November 28, 2024

How SAST & DAST Detect OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities?

Introduction:

The OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities represent web applications’ most critical security risks. If left unaddressed, these vulnerabilities can result in severe consequences, including compliance violations and costly remediation. However, Integrating Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) tools helps detect these vulnerabilities early, allowing you to secure your applications and ensure compliance with industry standards.

Why Must You Secure Against the OWASP Top 10?

Securing against the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities is essential because it:

Prevents Data Breaches: Protects sensitive information from unauthorized access.
Ensures Compliance: Helps meet PCI DSS, HIPAA, and OWASP ASVS standards.
Maintains Trust: Builds user confidence in your secure applications.
Reduces Costs: Identifies vulnerabilities early, saving you from expensive post-deployment fixes.

OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities: How SAST & DAST Detect Them

1. Broken Access Control

Broken access control occurs when users can access resources or perform actions they should not be able to. This leads to unauthorized actions, data exposure, and potential security breaches.

SAST: Detects improper or missing access control mechanisms in the source code, such as unvalidated role-based permissions.
DAST: Simulates unauthorized access attempts to check for runtime flaws and misconfigurations that allow improper resource access.

2. Cryptographic Failures

Cryptographic failures happen when sensitive data is either not encrypted or poorly encrypted, leading to vulnerabilities such as data leakage or unauthorized data access.

SAST: Flags weak or improperly implemented encryption mechanisms in the code, such as hardcoded encryption keys or insecure algorithms.
DAST: Identifies unencrypted data in transit or insecure communication channels during runtime, helping to ensure proper encryption in live environments.

3. Injection Attacks

Injection attacks occur when untrusted data is processed by an interpreter, allowing attackers to manipulate queries or commands to execute malicious code.

SAST: Detects unsanitized inputs, unsafe code patterns, and potential injection points in the code, such as SQL injection or command injection vulnerabilities.
DAST: Simulates injection attacks to identify potential vulnerabilities in runtime and verify whether malicious input can compromise the system.

4. Insecure Design

Insecure design refers to flaws in the application architecture, such as a lack of security controls or weak data protection strategies. These design flaws can introduce risks like data leakage or unauthorized access.

SAST: Analyzes the codebase for poor design decisions, such as missing input validation, weak session management, or inadequate access controls.
DAST: identifies runtime issues that arise from poor design, such as improper data validation or security misconfigurations, during the application’s execution.

5. Security Misconfiguration

Security misconfiguration occurs when security settings are improperly configured, leaving the application vulnerable to attack. This includes default settings, overly permissive permissions, and exposed services.

SAST: Scans the code for potential misconfigurations, such as missing security headers, hardcoded credentials, or incorrect permissions set in the application.
DAST: Detects misconfigurations or exposed services in live environments by testing default configurations or discovering insecure endpoints.

6. Vulnerable and Outdated Components

Using outdated or unsupported software components increases the risk of security vulnerabilities due to known flaws or lack of security patches.

SAST: Flags outdated libraries and dependencies in the codebase, helping you identify known vulnerabilities before deployment.
DAST: Identifies outdated or vulnerable components during runtime, ensuring the application doesn’t rely on risky or deprecated third-party libraries.

7. Identification and Authentication Failures

Weak authentication and authorization mechanisms can allow attackers to bypass security measures and gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems or data.

SAST: Analyzes the code for insecure password policies, session management flaws, and improper authentication mechanisms, such as insecure storage of user credentials.
DAST: Tests login mechanisms for vulnerabilities, bypassing authentication or testing for weak session management during runtime.

8. Software and Data Integrity Failures

Data integrity failures occur when data is tampered with, leading to inconsistent or malicious data being executed within the application.

SAST: Detects weaknesses in code that could allow for tampering, such as improper signing or checksums for data verification.
DAST: Ensures data integrity by validating that no unauthorized data alterations occur during live execution.

9. Security Logging and Monitoring Failures

Lack of proper logging and monitoring hinders the ability to effectively detect and respond to security incidents.

SAST: Verifies that logging mechanisms are properly implemented within the code, ensuring logs capture security-related events such as authentication failures.
DAST: Simulates attacks to ensure that security events are logged appropriately during runtime, providing evidence of security incidents for analysis.

10. Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)

SSRF allows attackers to trick the server into making unintended requests, often targeting internal systems or services that should be protected.

SAST: Identifies potentially vulnerable code patterns, such as user-controlled URLs or open internal services that may allow SSRF attacks.
DAST: Tests the application by simulating SSRF attacks to detect if the server is making unauthorized requests to internal systems or external services.

Enhance Your Security with TRIOTECH SYSTEMS

At TRIOTECH SYSTEMS, we specialize in integrating SAST and DAST tools to help you address OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities effectively. Our expert team ensures smooth implementation, allowing you to:

Detect vulnerabilities early and address them proactively.

Secure your applications from design to deployment.

Achieve compliance with industry standards.

Get Started with Our Application Security Services Today!

Conclusion:

Securing applications against the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities is essential for safety and compliance. Using SAST and DAST tools allows early detection and mitigation of risks during development. TRIOTECH SYSTEMS provides solutions to identify code vulnerabilities, perform real-time security assessments, and implement best practices. Our expert support helps you protect your business and maintain customer trust amidst evolving security challenges.