Static Application Security Testing is a technique for scanning an application's origin, binary, or byte data. Static Application Security Testing Tools not only help to determine the source of vulnerabilities but also assists in the remediation of any underlying security weaknesses and gives feedback to programmers on any coding issues. The main advantage is that more code may be written with fewer flaws.
Here are some of the top tools that will help you with static application security testing. The list of the SAST tools includes free tools, commercial tools, and open-source tools.
1. Veracode
Veracode has a low false-positive rate and provides developers with potential answers to the problems it uncovers. Because it is Software as a Service, it has a low setup cost and a rapid turnaround time between gaining access and seeing results. Veracode, on the other hand, does not provide a free trial version.
Key Features:
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AppSec programs are made easier by merging five different types of application security testing into a single solution that is incorporated into the development pipeline.
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Developers gain the knowledge and techniques they need to keep the program on track through guidance
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Reduces the time it takes to remediate
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Vendor management and reporting
Cost:
Contact Sales
2. LGTM.com
LGTM automates the code review process. It's an open-source tool with a high degree of transparency. On their page, you'll find a wealth of information about the kind of analyses they can perform and the difficulties they deal with. LGTM tests for common security flaws in the same way that any SAST does. The way the data is gathered and shown, on the other hand, is distinctive and effective.
Key Features:
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It is underpinned by CodeQL
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All open-source projects can use LGTM for free
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Continuous security analysis
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Automated code review
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Deep semantic code research
Cost:
Open-source
3. Checkmarx
Checkmarx comes pre-configured to support a wide range of languages. It pinpoints security flaws and suggests fixes. You can run quick progressive or full scans with Checkmarx SAST. Although the Interface is a little dated in comparison to more recent options, it is trustworthy and does exactly as it says on the box.
Key Features:
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Incorporates security automation into the development process.
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Manages the most difficult coding situations
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Compatible with 25+ languages
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Integrates with popular IDEs, continuous integration servers, source code management platforms, and more.
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Queries and insights that can be customized
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CI/CD pipeline
Cost:
Contact Sales
4. Klocwork
Klocwork is meant to adapt to any size organization and works with several codebases. Klocwork's static analysis capabilities work in tandem with your code twines and other IDE issue detectors on the go. It's particularly good at detecting null pointer errors, array out of limits, and similar issues without having to execute the code.
Key Features:
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Klocwork can assist you in meeting a variety of coding standards
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Custom checks can be added
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CI/CD workflow
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Improves the quality of the code
Cost:
Free
5. Reshift
Reshift is a SAST that is designed exclusively for NodeJS. Specialized tools offer advantages in that they excel at what they do, but they lack versatility. Redshift concentrates on shift-left safety, recognizing that it is better to rectify issues sooner rather than later. Redshift ensures that your code is tested as soon as you enter it by connecting with IDEs and CI/CD workflows.
Key Features:
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Every ten users result in a fixed price scale
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Allows security flaws to be discovered and repaired in real-time
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Reshift is targeted at small businesses, making it simple to set up and maintain without the need for security knowledge
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Improves code security
Cost:
$99 per month
6. SpectralOps
SpectralOps stands out in the market because it continuously analyses the whole SDLC for predefined codes, keys, and mismatched code. The main goal of Spectral is to keep secrets (such as passwords, API, and encryption keys) safe. Secrets are frequently hard-coded during the early phases of feature development and then buried in the code, making them vulnerable to potential attackers. This isn't limited to coding; other file formats can also be a source of leaks.
Key Features:
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Fast code security
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CI/CD pipeline
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Detects errors at an early level
Cost:
Contact Sales
7. HCL AppScan
HCL Appscan is a SAST for online apps that were once owned by IBM. It stands out from other more economical options because of the lower false-positive results supported by computer learning. AppScan builds strong test scenarios for your web apps to enable a smooth move to production while also addressing known security flaws.
Key Features:
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Detects log4J vulnerabilities
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Cloud application security
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Manage and reduce risk
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Automation and customization
Cost:
Contact Sales
8. Codacy
Codacy, rather than changing your code for you, focuses on providing you with data about your project's general health. It's critical to maintain a record of technical debt, accessibility, and compliance to standards when working in a group. This application allows you to keep a record of a variety of project-related statistics.
Key Features:
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Automates code reviews
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Keeps track of technical debs
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Supports more than 40 programming languages
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Easy to set up
Cost:
Starts at $15 per month
9. Insider CLI
Insider CLI was created to track, detect, and repair security problems in online applications. It is open-source which offers a number of benefits, including the ability to make changes at any time and, a strong community with whom to interact.
Key Features:
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Detects and repairs security problems
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Source code analysis
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Supports several languages
Cost:
Open-source
10. Argon
Argon recognizes and combines all tools used during your SDLC into a simple panel display. From your devices to the code, Argon identifies misconfigurations and unusual behavior. It's a great tool for safeguarding your network from security threats.
Key Features:
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Unified security solution
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One-click deployment
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Built-in integrations
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Instant visibility
Cost:
Contact Sales
11. Brakeman
Brakeman is a vulnerability scanner that is available for free. It analyses Rails application code dynamically to detect security flaws at any level of development. Users have complimented the tool for the speed and efficiency of its scans, as well as for giving developers clear repair advice.
Key Features:
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Vulnerability scanner
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Guides for advance repair are available
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Speed tests
Cost:
Free
12. CyberRes
CyberRes includes dynamic and static software security testing and runtime application monitoring. With connections to IDEs, developers may utilize this tool to detect and solve security flaws in real-time throughout the coding procedure.
Key Features:
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Strengthens your cyber resilience
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Application security
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Data security
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Supports 27 languages
Cost:
Contact Sales
13. Perforce
Perforce SAST addresses all aspects of coding standards, security protocols, and security compliance for programmers. Most programming languages are supported by Perforce SAST tools such as Java, C, C#, and Python.
Key Features:
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Has the ability to search through large codebases
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Analyzes multiple languages in a timely and precise manner
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Dashboards provide information on numerous security and compliance issues
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Compliance reports can be generated
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Integrated with CI/CD tools
Cost:
Contact Sales
14. WhiteSource Software
WhiteSource is a bespoke code-based safety auto-remediation tool. By providing developers with security vulnerability remediation options, it replaces risky code with updated secure code. WhiteSource Cure has a remediation-focused strategy that goes beyond monitoring, functioning as a security expert for developers to help them produce secure software more quickly.
Key Features:
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For vulnerabilities discovered in public projects, it generates a tailored report with actionable remedial recommendations.
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Suggestions are displayed next to the susceptible code and can be utilized directly in the developer's IDE.
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Developers can examine and accept the recommended secure code, and then implement a fix with a single click.
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Assists AppSec professionals in scaling security, eliminating the requirement for developers to be trained.
Cost:
Open-source
15. SonarQube
Developers can use SonarQube to write secure and better code. It includes a community of over 1 million open-source development teams. Apps are protected by tens of thousands of automatic Static Code Analysis guidelines.
Key Features:
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Catches errors to avoid end users being harmed by undefined behavior.
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Fixes vulnerabilities
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Supports more than 7 languages
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Can examine branches and alert you of any issues that need to be addressed
Cost:
Free
16. Coverity Scan
Coverity was updated early this year by Synopsys to include new features that enable the software to search for additional types of vulnerabilities across a number of programming languages.
Key Features:
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Static code analysis
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Complex JavaScript evaluation
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Integrated with Github
Cost:
Contact Sales
Things to Consider While Choosing Static Application Security Testing Tools
There are several characteristics to weigh and examine while looking for a SAST tool.
Accuracy
SAST tools that produce false positives at a frequency of more than 50% are producing too much chaos. Because each SAST discovery must be validated as an actual risk, this can be annoying to development teams. The accuracy of the SAST tools must be at least 75%.
Ease of Use
The ease with which developers can use a SAST platform is crucial for adoption and realizing the technology's security value. When looking at a SAST tool, do run user tests with any possible users to assess how tough it is for people to learn how to utilize the interface. The input of the team is critical in this situation.
Languages Supported
Another important factor to examine is whether the SAST tool supports all of the languages used by your development team. Clearly, having one SAST tool that can support all languages is preferable.
Scanning Speed
The amount of time it takes to perform a scan is crucial. For instance, if a firm's codebase is rapidly developing and updated models are being released numerous times per day, a SAST tool that takes 2 to 4 hours to complete a scan will be unable to keep up. The programmers will need to send the code into operation by the time the notifications arrive; they will not have time to make adjustments.
Conclusion
So, these were the top 16 static application security testing tools that you can use to secure your codebase. You can choose the tool that is best for your development team.
FAQs
What are static application security testing tools?
Identifying coding problems particularly in the initial life cycle could save time & expense, and also improve the security of apps. Detecting defects earlier in the project saves money in the long run, and ensures that the code is written correctly and securely. The use of Static Application Security Testing tools is one technique to identify code issues sooner.
The testing occurs early in the development of the software since it does not need a project plan and may be performed without executing any code. It assists developers in identifying vulnerabilities early in the development process and promptly resolving bugs without breaking copies or exposing vulnerabilities in the software's final release.
What are the things that should be considered while choosing static application security testing tools?
Some of the things that should be considered while choosing static application security testing tools include:
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Ease of installation and use
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Integration with CI/CD pipelines
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Minimum false positives
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Automation and customization
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Speed of scanning
What are the benefits of static application security testing tools?
There are numerous advantages to using SAST. These technologies can be integrated into a CI/CD pipeline to notify developers about potential difficulties at the beginning of the development process. SAST solutions are also quick because they don't need to compile or run the code. They merely perform a search for potential issues and flag them for developers to address.
Developers are fairly more in number than security personnel. Finding the expertise to do code analysis on even a small percentage of an organization's apps can be difficult. The ability to evaluate 100% of the code is a significant feature of SAST tools.
Furthermore, they are substantially faster than human-assisted secure code reviews. In a couple of minutes, these technologies can examine a million lines of code. With high confidence, SAST tools detect significant vulnerabilities. As a result, incorporating static analysis into the software development life cycle can have a significant impact on the overall quality of the code produced.
Which are the free static application security testing tools?
Some of the good static application security testing tools that are free include:
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Insider CLI
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Klocwork
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Brakeman
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SonarQube
SAST vs DAST
SAST and DAST are two types of application security testing tools that each use a different approach to resolving application security vulnerabilities. SAST tools look into the fundamental components of a program to find flaws and bugs in the code. DAST tools look for vulnerabilities in the interface of the application that is visible from the outside.
Many businesses are unsure about the advantages and disadvantages of using SAST and DAST. However, SAST and DAST are two distinct testing methods with distinct advantages. They are most successful at different stages of the software development process, and they identify different sorts of weaknesses. As a result, incorporating both SAST and DAST into your application security testing program is the ideal option.
