SAST - Level Up Your DevSecOps Game
A Casual Guide to Static Application Security Testing
Integrating security into the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) is like having Deadpool as your bodyguard—always ready to kick some butt before things go haywire. The SDLC is broken down into three main stages: conceptualize, develop, and release. To make sure your app is secure, you need to think about security at every stage, breaking it down into manageable chunks and balancing it with the development process.
SDLC Breakdown: Think of the SDLC like a superhero trilogy:
Conceptualize: Plot the story (What do you want the app to do?).
Develop: Write the script (Code the app).
Release: Premiere the movie (Deploy the app).
Security Touchpoints: Imagine security as your sidekick, showing up at four crucial moments:
Contracts: Review for security language.
Source Code: Hunt for vulnerabilities.
QA Process: Ensure security tests are included.
Deployed Apps: Check for exploitable weaknesses.
Why Static Testing Rocks:
Cost-Effective: Fixing security issues early is cheaper than post-production reshoots.
Built-In Security: Better than bolting on security after the fact.
Low-Risk: No chance of breaking the app in production.
Balance is Key: Understand the dev process, market conditions, and team skills.
Find the sweet spot to make your security testing effective without being a buzzkill.
Understanding different application development methodologies is crucial for integrating security effectively. Each methodology has its own approach, and knowing them helps you tailor your security measures. Let's break down the four popular ones: Waterfall, Agile, Rapid, and DevOps.
Waterfall:
Phases: Requirements → Design → Implementation → Testing → Integration → Deployment → Maintenance
Security: Embed security checks in each phase.
Agile:
Values: Individuals & interactions, Working software, Customer collaboration, Responding to change.
Security: Tougher to test at the end of each phase; focus on iterative security checks.
Rapid (RAD):
Approach: Prototyping + Data & Business Process Modeling.
Security: Focus on code security reviews over documentation.
DevOps:
Focus: Collaboration between Development & IT Operations.
Security: DevSecOps includes security in the DevOps process.
Understanding different programming languages is crucial for static application security testing. Different languages require different testing tools, and you don't need to be an expert in all of them. Focus on the most popular ones and use GitHub's State of the Octoverse report to guide you.
Variety of Languages:
Just like the Rosetta Stone had multiple languages, so do modern apps. Different languages need different testing tools.
80/20 Rule:
80% of the code you review will be in 20% of the languages. Focus on the most popular languages.
GitHub's State of the Octoverse:
GitHub publishes a list of the most popular programming languages each year. Use this list to guide your focus.
Security frameworks are like the Avengers of security testing—each one has its own strengths and helps you protect your app from the bad guys. Here are the top four frameworks you should know about.
ISO/IEC 27000 Series:
Collection of standards for a robust ISMS (Information Security Management System). Focus on 27001 and 27002 (93 controls).
Visual Mnemonic: Picture Iron Man’s suit with 93 gadgets. ISO-IM (ISO - Iron Man)
NIST Cybersecurity Framework:
108 security controls grouped by function: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover.
Visual Mnemonic: Imagine Captain America’s shield with 108 sections. NIST-Cap (NIST - Captain America)
COBIT & CIS:
COBIT: IT governance with application security controls.
CIS: Prioritized controls based on resources and expertise.
Visual Mnemonic: Think of Thor’s hammer smashing a prioritized list. COBIT-CIS-Thor (COBIT & CIS - Thor)
The OWASP Top 10 is like the ultimate cheat sheet for web application security.
It highlights the most critical security risks and offers guidance on identifying and mitigating them. Here are the top three takeaways:
A rotating list of the most critical web application security risks. Updated every three years to reflect the current threat landscape.
Threat Modeling:
The Top 10 white paper includes guidance on threat agents, attack vectors, and controls. Helps translate risks into real-world scenarios.
Remember, the OWASP Top 10 is your go-to guide for web app security.
The additional OWASP resources that are essential for application security testing are,
OWASP Web Security Testing Guide:
A comprehensive 200+ page PDF with over 100 individual tests. Provides guidance on security tests, tools, and techniques.
OWASP Code Review Guide:
Contains 220 pages of guidance on performing code security reviews. Includes specific code examples for each OWASP Top 10 risk.
Some other critical resources and practical steps to enhance your application security efforts. Here are two main call-to-action points:
Utilize SANS and MITRE Resources:
Explore the SANS Institute's GIAC certification program and MITRE's CWE list for in-depth security knowledge. Combine these resources to identify and address software vulnerabilities effectively.
Integrate Security User Stories into Agile Development:
Use Stephen Dye's "Secure Agile Development: 25 Security User Stories" to incorporate security into your Agile workflow. Each user story includes descriptions, test steps, and acceptance criteria.
Some action-packed takeaways:
Automate Like a Boss: Use automated scanners to cover your codebase. Think of it as having a robot sidekick that tirelessly hunts down security flaws while you sip your coffee.
Pick the Right Tool for the Job: Match your scanner to your programming language. Using the wrong tool is like trying to cut a steak with a spoon—just don’t.
Mind the Budget: Balance cost and functionality. You don’t need a Ferrari when a trusty Honda Civic will get the job done. Open source is great, but be ready to roll up your sleeves for some DIY fixes.
Tailor Metrics for Your Audience: When presenting metrics, remember that executives want the big picture—cost vs. value. Managers need detailed resource allocation, and developers crave specifics on security gaps. Think of it like serving different dishes at a dinner party—everyone has their own taste!
Align with Security Maturity Goals: Make sure your metrics tie into your organization's overall security maturity targets. It’s like making sure your superhero team is all on the same mission—united we stand, divided we fall!
Example tool Codacy,
Automate Your Code Reviews:
Let Codacy be your trusty sidekick, automating those tedious static code security analysis tasks. It's like having a superhero on standby, ready to catch vulnerabilities while you focus on the fun stuff.
Prioritize and Tackle Security Issues:
Use Codacy's dashboard to identify and prioritize security issues. Start with the critical ones first—think of it as defusing the biggest bombs before handling the minor glitches.
Example tool SonarQube,
Comprehensive Code Quality Tool: SonarQube supports over 30 programming languages and integrates with multiple build and CI systems. It evaluates code on metrics like releasability, reliability, and maintainability, making it a versatile tool for enhancing code quality.
Security and Beyond: SonarQube goes beyond traditional security checks by scoring applications on various quality metrics. It offers a free Community Edition and several commercial editions. For cloud-based needs, SonarCloud integrates with platforms like GitHub and Azure DevOps, providing a seamless way to analyze and improve code quality directly from your repositories.
Detailed Analysis and Prioritization: The tool identifies bugs, vulnerabilities, and code smells, prioritizing them by severity. It provides actionable insights directly within the code, helping developers understand and fix issues efficiently. This is particularly useful for maintaining high code standards and ensuring security compliance in your projects.
More tips,
Manual Testing is a Must: Automated tools are great, but manual testing is your secret weapon. Think of it as your personal touch—like adding a witty one-liner to catch those sneaky access control flaws that robots might miss.
Build a Solid Access Management Framework: Without a clear framework, it's chaos. Set up role-based access controls to ensure everyone knows their place. It's like casting the perfect team for a heist—everyone has a role, and no one steps on each other's toes!
Encrypt Everything: Data in transit, data at rest—encrypt it all. Think of it like putting your secrets in a vault guarded by laser sharks. No gaps, no excuses.
Avoid DIY Encryption: If a developer says they made their own encryption algorithm, treat it like a DIY haircut—just don’t. Stick to well-vetted, industry-standard methods to keep your data safe from the bad guys.
Validate Input Like a Bouncer: Don't let any shady characters (or data) into your app without checking their ID. Validate, filter, and sanitize all user inputs to keep those injection flaws at bay.
Use Safe APIs: Think of safe APIs as your app's bodyguards. Instead of writing risky queries from scratch, use trusted APIs and ORM tools to handle the heavy lifting securely. Your app will thank you!
Shift Security Left: Start security conversations before you even write a single line of code. It's like planning a heist—get everyone on the same page early to avoid surprises later.
Document Everything: Create and maintain a software bill of materials (SBOM) and secure design patterns. Think of it as your app's playbook—clear, detailed, and ready to thwart any villainous attacks!
Lock Down Those Configs: Treat your app's configurations like your grandma's secret cookie recipe—keep them secure and away from prying eyes. No one needs to know the magic ingredients!
Patch Like a Pro: Keep everything up to date, from your OS to your libraries. Think of it as giving your app a regular spa day—fresh, rejuvenated, and ready to fend off any pesky attackers!
Inventory Your Components: Keep a detailed list of all the components in your app, like a treasure map. Without it, you’re sailing blind in a sea of vulnerabilities. Get that Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) sorted!
Update or Evacuate: Regularly update your components or risk a digital apocalypse. Think of it as changing the oil in your car—ignore it, and you’re in for a world of hurt. Stay ahead of the game and keep everything fresh and secure!
Ditch the Default Passwords: Treat default passwords like expired milk—get rid of them ASAP. Change them to something strong and unique, because no one wants a stinky security breach.
Embrace Multi-Factor Authentication: Think of MFA as your app's superhero sidekick. Even if the bad guys get your password, they still need that second factor to break in. It's like having a bouncer for your bouncer!
Validate Those Digital Signatures: Think of it like checking IDs at a club. If you don't validate, you might let in some shady characters. Make sure every update and library is legit before trusting it.
Secure Your CI/CD Pipeline: Treat your pipeline like a high-security vault. Audit and restrict changes to keep out the riff-raff. You wouldn't want anyone sneaking in and messing with your precious code!
Log Like a Boss: Make sure you're logging all the important events—think of it as your app's diary. If it's not logged, it didn't happen. Catch those sneaky attackers in the act!
Monitor Like a Hawk: Set up real-time alerts for suspicious activities. It's like having a security camera with a direct line to your phone. The quicker you catch the bad guys, the less damage they can do!
A security breach is a specific type of incident that often involves losing sensitive data.
A vulnerability is a weakness in a system or application that an attacker could potentially target and exploit.
An incident is often a combination of events representing an active attack that has not yet been confirmed or denied to be a breach.
Direct metrics can easily be gathered with automated tools. Indirect metrics often require conversations and documentation review. Source code reviews focus on functionality and resilience.
Security logging and monitoring failures:
Importance of Security Logs: Security logs are crucial for detecting and responding to attacks. Without them, attackers can operate undetected.
Training and Awareness: Developers need security training to understand the importance of logging and monitoring. Lack of training leads to inadequate controls.
Logging Basics: Start by ensuring that auditable events are logged. Logs should contain enough information to understand what happened.
Monitoring and Alerts: Logs should be monitored in real-time, and alerts should be generated for suspicious activities to enable quick defensive actions.
Centralized Log Storage: Store logs on an internal server to prevent attackers from tampering with them. This also aids in data correlation for security teams.
Integrity Controls: Implement integrity controls to detect if logs have been altered or if logging mechanisms have been disabled.
High-Value Targets: Focus on logging high-value targets like login activities, access control failures, and input validation failures.
Use of Standards: Refer to resources like NIST Special Publication 800-61 Rev. 2 and Intelligence Community Standard 500-27 for detailed guidance on incident handling and audit data collection.
Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)
SSRF flaws let attackers trick your app into accessing or abusing internal resources that should be off-limits.
How does it work?
Attackers can enter malicious URLs into your app. If your app trusts these URLs without checking, attackers can exploit this to access sensitive files or internal systems.
Why is it dangerous?
Attackers might use SSRF to gather information about your internal network, run malicious code, or cause a denial of service.
Preventing SSRF:
Validate URLs: Don't trust user-supplied URLs. Check and sanitize them.
Limit Network Access: Restrict internal network traffic to only necessary ports and services.
Use Allow Lists: Only allow known good URLs and block everything else.
Disable HTTP Redirects: These can be exploited to access malicious URLs.
Consequences of Broken access control
Broken access control is a critical security vulnerability that allows unauthorized users to access, modify, or delete data they should not have access to. This can lead to severe consequences, including data breaches, compliance violations, and operational disruptions. For instance, an attacker could view sensitive files, make changes to restricted data, or escalate their privileges to gain administrative rights.
Prevention Strategies
To prevent broken access control vulnerabilities, several strategies are essential:
Input Validation: Thoroughly validate and sanitize all user-supplied input to prevent malicious data from infiltrating the application.
Server-Side Access Control: Implement server-side access control mechanisms rather than relying on client-side controls to ensure that access decisions are made securely.
Access Control Matrices: Use access control matrices to define and enforce access control rules clearly. This helps in ensuring that the access control policy is well-documented and consistently enforced.
Regular Code Reviews and Penetration Testing: Conduct regular code reviews and penetration testing to identify and fix vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
Best Practices for Source Code Reviews
Source code reviews are a critical component of securing an application. These reviews should focus on identifying various types of vulnerabilities, including:
Injection Flaws: Search for SQL queries and other code snippets that could be vulnerable to injection attacks.
Access Control Vulnerabilities: Review the code to ensure that authentication and authorization mechanisms are properly implemented and enforced.