In order to protect your data and your customer's, it's important to perform regular security tests on your applications. There are many different types of security tests, but two of the most popular are static application security testing (SAST) and dynamic application security testing (DAST). In this blog post, we will discuss the pros and cons of each type of test, as well as some of the top tools for both SAST and DAST. We'll also provide a checklist for complete application security testing.

Why is AST important?

Security issues with web applications are on the rise, and they can have a serious impact on your business. Data breaches, stolen customer information, and lost revenue can all be the result of insecure applications. That's why it's essential to perform regular security tests on your applications. Before they become actual issues, security flaws may be found and fixed with the help of early AST.

How does application security testing work?

It is up to the tester to choose which method to go with, be it manual testing or using automated tools. Manual testing requires a security tester to review the application manually and look for vulnerabilities. Automated testing uses software to scan the application for vulnerabilities. There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach, so you should choose which is best for your organization based on your demands and resources.

What is Static Application Security (News - Alert) Testing (SAST)?

SAST is a form of software security test that looks for flaws in source code or executables. SAST tools analyze the code structure and look for patterns that could lead to security problems. SAST is popular because it's fast and accurate, and it can be used to test both internal and external applications. However, SAST does have some limitations- it can't find issues that are introduced when the code is executed, and it can't identify issues that are specific to the environment or user.

Pros:

• Fast and accurate.
• Fewer false positives

Cons:

• SAST can't find issues that are introduced when the code is executed
• It can't identify issues that are specific to the environment or user.

What is Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)?

DAST is a type of security test that examines an application while it's running. DAST tools simulate attacks on the application in order to find vulnerabilities. DAST is popular because it's comprehensive- it can find vulnerabilities that SAST can't find. However, DAST is also more expensive and time-consuming than SAST. It's also less accurate, and it can't be used to test internal applications.

Pros:

• DAST is comprehensive and can find vulnerabilities that SAST can't find.

Cons:

• DAST is more expensive and time-consuming than SAST.
• It's also less accurate
• Applications may crash during testing or be unusable

Top 6 DAST tools:

1. Astra Pentest:

Astra Pentest is one of the best penetration testing tools that can be used for DAST. It was built using machine learning and expert knowledge to identify vulnerabilities in web applications. Some of its features include:

• Scanning against 2500+ vulnerabilities including the OWASP top ten and meeting various compliance checks.
• SaaS (News - Alert) application testing
• Risk scores and threat levels
• Remediation tips
• Firewall and IP Blocking
• interactive, easy to use interface

2. HCL Appscan:

HCL Appscan is a popular DAST tool that offers both manual and automated scanning. It has a large library of vulnerabilities and can be used to test web applications, mobile apps, and APIs.

3. Nessus:

Nessus is a well-known network scanner. It works remotely to find flaws by testing against known vulnerabilities. If the system version and installed updates are made available, it can give an even more accurate and detailed analysis.

4. OWASP ZAP (News - Alert):

ZAP scans for all sorts of threats, security issues, and weaknesses in web applications. You can scan by just entering the URL. It also has a Proxy for intercepting and modifying traffic. This is a free tool by OWASP so it's also open source.

5. Wapiti:

Another free and open-source tool for scanning web applications. It works well to detect SQL injection, XSS, and directory traversal vulnerabilities.

6. Nikto:

Nikto is a popular tool for identifying vulnerabilities in web servers. It can be used to scan for malicious files uploaded to servers as well as check for outdated servers, software, etc.

Top 6 SAST tools:

1. Flawfinder:

Flawfinder is an open-source tool that scans code for potential security issues. Works with C and C++ files.

2. OWASP ASST:

This is a toolkit by OWASP, so it's open-source. It's a code scanning tool that examines the source code of PHP, and MySQL files for security flaws based on the OWASP top ten.

3. HuskyCI:

HuskyCI is a free, open-source security testing tool for use with CI pipelines of multiple other open-source projects that collects all findings and outputs them to a database for further analysis and metrics. HuskyCI allows you to do static security testing on Python, Ruby, JavaScript, Golang, and Java.

4. SecureAssist:

It scans for insecure coding and misconfigurations to safeguard websites from hacking. Its plugin is compatible with Visual Studio, Eclipse, and IntelliJ. In language support, PHP, Java, JavaScript,  and .NET (News - Alert) are the ones supported.

5. DeepSource:

Deeply integrated with GitHub pages to ease the process of code reviews, DeepSource helps you find and fix bugs, anti-patterns, performance issues, and security flaws automatically. Works with Python, Javascript, and Ruby codes.

6. CloudDefense:

CloudDefense delivers a complete threat intelligence tool that works across all attack surfaces, including Containers, Kubernetes, Code, Open Source (News - Alert) Libraries, APIs and more. It is for SaaS and on-premise applicaions.

A Checklist for Complete Application Security Testing:

When you're performing application security testing, it's important to cover all grounds. Here's a checklist for comprehensive application security testing:

1. Vulnerability Scanning - Scan your applications for known vulnerabilities using a vulnerability scanner like Nessus or OWASP ZAP.

2. DAST/Penetration Testing - Use a DAST tool like Astra Pentest or OWASP ZAP to simulate attacks on your applications and find vulnerabilities.

3. Risk assessment - Assess the risk of each vulnerability and determine how severe it is.

4. Security Audit - Perform a security audit after putting security measures in place and/or after updating your security posture.

5. SAST/Secure code review - Use SAST methods and tools while developing your application to detect flaws early on.

6. Security posture assessment - Have a comprehensive policy in place and train employees on security best practices.

This is just a basic checklist for comprehensive application security testing - there are many other things you can do to secure your applications.

Conclusion

Application security is a vital part of any application's security posture. By using SAST and DAST tools, you can find and fix vulnerabilities in your applications before they're exploited. These tools are essential for identifying and mitigating risks to your business.

Remember, when it comes to application security, there is no one-size-fits-all solution - you need to tailor your approach to fit the specific needs of your organization. With the right tools and methodology, you can dramatically improve the security of your applications - and reduce the risk of data breaches and other security incidents.

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Author Bio: Ankit Pahuja is the Marketing Lead & Evangelist at Astra Security. Ever since his adulthood (literally, he was 20 years old), he began finding vulnerabilities in websites & network infrastructures. Starting his professional career as a software engineer at one of the unicorns enables him in bringing "engineering in marketing" to reality. Working actively in the cybersecurity space for more than 2 years makes him the perfect T-shaped marketing professional. Ankit is an avid speaker in the security space and has delivered various talks in top companies, early-age startups, and online events.

You can connect him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankit-pahuja/