DAST, IAST, SCA security testing: Deeper coverage in a single scan

If the world runs on software, then open-source code is part of the fuel that keeps the engine revving. Open-source components are everywhere, permeating the applications we rely on every day. And because developers need them for accelerated feature delivery and boosted functionality, the risk is real: data from ESG shows that 80% of organizations find open-source dependencies in more than a quarter of their codebases, yet less than half of those organizations have security controls dedicated to scanning for flaws in open-source code. 

Therein lies a big problem – nobody truly “owns” security for these components and libraries. Since open-source software has a distributed development model, there isn’t a command-and-control mechanism to provide ongoing security protection as these projects evolve. That ultimately puts all the pressure on in-house developers who regularly incorporate these components into their code to save time or enhance user experience. 

To help these professionals on the front lines of secure coding, we’re excited to announce our software composition analysis offering, Invicti SCA (software composition analysis), which works in tandem with our dynamic and interactive (DAST + IAST) testing solutions within one single scan. Invicti SCA examines open-source components, finding vulnerable libraries and suggesting remediation guidance so that DevSecOps teams don’t have to miss a beat while building innovative apps. 

Let’s take a look at how Invicti SCA security testing integrates with existing workflows to save valuable development time, improve functionality, and leave more room for innovation. 

Continuous coverage through DAST + IAST + SCA security testing

Every company is now a software company, and open-source code makes the development and delivery of that software faster and cheaper. But because security for open-source code cannot be centrally controlled as code written in-house, it opens doors for vulnerabilities that development teams might miss – just like we saw with the Log4Shell incident. With Invicti SCA, scan results are delivered contextually alongside other scan findings for a comprehensive view of an organization’s security risk posture. 

How does it get the job done? It uses an agent-based approach with agents that connect to your web server or application server engine so that your DevSecOps professionals can analyze libraries linked in server-side code. It’s part of the Invicti platform, which integrates right into your CI/CD pipeline, ticketing systems, and development tools for a more comprehensive view of your application security status. 

SCA helps with: 

• Finding and managing open-source components: Identify component versions accurately, with details about vulnerabilities in scan results and guidance for patching or replacing the impacted components. 
• Maintaining an updated asset inventory: Know what’s in your web applications, with a complete inventory of your tech stack and in-depth reporting to uncover out-of-date technologies and vulnerable components. 
• Covering every corner of your applications: With the Invicti platform blending DAST, IAST, and SCA, you have an inside-out and an outside-in perspective of your apps to ensure complete coverage. 

Invicti SCA leverages its proprietary vulnerability database to check for known vulnerabilities in open-source components. With the explosive growth we’ve seen for open-source components that lend a hand in speed and functionality, these checks are paramount to the success of your application security program. 

Secure your open-source components with confidence

The open-source engine continues to rev, but security isn’t keeping up. Sonali Shah, Chief Product Officer at Invicti, notes that cyberattackers are setting their sights on open-source components now more than ever. “Thanks to their growing ubiquity, they have also become increasingly attractive targets for threat actors,” she said. “We’ve introduced SCA to the Invicti platform to help modern DevSecOps teams secure open-source software at the speed of innovation.” 

Invicti SCA is now generally available for PHP, Node.js, Java, and .NET applications, and we’re ready to help you start scanning. Get more information about Invicti SCA and how it plugs in seamlessly to help you secure every corner of your enterprise applications.