Application Security Testing Approaches

Static Application Security Testing (SAST): 

Description: SAST analyzes the application’s source code, bytecode, or binary code for security vulnerabilities without executing the program. 
Purpose: Identify security issues early in the development process, including coding errors, insecure dependencies, and potential vulnerabilities. 

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST): 

Description: DAST evaluates a running application by simulating attacks and identifying vulnerabilities from the outside. 
Purpose: Test the application in a real-world environment to discover vulnerabilities such as injection flaws, cross-site scripting (XSS), and insecure configurations. 

Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST): 

Description: IAST combines elements of both SAST and DAST. It assesses an application’s security by instrumenting the application during runtime while also analyzing the source code. 
Purpose: Provide real-time feedback during application runtime, offering a comprehensive view of vulnerabilities. 

Mobile Application Security Testing (Mobile AppSec Testing): 

Description: Specific testing methodologies focused on identifying security issues in mobile applications. 
Purpose: Address vulnerabilities unique to mobile platforms, such as insecure data storage, insufficient encryption, and issues related to mobile device permissions. 

Penetration Testing (Pen Testing): 

Description: Ethical hacking where security professionals simulate real-world attacks on an application to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses. 
Purpose: Mimic the actions of malicious actors to discover and address potential security flaws, providing a holistic assessment of an application’s security posture. 

Fuzz Testing (Fuzzing): 

Description: Automated testing technique that inputs random or malformed data into an application to discover unexpected behaviors and vulnerabilities. 
Purpose: Uncover vulnerabilities, particularly those related to input validation and error handling, that may not be apparent through traditional testing methods. 

Container Security Testing: 

Description: Focuses on securing containerized applications and the infrastructure supporting them. 
Purpose: Identify vulnerabilities specific to container environments, ensuring that containerized applications are secure and compliant. 

 API Security Testing: 

Description: Evaluates the security of application programming interfaces (APIs) to ensure they are protected against common threats. 
Purpose: Identify vulnerabilities such as insecure direct object references, insufficient authentication, and improper input validation in APIs. 

Code Review (Manual and Automated): 

Description: Manual code review involves human inspection of source code for security vulnerabilities, while automated code review utilizes tools for static analysis. 
Purpose: Identify security flaws, coding errors, and adherence to secure coding practices during development. 

Configuration Review: 

Description: Examines the configuration settings of applications, databases, servers, and other components to identify security weaknesses. 
Purpose: Ensure that systems are configured securely, minimizing the risk of misconfigurations leading to security vulnerabilities. 


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