Explore Common Vulnerabilities and How SAST Uncovers Them

Introduction to Common Vulnerabilities Detected Through SAST

Static Application Security Testing (SAST) helps developers catch vulnerabilities early, ensuring software is secure before deployment. The common SAST vulnerabilities include SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), code injections, and hardcoded secrets. SAST tools scan your code, flagging risky patterns that could expose your system to attacks.

Here’s a quick overview of the common vulnerabilities and how SAST tools detect them:

Vulnerability	What It Is	SAST Detection
SQL Injection	Manipulation of SQL queries via user input	Flags unsafe SQL query structures
XSS	Insertion of malicious scripts into websites	Detects unsanitized user inputs
Code Injection	Execution of unauthorized code	Identifies risky functions (e.g., eval())
Hardcoded Secrets	Exposure of sensitive information	Finds hardcoded passwords or keys

Now, let’s dive deeper into these common vulnerabilities and see how SAST tools catch them with practical examples.

1. SQL Injection: Guard Your Database

What It Is:

SQL injection is a vulnerability where attackers manipulate SQL queries by injecting untrusted data, potentially giving them access to the database.

Example:

Consider this SQL query that directly uses unvalidated user input:

Code Example: query = “SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ” + user_input

In this example, the user input is inserted directly into the query without any validation or sanitization. An attacker could input something like 1; DROP TABLE users; which would delete the entire users table from the database.

How SAST Detects It:

SAST detects this vulnerability by scanning SQL queries in the code for unvalidated inputs. It flags any instance where user inputs are directly incorporated into SQL commands, identifying risky areas where SQL injection could occur.

2. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Protect User Data

What It Is:

Cross-site scripting (XSS) occurs when attackers inject malicious scripts into web pages, which are then executed by users’ browsers. This often leads to data theft.

Example:

Here’s an example of vulnerable code in JavaScript:

Code Example: document.write(user_input);

In this case, user_input is printed directly on the web page. If an attacker enters a script, such as <script>alert(‘Hacked!’);</script>, it would run on every user’s browser visiting that page.

How SAST Detects It:

SAST detects this vulnerability by analyzing user inputs embedded in the web output. It flags cases where raw user inputs are reflected on a webpage without proper encoding or sanitization, helping to catch XSS issues early.

3. Code Injections: Prevent System Attacks

What It Is:

Code injection happens when attackers introduce and execute unauthorized code within your application, allowing them to take control of the system.

Example:

A dangerous use of eval() in JavaScript might look like this:

Code Example: eval(user_input);

If user_input is untrusted, an attacker could provide input that includes malicious code, such as alert(‘Hacked!’), which would be executed on the server, compromising the system.

How SAST Detects It:

SAST detects this vulnerability by scanning for risky functions like eval() or exec() that execute user inputs. It flags instances where these functions are used with untrusted data, warning developers of the potential for code injection attacks.

4. Hardcoded Secrets: Securing Sensitive Information

What It Is:

Hardcoded secrets are sensitive data, such as passwords or API keys, embedded directly into the code, making it easy for attackers to extract and exploit them.

Example:

Here’s an example of a hardcoded password in Python:

Code Example: password = “mySecretPassword”

If someone gains access to your codebase, they can see and use this password to compromise your systems.

How SAST Detects It:

SAST detects this vulnerability by scanning for patterns that resemble hardcoded passwords, API keys, or other sensitive information. When it finds these patterns, SAST alerts developers to remove secrets from the code.

Application Security Services by TRIOTECHSYSTEMS

At TRIOTECHSYSTEMS, We provide comprehensive application security services with the following:

• SAST to detect and address common vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS, and code injections.
• DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) to identify vulnerabilities during runtime.
• IAST (Interactive Application Security Testing) for real-time vulnerability detection in running applications.
• Software Composition Analysis (SCA) to manage and secure open-source components.
• Vulnerability Assessment to evaluate your system’s security weaknesses.
• Compliance Auditing and Reporting to ensure adherence to industry standards and regulations.

 

Contact TRIOTECHSYSTEMS!

Conclusion: Strengthen Security with SAST Detecting Common Vulnerabilities

SAST tools are essential for identifying vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS, code injections, and hardcoded secrets before deploying your application. Using SAST, you can find and fix these issues early, protecting your application and users from potential attacks. Making SAST part of your development process ensures your code stays secure and your users’ data remains safe.

Read More:

How SAST Works: Analyzing Source Code vs. Binary Code

How To Integrate SAST In CI/CD Pipeline: Automate Security!