The easy access and boom of the internet did not come without its drawbacks. Security threats to the systems and applications we use are just one of the many issues. While the developers of applications try their best to build a rock-solid system, vulnerabilities can still be found. These vulnerabilities are a treat to hackers who can bring the whole application down by manipulating the gaps in the code.
To ensure the maximum security of your application, you need to go for security testing procedures. Different methods will be adopted to check if hackers can break into the system through backdoors or some other way. These tests can be expensive, and you don’t want to break the bank checking for security issues.
Keep reading to find out some cost-effective procedures for application security testing.
1. Static Application Security Testing
Static Application Security Testing or SAST is one of the white hat or white box testing techniques. In SAST, the tester has access to internal information about the software, such as source code, architecture diagram, and more. The main point of analysis is the source code to search for any gaps that could lead to security leaks or attacks.
SAST tools run non-compiled source code to check for mathematical errors, input misinformation, numerical mixing, and more. Some SAST tools may also run byte code or binary code to look for security issues. Other tools could run both types of code.
The benefit of SAST is that it takes place in the early stages of application development. You don’t need the code to have come together and the app to be working for SAST testing to work. Developers can find out the vulnerabilities and solve the issues without having to undo the entire application.
2. Dynamic Application Security Testing
Dynamic Application Security Testing or DAST is one of the black box or black hat testing techniques. In DAST, the tester has no previous knowledge of the code or access to any information about the software. The tester will simulate an external attack and try to get into the software as an outsider while the application is up and running.
As opposed to the static technique, which is performed by checking each line of source code while the application is in a resting state, the dynamic approach looks for exposed vulnerabilities as the application is in a running state, hence the name. The DAST method looks for issues with the response, scripting, interfaces, and more.
This dynamic method is great for finding out vulnerabilities that are only visible to the user as they log in to the system. These exposed gaps are often not visible to the inside coder or developer but can only be identified when you use the application as an outsider.
3. Interactive Application Security Testing
Interactive Application Security Testing or IAST is a hybrid approach that combines testing for vulnerabilities via both static and dynamic methods. This method won’t add any extra time to your CI/CD pipeline as the gaps in the system are being tested in real time. The tester analyzes the code while the application is running to check for security issues.
It tests whether any gaps in the code can be used for attacks while the app is in action. Application flow and data flow knowledge are used to create scenarios where attacks could be launched, and the dynamic scan will churn out the results about how the application responds to those attacks.
IAST tests are fast, and they do not need to re-create scripts for testing again. You can use existing cases which have been previously tested in this method.
4. Database Security Scanning
Most of the time, databases are not considered a part of the application, but developers need to use the databases often in their applications. Database security scanning involves checking for weak passwords, updated patches and versions, configuration errors, access control issues, and more. These scanners usually run static data while the database management system is in motion.
Conclusion
There are several tools available for testing purposes under all these different methods of testing for application vulnerabilities. You must invest in a reliable one and make testing for security issues your number one task when building an application. The system will come down faster than you think if your guards are not properly up even if the app looks great from the outside.
