Identifying Vulnerabilities in Running Applications Using DAST

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) tools play a critical role in identifying vulnerabilities in live applications by testing runtime inputs and outputs, simulating attacks, and analyzing responses. These tools, integral to the DevSecOps pipeline, provide real-time feedback on application security, which is vital in today's rapid software release environment. DAST tools, such as OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, Acunetix, and AppSpider, offer automated scanning capabilities, comprehensive reporting, and integration with other security tools, making them suitable for continuous integration and delivery pipelines. They come in three types—black-box, grey-box, and white-box—each with unique strengths for testing different application aspects. Best practices for utilizing DAST tools include understanding the application architecture, using them in conjunction with other security testing tools, prioritizing vulnerabilities, effective configuration, and regular testing to ensure application security and mitigate potential threats. Integrating DAST into development workflows, as demonstrated with OWASP ZAP in a Semaphore pipeline, helps maintain secure applications by promptly identifying and addressing vulnerabilities.