SAST – Static Application Security Testing

SAST is a type of security testing that analyzes an application’s source code, bytecode, or binary code to identify vulnerabilities without executing the program. It is performed early in the software development lifecycle (SDLC), typically during the coding phase, to detect security flaws like buffer overflows, SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other code vulnerabilities.

Key Features of SAST:

• Static Analysis: Inspects the application’s codebase without running it.
• Early Detection: Helps identify vulnerabilities during development, reducing the cost of fixing issues later.
• Automated Scanning: SAST tools can automatically scan code for known security risks.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Scans all parts of the application code, including third-party libraries.

Advantages:

• Early Vulnerability Detection: Helps developers fix vulnerabilities before the application is deployed.
• No Need for Running the Application: Analyzes code directly, meaning no execution is required.
• Cost-effective: Identifying vulnerabilities early reduces the cost of remediation.

SAST is commonly used by developers as part of the Secure Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to improve code security.