Static analysis is the process of using automation to analyze the application's code base for known security patterns. It uses different methods, such as following data from it source (input) to its sink (output) to identify potential weaknesses. It also uses simple search methods in an attempt to identify hard-coded values, like passwords in the code. Automated tools struggle at finding business logic or authentication/authorization flaws. Code Review is a much larger project where both … [Read more...] about What is the difference between source code review and static analysis?
development
Thinking about starting a bug bounty? Do this first.
Application security has become an important topic within our organizations. We have come to understand that the data that we deem sensitive and critical to our business is made available through these applications. With breaches happening all the time, it is critical to take reasonable steps to help protect that data by ensuring that our applications are implementing strong controls. Over the years, testing has been the main avenue for "implementing" security into applications. We have seen a … [Read more...] about Thinking about starting a bug bounty? Do this first.
New Year’s Resolutions
Here we are, the start of another year. As we reflect on 2017, this is where we really start to focus on what lies ahead in 2018. The new year is always interesting because it usually doesn't affect our build cycles or releases. With the exception of accounting for vacations. Yet, this is the time of year where many people get re-focused and motivated to change old habits or try something new. Listen to the Podcast: As I look back on 2017, there were a lot of news headlines that focused … [Read more...] about New Year’s Resolutions
Understanding Your Application Platform
Building applications today includes the use of some pretty impressive platforms. These platforms have so much built in capability, many of the most common tasks are easily accomplished through simple method calls. As developers, we rely on these frameworks to provide a certain level of functionality. Much of which we may never even use. When it comes to security, the platform can be a love/hate relationship. On the one hand, developers may have little control over how the platform handles … [Read more...] about Understanding Your Application Platform
Sub Resource Integrity – SRI
Do you rely on content distribution networks or CDNs to provide some of your resources? You may not consider some of your resources in this category, but really it is any resource that is provided outside of your server. For example, maybe you pull in the jQuery JavaScript file from ajax.googleapis.com rather than hosting the file on your server. These CDNs provide a great way to give fast access to these resources. But how do you know you are getting the file you expect? As an … [Read more...] about Sub Resource Integrity – SRI
Understanding the “Why”
If I told you to adjust your seat before adjusting your mirror in your car, would you just do it? Just because I said so, or do you understand why there is a specific order? Most of us retain concepts better when we can understand them logically. Developing applications requires a lot of moving pieces. An important piece in that process is implementing security controls to help protect the application, the company, and the users. In many organizations, security is heavily guided by an … [Read more...] about Understanding the “Why”