SAST Scanner: A Full Guide

Cyber Attackers have upped their game, and with that, developers must increase the security of their software. Security teams need to adopt tools that can help identify vulnerabilities early, and one such tool is the SAST scanner. This tool analyzes source code to identify potential security flaws before they can be exploited.

This guide will explain what an SAST scanner is, its importance in the software development lifecycle, and how it works to help organizations secure their applications. It will also explore key features, benefits, challenges, and best practices for using a SAST scanner effectively. 

What is SAST Scanning?

SAST scanning is the process of analyzing an application’s code to detect security vulnerabilities. The tool used for this is called a static application security testing scanner.

A static application security testing scanner is a tool used to analyze the source code, bytecode, or binary code of an application for security vulnerabilities. SAST scans the source code prior to execution and finds vulnerabilities early in the development process, in contrast to dynamic application security testing, which examines programs during runtime.

SAST solutions examine the application’s code base. The evaluation includes the programming language, libraries, and dependencies used. They discover flaws such as square injection, cross-website scripting, and buffer overflows. By performing code evaluation, SAST scanners can discover vulnerabilities before the application is even deployed.

SAST vs DAST

The primary difference between SAST and DAST is how they are applied. SAST is a white-box testing technique that analyzes the source code, whereas DAST is a black-box testing method that evaluates the application at runtime.

SAST identifies vulnerabilities in the code itself, such as insecure coding practices or logic errors, while DAST detects vulnerabilities in the running application, such as authentication issues or input validation errors. Using both SAST and DAST scanning tools together is effective when it comes to securing applications.

Why is SAST Important for Software Development?

Now, let’s look at the reasons why SAST is required for effective software development.

Early Detection of Vulnerabilities

Finding vulnerabilities early in the development process makes fixing them simpler and less expensive. Through the completion of a thorough SAST security scan, SAST scanners assist developers in identifying security vulnerabilities while they write code. Therefore, instead of waiting for the code to be built or deployed, they may address problems in real-time.

Early detection helps prevent vulnerabilities from reaching production, which lowers the risk of attackers exploiting them.

Cost-Effectiveness

It is far less expensive to fix vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle than to do so after the app has been released.  Studies show that the cost of fixing a security issue increases as it progresses through the development lifecycle, with the most expensive fixes often occurring in the post-deployment phase.

By integrating SAST code scanning into the development pipeline, organizations can save money by preventing expensive remediation efforts later on.

Regulatory Compliance

Following regulatory requirements is a crucial aspect of the creation of software. Many industries, such as finance and healthcare, are subject to strict security standards like HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI DSS. SAST scanning helps organizations comply with these regulations by identifying vulnerabilities that could lead to security breaches and data leaks.

Promoting Secure Coding Practices

SAST tools support safe coding methods in addition to assisting in vulnerability identification. They push programmers to build code that adheres to security best practices, like validating input and treating sensitive data appropriately. This can result in a more secure application and a culture of security-first thinking within the development team.

Risk Reduction

SAST scanners reduce the possibility that an attacker may take advantage of an application. Early vulnerability detection lowers the application's attack surface and makes it more difficult for hackers to identify and take advantage of flaws.

How SAST Scanners Work

SAST scan tools detect code security flaws through a series of different steps.

Code Parsing

SAST scanners start by parsing the source code. This involves breaking down the code into smaller components and building an abstract syntax tree that represents the code structure. For Python-based applications, a Python SAST scanner can be used to detect vulnerabilities specific to Python's syntax and libraries. The AST is then analyzed to identify any potential vulnerabilities based on predefined rules.

Pattern Recognition

SAST vulnerability scanners use pattern recognition to detect common vulnerabilities. For example, the scanner can look for patterns associated with SQL injection or XSS vulnerabilities. These patterns, which are derived from recognized attack vectors, are effective in locating weaknesses that the attackers may take advantage of.

Data Flow Analysis

Data flow analysis observes the data flow of an application to identify where vulnerabilities are likely to be found. For example, an SAST scanner could indicate that user input is not properly validated prior to being passed to a database query, and this can lead to an SQL injection vulnerability.

Dependency Scanning

SAST scanners also scan third-party libraries and dependencies to identify known vulnerabilities. For example, an open-source PHP SAST scanner might report vulnerable or outdated libraries included in the codebase. It helps developers identify and update dependencies that could potentially introduce security vulnerabilities.

Generating Vulnerability Reports

After scanning, the SAST scanner generates a report of all the vulnerabilities that have been identified, along with their severity and their location in the code. It even offers suggested solutions and simplifies the process for developers to resolve issues at the earliest opportunity.

SAST Scanning Tools

When selecting a SAST tool, it is important to consider several factors, such as 

• Integration: How well does the tool integrate with your existing development tools and workflows, such as IDEs, CI/CD pipelines, and version control systems?
• Language Support: Does the tool support the programming languages used in your particular company?
• Accuracy: How accurate are the scan results? Look for tools that minimize false positives.
• Scalability: Can the tool handle large codebases and scale as your organization grows?

Commercial vs. Open-Source SAST Tools

To decide whether to opt for a commercial or open source SAST scanner, organizations have to weigh the pros and cons of both. Commercial tools like Veracode, Checkmarx and Fortify are reliable but more expensive. A cheaper alternative, such as an open-source solution like DerScanner or SonarQube requires more set-up and configuring, but it offers lower prices.

Best Practices for Using a SAST Scanner

To get the most out of your SAST scanner, adopt these practices.

Integrating SAST into the Development Process

The best time to use an SAST tool is during the development phase. By integrating SAST into your CI/CD pipeline or using IDE plugins, you can scan SAST continuously on your codebase. This helps developers identify vulnerabilities while writing code. It also reduces the likelihood of causing problems further down the software development life cycle.

Customizing Scans Based on Project Needs

All vulnerabilities are not equally important. Run your SAST scan only against specific areas of the application, such as important modules or third-party libraries. This reduces unnecessary scans and focuses on high-risk weaknesses that need to be addressed as a priority.

Interpreting and Acting on Scan Results

Once the SAST tool identifies vulnerabilities, the results should be interpreted correctly. Not all the vulnerabilities need to be fixed immediately, so sort them based on their severity and possible impact on the application. Use the reports to understand the context of every vulnerability and take appropriate action.

Regular Scanning

Integrate SAST and DAST scans into your daily development routine. Running scans during code reviews, before each release, or after significant changes to the codebase keeps security a top priority throughout the development lifecycle.

Training Developers

Developers need to be trained in secure coding techniques and how to interpret the output of a SAST scan. By including security training in the development cycle, teams can avoid vulnerabilities from being introduced in the first place.

Common Challenges with SAST Scanners

Despite SAST scanners having many benefits, there are some problems as well. Understanding these problems is important to successfully implement SAST scanning tools.

False Positives

One of the biggest problems with SAST scanners is false positives. This is when the tool incorrectly reports a vulnerability that is not actually within the code. False positives burden developers with unnecessary work and result in wasted resources and time. It's advisable to use reliable SAST tools that will minimize false positives and provide easy-to-understand results.

Scan Performance

SAST scans may use a lot of resources, especially when scanning huge codebases. Performance optimization while scanning and scanning efficiently are important to businesses that often need to scan large applications. The use of SAST tools with the capacity for parallel scanning or incremental scanning is a good solution for common performance issues.

Complexity of Results

Since SAST tools generate in-depth reports, it's hard for developers to look through large quantities of scan results and determine which vulnerabilities to attend to. Tools with better filtering and classification features can reduce such difficulties.

Tool Integration

Integrating an SAST tool into a production development pipeline is challenging, especially when working with legacy codebases or complicated development environments. Developers must take care to select an SAST scanner that can fit in well with their existing tools, such as version control systems, IDEs, and CI/CD pipelines.

Future of SAST Scanners

As software development changes, the role of SAST scanners may also change.

AI and Machine Learning Advances

The application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to SAST security scanning tools will assist in improving vulnerability detection accuracy and reducing false positives. These advances will lead to better analysis, such as the detection of unknown vulnerabilities and context awareness for specific code patterns.

Greater Integration with DevOps and CI/CD

The future of SAST will see further alignment with DevOps activities and CI/CD pipelines. Automated security testing would become a part of continuous integration and provide instant feedback and speedier vulnerability fixes.

Improved Cloud Security

As more businesses move to cloud-native applications and microservices, cloud security needs will increase. SAST scanners will also adapt to support these architectures and keep cloud apps safe from development to deployment.

How DerScanner Enhances Static Application Security Testing

DerScanner offers a static application security testing solution that is customized to strengthen application security throughout the development life cycle stages. Being able to detect known and unknown vulnerabilities, DerScanner helps organizations detect and fix security risks early during development. Therefore, it can reduce the cost and time needed to address issues further down the line.

Vulnerability Detection

The scanner is able to effectively detect several vulnerabilities in application code, such as SQL injections, cross-site scripting, hardcoded secrets, etc. Thorough detection can help detect serious security flaws early in the process and reduce the chances of breaches or exploits when the application is deployed.

Multi-Language Support

With support for 43 programming languages, DerScanner supports both web and mobile apps. It handles polyglot applications easily and makes it ideal for teams working with multiple technologies, such as Java, Python, C#, PHP, and many more. With such linguistic support, the developers can maintain high security levels irrespective of the tech stack.

CI/CD Integration

DerScanner integrates well into DevOps workflows and feeds back continuously throughout development. This aids in detecting vulnerabilities prior to deployment. Teams can then fix issues within their regular build and test cycles.

Accuracy and Efficiency

The scanner uses advanced scanning algorithms with AI to deliver accurate results and reduce false positives. Its AI-powered "Confi AI" engine adjusts the threshold of alerts to meet the needs of the organization. Security professionals can then focus on what matters most. Removing false alarms saves valuable time and effort.

Application Security

Beyond static analysis itself, DerScanner offers complete security software consisting of binary scanning and Software Composition Analysis. Therefore, it is an efficient tool to use for legacy application development teams, third-party libraries, as well as apps whose source codes are not readily available. DerScanner offers a complete set of scanning techniques. These include dynamic analysis as well as interactive application security testing. Vulnerabilities are detected from all perspectives.

Early Detection and Continued Security

By shifting security left in the development pipeline, DerScanner helps organizations discover vulnerabilities as early as possible. Early discovery reduces the effort and time needed to fix security issues. Applications are, therefore, secure when they are released to production.

With these functionalities, DerScanner can be considered a reliable solution for improving ABAP Application Security with SAST and making it possible for teams to produce secure, quality applications efficiently.

Conclusion

SAST scanners play an important part in securing modern applications by providing early vulnerability detection and proactive security measures. Integrating SAST into the software development life cycle helps organizations cut costs, improve code quality, and meet regulatory compliance requirements. As SAST tools improve by integrating AI and machine learning, they will become more effective at securing applications from the early stages of development.