What is Code Scanning?

There are four primary code scanning approaches: software composition analysis (SCA), static application security testing (SAST), dynamic application security testing (DAST), and interactive application security testing (IAST).

 

All software and code contain bugs. While some of these bugs are inconsequential or only affect the functionality of an application, others can potentially impact its security. Identifying and remediating these exploitable security vulnerabilities is essential for maintaining application security.

 

Code scanning is a technique used to identify potential security issues within an application. Various code scanning methodologies can detect vulnerabilities before an application reaches production, thereby reducing the risk posed by security errors and minimizing the cost and difficulty of remediation.

 

Code Scanning Approaches

 

There are four primary code scanning approaches: software composition analysis (SCA), static application security testing (SAST), dynamic application security testing (DAST), and interactive application security testing (IAST).

 

Software Composition Analysis (SCA)

 

As the use of open-source components increases, it is crucial to examine each component from a security perspective. Software Composition Analysis (SCA) helps teams achieve this by scanning the open-source version of an application and informing the organization of any potential security threats or vulnerabilities.

 

Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

 

Static Application Security Testing (SAST) is typically performed early in the software development lifecycle on the source code without actually running it. SAST reviews the code's structure and identifies any security risks. By analyzing the code in real time, developers can detect and address security issues that may affect the code's integrity.

 

Moreover, specific regulations can be incorporated as standards in the SAST process, such as industry norms like the Motor Industry Software Reliability Association (MISRA) or the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT).

 

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)

 

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), unlike SAST, is performed during runtime or black-box testing. DAST simulates attacks to identify common vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, and denial of service (DoS). It is also effective in detecting application and server configuration issues.

 

Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST)

 

Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) operates within the application by "interacting" with it, distinguishing it from SAST. In a quality assurance (QA) or testing environment, IAST tests the application's functionality in real time. IAST is significantly quicker than SAST because it focuses on individual test cases rather than scanning the entire source code. It also has a low rate of false positives, is highly scalable, and is easy to implement.

 

 

Code Scanning Toolbox

 

Developers and security teams have several options for performing code scanning. Some of the major vulnerability detection methodologies include:

 

1. Static Analysis: Static Application Security Testing (SAST) is performed on an application’s source code. It detects vulnerabilities by building a model of the application's execution state and applying rules based on code patterns that create common vulnerabilities, such as the use of untrusted user input in an SQL query.

 

2. Dynamic Analysis: Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) uses a library of known attacks and a fuzzer to detect vulnerabilities in a running application. By subjecting the application to unusual or malicious inputs and observing its responses, DAST can identify vulnerabilities within the application.

 

3. Interactive Analysis: Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) uses instrumentation to gain visibility into an application’s inputs, outputs, and execution state. This real-time visibility allows IAST to identify anomalous behavior that indicates the exploitation of known or novel vulnerabilities within the application.

 

4. Source Composition Analysis: Most applications rely on external libraries and dependencies. Source Composition Analysis (SCA) identifies an application’s dependencies and checks them for known vulnerabilities that could impact the application’s security.

 

Different security testing methodologies have their own advantages and weaknesses in identifying various classes of vulnerabilities. Therefore, it is recommended to apply multiple application security testing methodologies and tools throughout the software development process to minimize the number and impact of vulnerabilities in production code.

 

Benefits of Secure Code Scanning

 

Secure code scanning offers numerous advantages for both development and production environments. Here are some key benefits:

 

Vulnerability Detection During Development

 

Code scanning enables vulnerabilities to be detected and remediated prior to release into production, eliminating the cybersecurity risks that they pose.

 

Fixing vulnerabilities in deployed applications is costly and time-consuming due to the complexity of creating and disseminating software patches. Additionally, vulnerabilities in production can be exploited, posing significant security risks. Code scanning identifies and allows for the remediation of vulnerabilities during the development phase, thus preventing potential cybersecurity threats before the application is released.

 

Fewer False Positives and Errors

 

Code scanning integrates multiple application security testing techniques, which helps to reduce false positive detections. This allows security teams and developers to focus on addressing genuine threats to application security. By minimizing false positives and errors, the time required to address an application's apparent weaknesses is reduced, resulting in the production of safer, more stable applications in less time.

 

Elasticity

 

Code scanning can incorporate both open-source and proprietary static application security testing (SAST) solutions into a single cloud-native solution. It can also integrate with external scanning engines, enabling scan results to be exported via a single application programming interface (API). This provides visibility into the results from multiple security tools simultaneously, as they can be presented on a single screen.

 

Improving Infrastructure Security

 

Code scanning verifies all of an application's code, including dependencies that might present security issues. This comprehensive verification helps ensure the safety of a company's software and network. For instance, if there's a vulnerability in a database accessed by an application, all network components interfacing with the app could be at risk. By pinpointing potential vulnerabilities through code scanning, the risk to the entire infrastructure is minimized.

 

Providing Actionable Insights

 

Code scanning executes only the actionable security rules specified by developers, rather than running broad scans that look for a wide range of issues. This targeted approach reduces the alert volume and eliminates unnecessary noise, allowing developers to concentrate on the most critical tasks at hand.

 

In summary, secure code scanning is an essential practice that enhances the overall security and stability of applications by identifying and addressing vulnerabilities early in the development cycle, reducing false positives, ensuring infrastructure security, and providing focused, actionable insights.