Application Security Testing | Software Testing

AST - application security testing

The application layer remains the most vulnerable and difficult to safeguard in the business software stack. It's no surprise that the application security testing (AST) business is worth $4.48 billion, given the growth of solutions focused at avoiding an attack. The application security testing tools market is divided into two major groups according to Forrester's market taxonomy: security scanning tools and runtime protection solutions.

While programs are still in development, security scanning technologies are used to remedy vulnerabilities. Runtime protection happens when programs are in production and is seen as an additional layer of security rather than a replacement to scanning.

In this article, we'll outline four security scanning tools and three runtime protection methods, as well as discuss their benefits and drawbacks.

Contents of Application Security Testing:

Tools for Security Scanning
Testing for Static Application Security (SAST)
Testing for Dynamic Application Security (DAST)
Testing the Security of Interactive Applications (IAST)
Analysis of Software Composition (SCA)
Tools for Runtime Protection
Firewall for Web Applications (WAF)
Self-Protection of Bot Management Runtime Applications (RASP)
Application Security Testing: No Single Tool Can Do Everything

Tools for Security Scanning

Security scanning technologies are most commonly used in development, when applications are evaluated as they are planned and constructed. The purpose of security scanning tools is to prevent attacks. These technologies detect and fix vulnerabilities in apps before they are deployed in a production environment. SAST, DAST, IAST, and SCA are examples of tools in this industry.

Testing for Static Application Security (SAST)

Static application security testing (SAST) is a type of white-box testing in which source code is examined from the inside out while components are idle. SAST examines source code, byte code, and binaries for coding and design defects that indicate potential security vulnerabilities.

SAST, the most mature application security testing tool, examines code at rest and is often used throughout development and QA. It is frequently incorporated into continuous integration servers and integrated development environments (IDEs).

Scans with SAST follow established criteria that specify the source code faults to be examined. SAST scans may be programmed to detect some of the most prevalent security flaws, such as SQL injection, input validation, and stack buffer overflows.

Testing for Dynamic Application Security (DAST)

DAST is a black-box testing technique that simulates external assaults on an application while it is executing. It tries to get into a program from the outside by scanning its exposed APIs for vulnerabilities and faults. As a result, it has no access to source code and can only find flaws through external assaults.

The dynamic component of DAST's name refers to the fact that the test is run in a dynamic environment. Unlike SAST, which searches an application's code line by line while the program is idle, DAST testing is performed while the application is operating. While DAST may be used in production, most testing is done in a QA environment.

Testing the Security of Interactive Applications (IAST)

IAST (interactive application security testing) checks an application's source code after it has been built in a dynamic environment. Real-time testing occurs while the application is operating, often in a QA or test environment. Because IAST analyzes source code, testing can detect faulty lines of code and inform the developer for prompt correction.

Although both SAST and IAST examine code directly, IAST does so post-build in a dynamic context via code instrumentation. In the application, agents and sensors are deployed to analyze code for vulnerabilities. IAST is readily incorporated into the CI/CD pipeline, is extremely scalable, and may be executed either manually or automatically.

Software Composition Analysis (SCA) Tools that execute automated scans of an application's code base to offer insight into open source software usage are known as software composition analysis (SCA). This involves identifying all open source components, licensing compliance data, and security flaws. SCA tools prioritize open source vulnerabilities and, ideally, give insights and auto remediation to mitigate security issues in addition to giving visibility into open source software use.

Tools for Runtime Protection

Reducing the Risks of Enterprise Application Security: More work is required.

Runtime protection solutions are intended to defend a program against assaults while it is operating in a production environment. To fight against hostile agents, these technologies react in real time. This market is divided into three parts: web application firewalls (WAF), bot management, and runtime application self-protection (RASP).

Firewall for Web Applications (WAF)

WAFs filter, monitor, and restrict HTTP traffic to and from web applications, defending against a wide range of typical application layer threats such as cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection. A WAF, in essence, stands in front of a web application and acts as a barrier between the program and the internet. Unlike traditional firewalls, which operate as a barrier between servers, WAFs monitor the content of specific web applications in real time to prevent harmful assaults.

WAFs use rules to guard against application vulnerabilities by filtering out harmful traffic. Policies may be readily and quickly updated to response to various attack vectors. During a DDoS assault, for example, rate restriction can be used.

Bot Administration

Instead than simply prohibiting all non-human traffic, a bot manager handles bots by discriminating between good and malicious bots. A smart bot management should be able to determine a bot's reputation and prohibit bots depending on the reputation of their IP address. By looking at how bots act, a bot manager should be able to add good bots like Google's Site Crawlers, which index web pages, to allowlists while blocking bad bots with a Captcha test or JavaScript injection. Bot administrators can restrict bots from abusing a service or prohibit bots recognized as malicious access to specific information or resources.

Self-Protection of Runtime Applications (RASP)

Runtime application self-protection (RASP) is a security solution that may manage program execution and is intended to identify and prevent insider assaults on apps in real time. RASP defends itself against assaults without the need for human involvement by "self-protecting" or reconfiguring in reaction to hostile input or behavior. It accomplishes this by understanding the context of suspected malicious behavior and continually monitoring its own behavior in order to detect and neutralize assaults automatically.

RASP monitors and defends applications from a variety of attacks including SQL/command injections, cross-site scripting (XSS), data exfiltration, and account takeovers.

Application Security Testing: No Single Tool Can Do Everything

In today's threat world, no single tool can do it all. Organizations will require numerous technologies from this list to protect their apps and reduce risk. To help you understand the benefits and cons of each of these programs, we've developed a list of features and functions that indicate how each tool compares in terms of coverage, accuracy, and other factors.

Application Security Evaluation

When you use all of these tools together, you can lower your overall security risk. Remember that there is no such thing as a perfect answer. Furthermore, in the ever-changing world of security, perfect might be the enemy of good.

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Security Scanning vs. Runtime Protection in Application Security Testing