against. |
| False Positives | Higher likelihood of false positives (flagging non-issues). | Lower likelihood of false positives due to testing on the actual application. |
| False Negatives | May miss issues that occur only during runtime. | May miss code-level issues not exposed during runtime interactions. |
| Speed | Typically faster as it doesn’t require application execution. | Slower due to the need to execute and analyze the running application. |
| Cost | Cost-effective in early stages of development. | Can be costlier due to the need for a test environment and runtime analysis. |
| Examples of Tools | - CodeQL (GitHub) | - OWASP ZAP |
| - SonarQube | - Burp Suite | |
| - Checkmarx | - Acunetix | |
| - Veracode | - Netsparker | |
| Use Cases | - Detects insecure code practices during development. | - Identifies vulnerabilities in production-like environments. |
| - Ensures compliance with secure coding standards (e.g., OWASP Top 10). | - Simulates real-world attack scenarios (e.g., SQL injection testing). | |
| Limitations | - Cannot identify runtime-specific issues like environment misconfigurations. | - Cannot detect code-level issues like unused variables or hardcoded secrets. |
| - May require customization for precise vulnerability detection. | - Requires more resources for testing in live environments. |
| Scenario | SAST | DAST |
|---|---|---|
| SQL Injection in a Login Form | Detects vulnerable query in the source code. | Identifies SQL injection vulnerability when malicious input is submitted during runtime. |
| Hardcoded Password in Source Code | Flags hardcoded credentials in the codebase. | Cannot detect, as it doesn’t access source code. |
| Missing Secure Cookie Flags | Cannot detect, as this is a runtime configuration issue. | Identifies missing HttpOnly or Secure flags in cookies during runtime. |
For a robust security strategy, both SAST and DAST should be employed to complement each other, ensuring comprehensive application security.