Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

Simple Definition for Beginners:

SAST is a security testing method that examines source code, binaries, or application artifacts for vulnerabilities and weaknesses without executing the software.

Common Use Example:

A development team uses SAST tools to scan their codebase for potential security flaws, such as SQL injection or buffer overflow vulnerabilities, during the development phase before deployment.

Technical Definition for Professionals:

Static Application Security Testing (SAST) is a type of security testing that analyzes source code, binaries, or compiled application artifacts for security vulnerabilities, coding errors, and software weaknesses without executing the software. SAST tools scan the codebase to identify issues such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), buffer overflows, insecure authentication mechanisms, and other common security flaws. SAST examines the code structure, logic, variables, function calls, and data flow to detect potential security risks early in the software development lifecycle (SDLC). SAST helps developers identify and fix security issues during the coding and testing phases, enabling proactive security measures and reducing the risk of vulnerabilities reaching production environments.