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More Than One Way to Keep Code Safe


By Jennifer deJong
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January 15, 2005 —  Two types of tools dominate the application security market: those that inspect source code to pinpoint possible flaws as an application is developed, and those designed to “attack” the application in the testing phase, in much the same way that a hacker might.

Those in the first category are typically known as source code analysis or vulnerability testing tools, while the second group is referred to as “black box,” “attack simulation” or penetration testing tools.

A third, smaller category, called runtime analysis, “watches” an application during the debugging stage, looking for things such as poorly written error handlers and excessive account privileges, which a hacker could exploit. Many vendors also include a reporting component with their software, providing management with metrics on the overall security of a company’s applications.

Source code analysis offerings identify issues such as buffer overflows, where a hacker can input data to gain control of an application; SQL injections, which manipulate SQL queries to access unauthorized data; race conditions, where separate threads access the same data at the same time; and weak passwords that can be cracked with random number generators. By scanning code as developers work and offering advice on how to fix potential flaws, such offerings help re-enforce secure coding practices, said Melissa Webster, an analyst at research firm IDC.

By contrast, black-box tools are used by QA professionals who simulate hacker behavior by attempting to trick an application into giving up information. Tests include running SQL statements against the database, running cross-site scripts, and making sure the app validates data such as credit-card numbers that users typically enter in Web forms.

Most application security vendors provide only one or two of the solution types. “But in the long run, we will find more and more application security vendors offering all three,” Webster said.




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