Revolutionizing Security Testing: Advancements in Automated DAST on Real Devices

With organizations continuing to build and enhance their mobile applications and developers embracing new ways of building applications to improve the speed to market and customer experiences, billions of dollars are invested in Appsec tools. 

However, 85% of these applications still contain known vulnerabilities, and most breaches occur at the application layer. 

Automated DAST helps in combating such vulnerabilities. It can help developers identify them early in the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and serve the needs of application development and information security teams. 

By identifying vulnerabilities ranging from SQL injections, XSS, and simple coding errors to misconfigured environments and insecure settings, automated DAST ensures your mobile applications are ready to withstand data breaches and cyber threats.

What is automated DAST?

Automated DAST refers to the process of automating dynamic analysis. This automation is designed to continuously scan applications for vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and security misconfigurations. 

An automated DAST tool can operate without human intervention, making it invaluable for organizations that must maintain high security across multiple applications.

Stages of DAST automation

DAST automation involves several stages that work together to identify and address security vulnerabilities.

1. Initial configuration and setup

The first stage involves setting up the automated DAST tool. This includes configuring the tool to understand the scope of the application it will test, such as the URL, authentication mechanisms, and the types of tests to perform.

2. Crawling

The automated DAST tool begins by crawling the mobile application, mapping its structure, and identifying all the pages, forms, and input fields. This is crucial for understanding the application's attack surface.

3. Attack simulation

Once the application has been mapped, the tool simulates attacks by injecting various payloads into the input fields, manipulating URLs, and testing for common vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS, and CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery).

4. Analysis and reporting

After the attacks have been simulated, the DAST automation tool analyzes the results to determine whether any vulnerabilities were successfully exploited. It then generates a report that details the vulnerabilities found, their severity, and recommended remediation steps.

5. Continuous monitoring

Automated DAST tools can be set up to continuously monitor the application for new vulnerabilities, providing ongoing mobile app security assurance. This is particularly important in DevOps environments where applications are frequently updated.

Challenges with traditional DAST

While dynamic application security testing software (DAST tools) have been the mainstay of security testing teams over the last two decades, traditional DAST is struggling to keep pace with the evolving security needs of modern apps and development processes. 

The limitations of traditional DAST include: 

1. Slow and needs manual effort

Traditional DAST can take several days to complete one security assessment.

Legacy DAST tools force businesses to test their apps in production, exposing them to data breaches. They are not equipped to test APIs, which are increasingly becoming the attack vector of choice for threat actors—making them unsuitable for businesses that need to test multiple apps regularly. 

2. Limited coverage and incomplete testing

If the application is complex or includes dynamic content, such as AJAX-driven interfaces, APIs, or web sockets, manual testing tools could struggle to provide complete coverage of the application, leaving some areas untested and potentially vulnerable.

3. False positives and negatives

Most traditional DAST tools are known to generate high percentages of false positives (flagging non-issues as vulnerabilities) and false negatives (failing to detect actual vulnerabilities).

4. Inconsistent testing

Traditional dynamic application security testing relies heavily on manual processes, which leads to inconsistency in testing and vulnerabilities being missed or incorrectly missed. 

The results can vary depending on the expertise and approach of the tester, the specific tests run, and the conditions under which the tests are performed. 

5. Not scalable

Manual testing processes become overwhelming as the size and complexity of the application portfolio grow and in environments where multiple applications must be tested simultaneously or are frequently updated. 

6. Difficulty in integrating with modern development practices

Traditional DAST tools struggle to integrate with CI/CD pipelines, which can delay testing or lead to security testing being treated as an afterthought rather than an integral part of the development process.

These limitations underline the need for automated DAST tools that offer a more comprehensive security testing solution.

Moving from traditional to automated DAST

DAST was a purely manual process, with security teams painstakingly crafting and executing tests against applications. As applications became more complex, manual DAST became increasingly impractical, leading to the development of semi-automated tools that assisted with certain aspects of the testing process.

Fully automated DAST tools integrated advanced scanning algorithms to provide comprehensive, accurate, and efficient security testing. The integration with CI/CD pipelines allows for continuous security testing as part of the software development lifecycle (SDLC).

What are the benefits of running automated DAST tests?

Automated DAST scanning provides several benefits over traditional DAST: 

• Automated DAST comprehensively checks the security of your web and mobile apps by simulating real-world interactions on a wide range of devices.
• You can schedule security scans to run automatically, e.g., after each code deployment.
• Automated DAST helps detect security risks early, allows development teams to fix them sooner in the SDLC, and saves costs.
• With CI/CD pipeline integration, you can ensure that code changes are tested for vulnerabilities and reduce the risk of new vulnerabilities being introduced during development.
• Since automated DAST tools integrate seamlessly with modern DevOps practices, a critical benefit of automated DAST tests is that they enable security testing alongside development and operations. 
• Automated DAST tools provide more accurate results, reducing the time spent on false positives and enabling faster remediation of genuine vulnerabilities.
  

How can you implement automated DAST in your organization?

Here's how you can effectively integrate automated DAST into your organization’s security strategy: 

Step 1: Define your security objectives

Start by outlining your security goals. Determine which applications must be tested, the vulnerabilities you're most concerned about, and the testing frequency. Understanding your specific needs will guide your choice of automated DAST tools and inform the scope of your testing efforts.

Step 2: Select an automated commercial DAST scanner

Choose an automated commercial DAST scanner that aligns with your security objectives. Consider factors like: 

• Ease of integration with your existing CI/CD pipeline 
• Ability to scan different types of applications (web, mobile, APIs)
• Support for various environments (e.g., cloud, on-premise) 
• Reporting capabilities
• Accuracy in identifying vulnerabilities
• Ability to integrate with other security tools in your tech stack.
  
  

Step 3: Integrate with DevOps processes

Incorporate automated DAST into your DevOps pipeline to ensure continuous security testing. This integration allows automated scans to run every time code is committed or an application is deployed, providing real-time feedback on potential vulnerabilities. 

Ensure that your DAST tool can trigger scans automatically based on predefined events within your CI/CD pipeline.

Step 4: Customize and configure 

Configure the automated DAST tool to match your application's specific requirements. This involves setting up authentication mechanisms, defining the scope of the tests, and customizing the types of vulnerabilities to be scanned. 

Tailor the automated DAST tool's configurations to ensure comprehensive coverage of your application's attack surface.

Step 5: Establish a remediation process

Once vulnerabilities are identified, the next step is to address them. 

Develop a remediation workflow that prioritizes vulnerabilities based on severity and assigns them to the appropriate teams for resolution.

Security and development teams must collaborate to fix vulnerabilities and retest as needed.

Step 6: Monitor and optimize 

Continuously monitor the performance of your automated DAST tool and the effectiveness of your security testing efforts. Analyze the scan results to identify trends and areas for improvement. 

Updating your testing configurations regularly helps you adapt to new threats and application changes. Also, optimizing the DAST tool's settings reduces false positives and enhances vulnerability detection accuracy.

Step 7: Train your security and development teams in using the DAST scanner/tool

You want to encourage and establish a culture of security awareness across your organization. For this, your security and development teams must be well-versed in using the automated DAST tool, including knowing how to interpret scan results, understanding the types of vulnerabilities detected, and following best practices for remediation.

Best practices to maximize your DAST efforts

• Start early in the SDLC to catch vulnerabilities early on and reduce the cost and effort of remediation 
• Run regular scans to identify vulnerabilities introduced by minor updates or changes in the application environment
• Use your automated DAST tool's risk assessment features to prioritize remediation efforts based on the potential impact and likelihood of exploitation
• An automated testing mechanism combining SAST and DAST provides a more comprehensive assessment of your application's security
• Integrate threat intelligence into your automated DAST process to stay ahead of emerging threats
• Automate remediation by applying fixes for specific vulnerabilities and misconfigurations 
• Look for patterns in vulnerabilities, such as recurring issues, and take steps to address the root causes and improve your code quality and development practices
• Run DAST on real devices to ensure the testing environment closely monitors the conditions under which your users will interact with the mobile application

How do automated DAST tools like Appknox ensure the security of your mobile app?

By integrating automated DAST into your DevOps processes and leveraging advanced tools like Appknox, you can ensure your mobile applications remain secure against super-advanced threats.

Here's how Appknox secures your mobile apps:

1. Comprehensive vulnerability scanning 

Appknox's automated DAST tool conducts in-depth scans of mobile applications, identifying a wide range of vulnerabilities, including OWASP Mobile Top 10 risks, API vulnerabilities, and security misconfigurations. 

The best automated commercial DAST scanner thoroughly tests the app's interactions with backend servers, APIs, and third-party services, ensuring that all potential attack vectors are covered.

2. Real device testing 

Run automated dynamic application security testing on real mobile devices, replicating real-world conditions. 

This approach ensures that your app is tested under various network conditions, device configurations, and user behaviors, providing a more accurate assessment of its security posture.

3. Seamless integration with CI/CD pipelines

By integrating with your existing CI/CD pipeline, Appknox enables continuous security testing as part of your development process. 

Automated scans can be triggered with every code push or app update, ensuring new vulnerabilities are identified and addressed promptly.

4. Actionable insights and reports

The detailed reports generated by Appknox’s automated DAST scanner highlight vulnerabilities and their severity and recommend remediation steps. The reports are easy to understand, making it simple for development teams to take action. 

Appknox's dynamic application security testing platform also offers dashboards that allow you to track the progress of remediation efforts and monitor the overall security health of your mobile apps.

5. Customizable testing

You can customize the scope and depth of your automated DAST scans to meet your specific security needs. Whether you want to focus on certain parts of your app or perform comprehensive scans, the DAST platform allows you to tailor the testing process to your requirements.

6. Continuous monitoring

The continuous monitoring capabilities allow you to keep your mobile apps secure over time. Appknox automatically scans your apps for vulnerabilities even after deployment, providing ongoing protection against emerging threats.

7. Collaboration and integration

The platform supports collaboration between security and development teams by integrating with popular DevOps tools like Jira, Slack, and GitLab. This integration streamlines tracking and resolving vulnerabilities, ensuring that security remains a top priority throughout the app’s lifecycle.

Appknox's automated DAST tool provides a comprehensive, real-device-tested approach to mobile security, enabling you to detect and remediate vulnerabilities quickly and effectively.

Halve your time-to-market with Appknox’s holistic, binary-based mobile application security analysis.

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