Course 7 - Secure SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) | Episode 6: Secure Validation: A Comprehensive Look at Security Testing Methodolog

In this lesson, you’ll learn about: Secure Validation — SDLC Phase 6 1. Overview Secure Validation tests software from a hacker’s perspective (ethical hacking) to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses before attackers can exploit them. Unlike standard QA, which ensures functional correctness, secure validation focuses on negative scenarios and attack simulations, targeting vulnerabilities like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and insecure configurations. 2. Key Testing Methodologies Secure validation can be performed manually, automatically, or using a hybrid approach. The main methodologies are: A. Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

• Type: White-box testing
• Purpose: Identify vulnerabilities in source code before runtime.
• Method: Analyze internal code lines and application logic.
• Tools: Can scan manually, via network import, or by connecting to code repositories like TFS, SVN, Git.
• Focus: Detect issues such as hard-coded passwords, insecure function usage, and injection points.

B. Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST)

• Type: Gray-box testing
• Purpose: Continuous monitoring of running applications to detect vulnerabilities and API weaknesses.
• Features:
  • Tracks data flow from untrusted sources (chain tracing) to identify injection flaws.
  • Runs throughout the development lifecycle.
  • Faster and more accurate than legacy static or dynamic tools.

C. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)

• Type: Black-box testing
• Purpose: Simulate attacks on running software to observe responses.
• Focus Areas:
  • SQL Injection
  • Cross-site scripting (XSS)
  • Misconfigured servers
• Goal: Test behavior of deployed applications under attack conditions.

D. Fuzzing

• Type: Black-box testing
• Purpose: Identify bugs or vulnerabilities by injecting invalid, random, or malformed data.
• Applications: Protocols, file formats, APIs, or applications.
• Goal: Detect errors that could lead to denial of service or remote code execution.
• Categories:
  • Application fuzzing
  • Protocol fuzzing
  • File format fuzzing

E. Penetration Testing (Pentesting)

• Purpose: Simulate real-world attacks to find vulnerabilities automated tools might miss.
• Phases:
  1. Reconnaissance: Gather information about the target.
  2. Scanning: Identify open ports, services, and potential attack surfaces.
  3. Gaining Access: Exploit vulnerabilities to enter the system.
  4. Maintaining Access: Test persistence mechanisms.
  5. Covering Tracks: Evaluate if an attacker could erase traces.

F. Open Source Security Analysis (OSA/SCA)

• Purpose: Identify vulnerabilities in open-source components used by the application.
• Process:
  1. Create an inventory of open-source components.
  2. Check for known vulnerabilities (CVEs).
  3. Update components to patch vulnerabilities.
  4. Manage the security response to reported issues.

3. Manual vs. Automated ValidationAspectManual ValidationAutomated ValidationExpertiseRequires high domain expertiseEasier for non-expertsSpeedSlow and time-consumingFast and scalableCoverageCan be very thoroughLimited by supported languagesAccuracyAccurate, less false positivesMay generate false positivesBest UseComplex logic, new attacksRoutine checks, high-volume scans

Recommendation: Use a hybrid approach, combining both manual expertise and automated tools for comprehensive security coverage. 4. Summary

• Secure Validation is critical for detecting vulnerabilities before deployment.
• Techniques include SAST, IAST, DAST, fuzzing, pentesting, and OSA/SCA.
• Combining manual and automated methods ensures accurate, fast, and comprehensive vulnerability detection.
• The ultimate goal is to simulate attacker behavior and mitigate risks proactively.

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