ID: I202512111131
Status: idea
Tags: Security, SAST, DAST
SAST and DAST
What are SAST and DAST?
Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) are two different testing methodologies that find security vulnerabilities in applications. They work at different stages of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and provide different insights.
SAST - Static Application Security Testing
SAST is “white box” testing, meaning the tool has full access to the source code. It examines code to identify software flaws, weaknesses, and critical vulnerabilities like those in the OWASP Top 10 list.
Key characteristics:
- Analyzes source code without running the application
- Identifies vulnerabilities early in development
- Gives developers real-time feedback while coding
- Easier and cheaper to fix issues before they reach production
- Cannot discover runtime or environment-related issues
How it works: The tool scans your codebase, looking for code-level security issues like injection flaws, buffer overflows, and other OWASP vulnerabilities.
DAST - Dynamic Application Security Testing
DAST is “black box” testing, meaning the tool has NO access to source code. It examines a running application the same way an actual attacker would.
Key characteristics:
- Tests a running application
- Simulates real attacks and observes system responses
- Finds vulnerabilities late in the SDLC (end of cycle or production)
- Can discover runtime and environment-related issues
- Can be more expensive to fix (issues found later in development)
- Represents the “hacker approach”
How it works: The tool executes the application and performs simulated attacks, watching how the system responds to malicious inputs.
SAST vs DAST Comparison
| Aspect | SAST | DAST |
|---|---|---|
| Testing Type | White box (full code access) | Black box (no code access) |
| Requires | Source code | Running application |
| When Found | Early in SDLC | Late in SDLC or production |
| Cost to Fix | Less expensive | More expensive |
| Developer vs Hacker | Developer approach | Hacker approach |
| Runtime Issues | Cannot discover | Can discover |
The Bottom Line
SAST catches issues early when they’re cheap to fix. DAST catches runtime problems that SAST misses. Use both together in different phases of your SDLC for the best security posture.
NOTE: These methodologies find different types of vulnerabilities. The most effective strategy combines both SAST and DAST as part of your overall application security approach.
Also consider pairing these with SCA for a comprehensive security testing strategy.
References
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