Securing your applications is crucial in web development and cybersecurity. GitHub Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) is a powerful tool for this purpose. It integrates seamlessly into the DevOps workflow, ensuring project security throughout its lifecycle.

This blog will teach you about GitHub DAST, its key features, setting up GitHub DAST, real-world examples, use cases, best practices, and alternatives to GitHub DAST.

Let’s get started

What is GitHub DAST?

GitHub DAST, short for Dynamic Application Security Testing, serves as a critical component of GitHub Security to enhance the security of web applications. It simulates attacks on web applications during their operational state to identify security vulnerabilities.

This approach mimics how malicious hackers attempt to breach an application, focusing on areas such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and insecure server configurations.

GitHub DAST aims to reveal these weaknesses. This enables developers to fix them before launching the application, helping to avoid potential cyberattacks. This can help prevent data breaches, protect brand reputation, and maintain customer trust.

Key Features of GitHub DAST

Understanding the effectiveness and utility of GitHub DAST requires delving into its key features. Here are the key features of GitHub DAST:

1. Empowerment of Developer Teams

GitHub DAST, along with other GitHub Security features like Code Scanning, Secret Scanning, and Supply Chain Security, empowers developer teams to secure their software and custom code across the software lifecycle. This integration embeds security tools directly into the DevOps workflow, facilitating a proactive security approach.

2. Real-World Attack Simulation

It simulates attacks similar to those carried out by malicious hackers, focusing on vulnerabilities that only appear in running applications. This approach helps identify security issues that other AppSec tools might miss.

3. Few False Positives

Compared to other security testing methods, It generates fewer false positives, reporting only the vulnerabilities genuinely present in the application. This reduces the noise in the security reporting process, allowing teams to focus on genuine threats.

4. Application-Agnostic

Since it does not require access to the source code, it can be applied to any application. This flexibility means that one DAST tool can support all the development team’s applications, streamlining the security testing process.

5. Integration with Third-Party Tools

Developers can extend their security capabilities using GitHub Actions by integrating third-party DAST tools. This extensibility allows for customized and automated security workflows, further enhancing the security posture of applications.

Setting Up GitHub DAST: Step-by-Step Guide

GitHub offers powerful DAST integration through various tools you can set up within your GitHub workflows. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up DAST in your GitHub environment:

Step 1: Choose a DAST Tool

GitHub can integrate with several DAST tools. Some popular choices include:

1. OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)

2. Arachni

3. Burp Suite

4. Acunetix

5. Nikto

We will use OWASP ZAP for this blog due to its strong community support and free usage.

Step 2: Create a GitHub Repository

If you don’t have a repository already, create one:

1. Log in to your GitHub account.

2. Click on the New button in the top-right corner.

3. Fill in the repository details (name, description, visibility) and click Create Repository.

Step 3: Add a Web Application to the Repository

Push your web application code to your GitHub repository. You can do this by either uploading your files directly through the GitHub UI or using Git commands.

Step 4: Set Up GitHub Actions Workflow

GitHub Actions allows you to automate workflows directly from your GitHub repository. Here’s how you should set up a workflow to run OWASP ZAP:

1. Create a Workflow File:

   • In your repository, navigate to the Actions tab and click New Workflow.

   • Choose to set up a workflow yourself or select a predefined template.

2. Edit the Workflow File:

   • Name your workflow file, e.g., dast.yml.

   • Copy and paste the following workflow configuration:

name: DAST Workflow

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main
  pull_request:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  zap_scan:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout repository
        uses: actions/checkout@v2

      - name: Start OWASP ZAP
        uses: zaproxy/action-full-scan@v0.4.0
        with:
          token: ${{ secrets.Github_TOKEN }}
          target: 'http://your-web-application-url'
          rules_file_name: '.zap/rules.tsv'
          docker_name: 'owasp/zap2docker-stable'
          cmd_options: '-daemon -config api.disablekey=true'

      - name: Upload ZAP Report
        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
        with:
          name: zap_report
          path: 'zap/wrk/output/'

      - name: ZAP Alerts Report
        if: failure()
        run: |
          echo "ZAP Scan failed"
          echo "Review the alerts at: ${{ steps.zap.outputs.report_url }}"

Step 5: Configure Secrets

If your DAST tool requires authentication or API keys, configure them in the GitHub repository settings:

1. Go to Settings -> Secrets.

2. Click on New Repository secret.

3. Add secrets (e.g., DAST_API_KEY).

Step 6: Commit and Push Changes

Commit your workflow file to the repository:

git add .GitHub/workflows/dast.yml
git commit -m "Add DAST workflow"
git push origin main

Step 7: Monitor Workflow Runs

1. Navigate to the Actions tab in your repository.

2. You will see your DAST workflow running. Monitor its progress and check for any issues.

Step 8: Review the Report

Once you complete the workflow, you can access the DAST report as an artifact. You can download it and review it to identify and fix any vulnerabilities.

Real-World Examples and Use Cases

Many organizations use GitHub DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) integration to automate security testing and ensure their web applications are secure before deploying them to production. Below are some real-world examples and use cases:

1. E-commerce Platforms

E-commerce companies often handle sensitive customer data, including payment information. By integrating DAST with GitHub Actions, these companies can automatically scan their web applications for vulnerabilities whenever a new code push or pull request occurs. This ensures that any security flaws are detected and addressed before attackers can exploit them.

Example:

• Company: Amazon

• Implementation: Amazon integrates DAST into its CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions to ensure that every code change is tested for security vulnerabilities. This helps Amazon maintain the security of its platform, protect customer data, and comply with industry regulations.

2. Financial Institutions

Financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies need to ensure their applications are secure due to the sensitive nature of the data they handle. Integrating DAST with GitHub enables continuous security testing, reducing the risk of data breaches and financial fraud.

Example:

• Company: Goldman Sachs

• Implementation: Goldman Sachs uses GitHub Actions to automate the security testing of its web applications. By integrating tools like OWASP ZAP, it can perform regular DAST scans, identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities in its applications before they are deployed.

3. Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers must comply with strict regulations like HIPAA, which require the protection of patient information. By implementing DAST within their GitHub workflows, healthcare providers can ensure that their web applications are free from vulnerabilities that could lead to data breaches.

Example:

• Company: Mayo Clinic

• Implementation: Mayo Clinic integrates DAST tools with GitHub Actions to continuously test their web applications for security vulnerabilities. This helps them protect patient data and comply with regulatory requirements.

4. SaaS Companies

Software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies often offer web-based applications to their customers. Ensuring the security of these applications is crucial to maintaining customer trust and avoiding data breaches. Integrating DAST into their GitHub workflows enables SaaS companies to automate security testing and catch vulnerabilities early in the development process.

Example:

• Company: Slack

• Implementation: Slack uses GitHub Actions to automate the deployment and security testing of their web applications. By integrating DAST tools like OWASP ZAP, they can detect and fix vulnerabilities before they impact users.

5. Government Agencies

Government agencies handle a vast amount of sensitive data and are prime targets for cyberattacks. Implementing DAST in their GitHub workflows helps these agencies continuously monitor and improve the security of their web applications, protecting sensitive information from compromise.

Example:

• Agency: United States Digital Service (USDS)

• Implementation: The USDS integrates DAST tools with GitHub Actions to ensure that all their web applications are thoroughly tested for security vulnerabilities. This proactive approach helps them safeguard sensitive government data and services.

Best Practices for Using GitHub DAST

Using GitHub DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) effectively involves following best practices to ensure thorough security testing and integration into your development workflow. Here are some recommended best practices for using GitHub DAST:

1. Integrate Early in the Development Cycle

• Start Testing Early: Integrate GitHub DAST into your CI/CD pipelines or development process as soon as possible to catch vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle.

• Automate Testing: Set up automatic DAST scans to run often or when code changes are made to keep security testing ongoing.

2. Customize and Configure Scans

• Adjust Scan Settings: Customize scan parameters based on your application's specific needs and security requirements.

• Set Scan Depth: Configure the depth and scope of scans to cover critical parts of your application thoroughly without overwhelming the testing process.

3. Handle Authentication and Sessions

• Manage Authentication: Ensure GitHub DAST handles authentication mechanisms correctly to access protected areas of your application.

• Session Handling: Configure session management to maintain continuity across scans, especially for applications with session-based functionalities.

4. Understand and Prioritize Vulnerabilities

• Prioritize Findings: Understand the severity and impact of vulnerabilities identified by GitHub DAST. Prioritize fixing critical vulnerabilities first.

• Use Vulnerability Data: Leverage detailed vulnerability reports from GitHub DAST to guide remediation efforts effectively.

5. Collaborate Across Teams

• Involve Security and Development Teams: Foster collaboration between security teams responsible for GitHub DAST and development teams responsible for fixing vulnerabilities.

• Communicate Findings: Ensure clear communication of findings and recommendations between teams to facilitate timely remediation.

Alternatives of GitHub DAST

While GitHub DAST is a robust and effective tool for dynamic application security testing, several other alternatives offer similar functionalities and may better suit your specific needs. Let's explore some of these alternatives:

1. GitLab

• Built-in DAST: GitLab provides built-in DAST as part of its DevSecOps offerings. This allows you to integrate security testing into your CI/CD pipelines without needing third-party tools.

• Features: Automated security tests, integrated CI/CD, merge request security scanning, and more.

• Integration: Seamlessly integrates with GitLab repositories and pipelines.

2. Bitbucket

• Integration with DAST Tools: Bitbucket integrates with various DAST tools like OWASP ZAP, SonarQube, and Snyk through pipelines and add-ons.

• Features: Bitbucket Pipelines allow you to automate security tests within your CI/CD workflows.

3. Azure DevOps

• Integration with Security Tools: Azure DevOps integrates with multiple security tools like OWASP ZAP, WhiteSource, and Veracode.

• Features: Comprehensive CI/CD pipelines, integration with Azure services, and automated security testing as part of the pipeline.

4. Jenkins

• Plugins for DAST: Jenkins, a widely used CI/CD tool, offers numerous plugins to integrate DAST tools like OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, and Arachni.

• Features: Highly customizable pipelines, extensive plugin ecosystem, and support for various DAST tools.

Final Thoughts

In web development and cybersecurity, GitHub Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) is a vital tool integrated seamlessly into the DevOps workflow. It simulates real-world attacks to pinpoint vulnerabilities in web applications before deployment. GitHub DAST empowers developer teams with automated security testing capabilities, complemented by its integration with GitHub Actions for streamlined deployment and continuous monitoring.

Throughout this blog, we've explored GitHub DAST's key features, setup procedures, and real-world implementations across e-commerce, finance, healthcare, SaaS, and government sectors. We've also highlighted alternatives like GitLab and Bitbucket, offering similar DAST functionalities within their DevSecOps frameworks. By adopting GitHub DAST or its alternatives, organizations bolster their security posture, mitigate risks of data breaches, and uphold user trust in an increasingly digital landscape.