Dynamic Application Security Testing
Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) is a black-box security testing method that detects vulnerabilities in running web applications. Think of it as an automated security guard that tries to break into your application from the outside, just like an actual attacker would.
Here's how it works:
The Setup: A DAST tool interacts with a running web application, typically in a staging environment. It doesn't have access to the application's source code or internal workings.
Simulated Attacks: The tool sends a series of requests to the application, simulating various attack scenarios like:
SQL injection: Attempting to inject malicious SQL code into input fields.
Cross-site scripting (XSS): Injecting malicious scripts into web pages.
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF): Trying to trick users into performing unwanted actions.
Authentication and authorization flaws: Testing for weaknesses in login mechanisms and access controls.
Vulnerability Detection: The tool analyzes the application's responses to these attacks, looking for unexpected behavior or error messages that indicate a potential vulnerability.
Reporting: DAST tools generate reports that detail the identified vulnerabilities, their severity, and recommendations for remediation.
Critical Advantages of DAST:
Real-world simulation: DAST mimics real attack scenarios, objectively assessing the application's security posture.
There is no need for source code. It can test any web application, regardless of the programming language or framework used.
Finds runtime vulnerabilities: DAST excels at finding vulnerabilities that only manifest during runtime, such as configuration errors and authentication issues.
Limitations of DAST:
Can be slower than SAST: Testing a running application can take time, especially for complex applications.
May miss some vulnerabilities: If the tool doesn't simulate the right attack scenario, it might miss specific vulnerabilities.
Can be resource-intensive: Running a full DAST scan can consume significant resources, especially for large applications.
When to use DAST:
After functional testing: DAST is typically performed to ensure the application works as expected before security testing.
In staging environments: It's best to run DAST in a staging environment that mirrors the production environment to get accurate results.
As part of a comprehensive security testing strategy: DAST should be used in conjunction with other security testing methods such as SAST and IAST for complete coverage.
By incorporating DAST into your security testing strategy, you can identify and remediate vulnerabilities in your web applications before attackers can exploit them, helping to protect your business and your users.
ThreatNG can significantly enhance Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) by providing external attack surface insights that complement DAST's vulnerability scanning capabilities. Here's how ThreatNG helps with DAST, works together with it, and complements other solutions:
1. Enhancing DAST with External Perspective:
Discovering Unknown Applications: ThreatNG's comprehensive discovery capabilities can identify web applications, APIs, and cloud services that internal DAST scans might miss. This ensures that all external-facing assets are included in security testing.
Prioritizing DAST Targets: ThreatNG's risk assessment capabilities (BEC & Phishing Susceptibility, Breach & Ransomware Susceptibility, etc.) can help prioritize DAST efforts by identifying the most vulnerable applications.
Providing Context for DAST Findings: ThreatNG's intelligence repositories (dark web, compromised credentials, etc.) can provide valuable context for vulnerabilities identified by DAST, helping to understand their potential impact and prioritize remediation efforts.
2. Working Together with DAST Tools:
Guiding DAST Scans: ThreatNG's Domain Intelligence module can identify subdomains, exposed APIs, and development environments, allowing DAST tools to focus their scans on the most critical areas.
Validating DAST Findings: ThreatNG's vulnerability databases and dark web monitoring can help validate DAST findings and confirm the exploitability of identified vulnerabilities.
Complementing DAST with Continuous Monitoring: ThreatNG's continuous monitoring capabilities can track changes in the attack surface and alert security teams to new vulnerabilities that may require DAST scans.
3. Complementing Solutions/Services:
Integrating with Vulnerability Management: ThreatNG can integrate with vulnerability management solutions to provide a centralized view of all vulnerabilities, including those identified by DAST and other security tools.
Enhancing Threat Intelligence: ThreatNG's intelligence repositories can enrich threat intelligence platforms with external attack surface data, helping to identify and respond to emerging threats.
Supporting Incident Response: ThreatNG's real-time monitoring and alerting capabilities can help incident response efforts by providing early warnings of attacks and identifying compromised assets.
Examples of ThreatNG's Investigation Modules:
Domain Intelligence:
Identifies subdomains with outdated SSL certificates, allowing DAST tools to prioritize testing for vulnerabilities like POODLE and Heartbleed.
Discovers exposed APIs not protected by a web application firewall, allowing DAST tools to focus on those APIs for potential vulnerabilities.
Social Media:
Detects phishing campaigns targeting the organization's users, helping DAST tools simulate phishing attacks and assess the application's resilience.
Sensitive Code Exposure:
Identifies exposed API keys and credentials in public code repositories, allowing DAST tools to test for authentication and authorization bypass vulnerabilities.
Cloud and SaaS Exposure:
Identifies misconfigured cloud storage buckets and unsanctioned SaaS applications, allowing DAST tools to assess their security posture and identify potential vulnerabilities.
By combining ThreatNG's external attack surface management capabilities with DAST tools, organizations can achieve a more comprehensive and practical approach to web application security testing. This helps to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them, protecting critical assets and sensitive data.
