Dynamic Application Security Testing: Ensuring Safety in a Changing Cyber Landscape
What is Dynamic Application Security Testing?
DAST or Dynamic Application Security Testing is an automated security testing technique used to evaluate the security of web applications. It involves running commercial or open-source security tools against a live application to detect vulnerabilities, without having access to application source code or configuration files. Advantages of Dynamic Testing over Static Analysis While traditional static application security testing (SAST) analyzes application source code for flaws, DAST has some key advantages: - Identifies issues introduced during runtime:
Dynamic Application Security Testing can detect vulnerabilities introduced during runtime due to factors like server-side code, configurations, database parameters etc which may not be evident during static analysis. - Mimics real attacks: By sending live traffic to running applications, DAST helps identify vulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited by real-world attacks on production systems. This provides a more accurate security posture of the application. - No access to source code needed: For commercial off-the-shelf software or applications developed by third-parties, source code may not always be available for static analysis. DAST provides a means to test security without source code access.
Key Features Analyzed by DAST Dynamic application security testing tools evaluate web applications across the following important dimensions: - Input Validation: Tests for lack of input sanitization that could enable injection attacks like SQL, OS command etc. - Authentication/Session Management: Scans for flaws in authentication, authorization and session management capabilities that may allow unauthorized access. - Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Checks for XSS vulnerabilities where malicious scripts from one domain get executed in the client-side context of another domain. - Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF): Analyzes anti-CSRF protections to see if forged requests can be used to perform undesired actions on the web application. - File System Access: Reviews file upload handling and other features for improper file permissions that may aid directory traversal attacks. - Configuration Errors: Evaluates configuration settings for flaws like debug mode being enabled, outdated libraries used etc.
Integration with SDLC Using DAST Security testing should occur across the entire software development lifecycle for maximum effectiveness. DAST can be integrated in the following ways: - Development Phase: Run dynamic application security testing as part of regular development testing to identify and fix issues early. Automate the process via CI/CD pipelines. - Pre-Production Testing: Scan applications right before deployment to production as a final security check. - Post-Release Monitoring: Use DAST to periodically test production systems for vulnerabilities introduced via software updates/changes over time. Trigger alerts when critical issues emerge.
Selecting the Right DAST Tools There are many commercial and open-source DAST offerings to choose from with varying capabilities. Some top tools for development teams and enterprises include: - Acunetix: Full-fledged commercial dynamic application security testing scanner with robust vulnerability coverage and reporting. Best for dedicated security testing. - Burp Suite: De-facto standard open-source testing platform. Covers all key tests along with useful manual testing features. - Netsparker: Highly accurate commercial scanner focused on finding critical vulnerabilities fast. Great for urgent pre-production scans. - PortSwigger: Powerful commercial tool providing network traffic manipulation and custom testing abilities. For very large and complex applications. - ZAP: Comprehensive and actively maintained open-source offering similar to Burp. Good starting choice for basic DAST needs.
Best Practices for Effective DAST To maximally leverage DAST capabilities, development teams must also implement some prudent security testing practices like: - Set up a dedicated testing/staging environment separate from production for testing. - Perform scope and permission configuration to ensure only targeted areas get scanned. - Review and triage findings promptly to identify true positives from false alerts. - Fix vulnerabilities as per risk priority and retest changes with DAST. - Benchmark and improve dynamic application security testing coverage and accuracy over time by fine-tuning configurations. - Integrate testing in DevSecOps to make it a continuous and collaborative process. Given today's mature threat landscape and regulatory compliance needs, comprehensive application security testing is imperative for any organization. While both static and dynamic testing have unique roles, dynamic application security testing provides an effective way to automate evaluation of live systems' security posture. Regular integration of DAST following best practices significantly strengthens overall software security and helps deliver safe and secure software.
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About Author:
Vaagisha brings over three years of expertise as a content editor in the market research domain. Originally a creative writer, she discovered her passion for editing, combining her flair for writing with a meticulous eye for detail. Her ability to craft and refine compelling content makes her an invaluable asset in delivering polished and engaging write-ups. (LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaagisha-singh-8080b91)
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