Software composition and related security testing methods like SAST, SCA, and DAST are essential in modern software development to ensure the security and reliability of applications. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Software Composition Analysis (SCA)
• Purpose: Identifies and evaluates open-source and third-party components used in a software application.
• Key Tasks:
• Detects vulnerabilities in dependencies and libraries.
• Ensures license compliance for third-party software.
• Assesses the risk of outdated or insecure components.
• Tools: Dependabot, WhiteSource, Snyk, Black Duck.
2. Static Application Security Testing (SAST)
• Purpose: Analyzes the source code or binaries of an application without executing it.
• Key Tasks:
• Detects vulnerabilities early in the development phase (e.g., SQL injection, XSS).
• Ensures compliance with security standards (e.g., OWASP Top 10, CWE).
• Provides detailed code-level feedback to developers.
• Tools: SonarQube, Fortify, Checkmarx, Coverity.
3. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)
• Purpose: Tests a running application to identify security vulnerabilities during execution.
• Key Tasks:
• Simulates attacks to uncover vulnerabilities (e.g., broken authentication, insecure configurations).
• Finds issues like input/output validation, server misconfigurations, and runtime security gaps.
• Often used in staging or production-like environments.
• Tools: OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, Acunetix, Netsparker.
Key Differences Between SAST, SCA, and DAST
Feature SAST SCA DAST
Focus Area Source code and binaries Third-party dependencies Running application
When Used Development phase Development phase Testing/Production phase
Type of Analysis Static analysis Dependency analysis Runtime analysis
Primary Goal Code-level vulnerability Dependency security & compliance Runtime vulnerabilities
Examples of Issues Found SQL injection, insecure logic Outdated/insecure libraries Broken authentication, unvalidated inputs
These tools and methods complement each other in creating a robust security framework for applications.