Synopsys DAST, also known as WhiteHat DAST, is a cloud-based tool that identifies security weaknesses in web applications. It operates like a hacker to find potential vulnerabilities, allowing teams to fix issues before they can be exploited. It is an efficient and effective solution for improving web application security.

In this blog, you will learn about Synopsys DAST or WhiteHat DAST, how it works, how Synopsys DAST integrates with the CI/CD pipeline, real-world examples of successful integrations, how Synopsys Dynamic Application Security Testing provides remediation steps, its limitations, and the alternatives to Synopsys DAST.

Let’s get started

What is Synopsys DAST (WhiteHat DAST)?

Synopsys DAST, previously known as WhiteHat Dynamic Application Security Testing, is a powerful tool designed to provide comprehensive security testing for web applications. It identifies vulnerabilities by simulating real-world attacks on a running application, making it a crucial component of a robust security strategy.

How Does Synopsys DAST Work?

Synopsys DAST simulates real-world attacks on a running web application to identify potential vulnerabilities. The process starts with scanning the application to map its structure and identify entry points such as URLs, forms, inputs, and endpoints.

After mapping the application's attack surface, Synopsys DAST simulates various attacks, including SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), and File Inclusion. The tool then analyzes the responses from these simulated attacks to identify potential security flaws.

The tool generates detailed reports outlining the discovered vulnerabilities, their severity, and recommended mitigation steps. Additionally, Synopsys DAST provides continuous monitoring of the application, sending real-time alerts on newly discovered vulnerabilities and ensuring the application remains secure as it evolves.

How Synopsys DAST integrates with CI/CD Pipelines

Synopsys DAST integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines, enabling automated and continuous security testing to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities early and effectively.

To integrate Synopsys DAST with GitHub Actions for automated security testing, follow these steps:

Prerequisites

• A GitHub repository that houses your application code.

• Access to Synopsys DAST or WhiteHat DAST with the necessary API keys and configuration details.

Step 1: Set Up Synopsys DAST API Access

• Obtain the API key and necessary credentials from your Synopsys DAST account.

Step 2: Create a GitHub Actions Workflow File

• In your GitHub repository, navigate to the .github/workflows directory. If this directory does not exist, create it.

• Create a new YAML file, such as synopsys-dast.yml.

Step 3: Define the Workflow

• Open the synopsys-dast.yml file and define the workflow steps. The following is a sample configuration:

name: Synopsys DAST Scan

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

jobs:
  dast:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
    - name: Checkout code
      uses: actions/checkout@v2

    - name: Set up Node.js
      uses: actions/setup-node@v2
      with:
        node-version: '14'

    - name: Install dependencies
      run: npm install

    - name: Run Synopsys DAST scan
      env:
        DAST_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.DAST_API_KEY }}
        DAST_API_URL: ${{ secrets.DAST_API_URL }}
      run: |
        curl -X POST "$DAST_API_URL/scan" \
        -H "Authorization: Bearer $DAST_API_KEY" \
        -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
        -d '{
              "applicationId": "your-application-id",
              "scanType": "DAST",
              "url": "http://your-application-url.com"
            }'

    - name: Check scan status
      run: |
        status=$(curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $DAST_API_KEY" "$DAST_API_URL/scan/status?applicationId=your-application-id" | jq -r '.status')
        if [ "$status" != "completed" ]; then
          echo "Scan not completed. Status: $status"
          exit 1
        fi

Step 4: Configure GitHub Secrets

• Go to your GitHub repository settings.

• Navigate to Secrets under the Security section.

• Add the following secrets:

  • DAST_API_KEY: Your Synopsys DAST API key.

  • DAST_API_URL: The API URL endpoint for Synopsys DAST.

Step 5: Customize the Workflow

• Replace your-application-id with your specific application ID in Synopsys DAST.

• Replace http://your-application-url.com with the URL of your application to be scanned.

• Customize any additional parameters required for your specific setup or Synopsys DAST configuration.

Step 6: Commit and Push the Workflow

• Commit the synopsys-dast.yml file to your repository.

• Push the changes to GitHub. Pushing the changes to GitHub triggers the workflow based on the defined events (push or pull requests to the main branch).

Step 7: Review Scan Results

• The workflow executes the Synopsys DAST scan and checks the status.

• If the scan does not complete successfully, the workflow exits with an error.

Real-World Examples of Successful Integrations

Let's look at some practical examples of how different industries have integrated Synopsys DAST and its impact on their web application security:

1. Financial Services Company

A leading financial services company integrated Synopsys DAST into its CI/CD pipeline to enhance the security of its online banking application. Automated security scans allowed for early detection of vulnerabilities, reducing the risk of breaches.

2. Healthcare Provider

A healthcare provider used Synopsys DAST to secure its patient management system, enhancing both security and efficiency. Continuous scans identify vulnerabilities in real-time, protecting sensitive patient data. Integration with GitHub Actions incorporated security testing into daily workflows, reducing manual checks.

3. E-Commerce Platform

An e-commerce platform integrated Synopsys DAST to secure its online marketplace. This integration reduced false positives with advanced traffic pattern analysis, allowing the security team to focus on genuine threats.

Real-time reporting enables rapid response to vulnerabilities, maintaining platform security without disrupting the user experience. The integration supported DevSecOps practices, fostering collaboration and efficiency among development, operations, and security teams.

4. Technology Firm

A global technology firm integrated Synopsys DAST with its CI/CD pipeline to secure its SaaS products. Regular DAST scans and real-time feedback facilitated continuous security improvements. Comprehensive coverage ensures that it promptly addresses both common and complex security issues.

How Synopsys DAST Provides Remediation Steps

Its ability to provide remediation steps enables development teams to quickly enhance their applications' security posture, standing out as one of its key features.

Remediation Steps

1. Detailed Fix Recommendations

Synopsys DAST offers specific remediation steps for each identified vulnerability. These recommendations include code snippets, configuration changes, and best application security practices. The tool helps developers implement effective fixes by providing concrete guidance.

2. Developer Resources

The tool often includes links to external resources, such as documentation, tutorials, and best practices guides, which can aid developers in understanding and resolving complex security issues. These resources provide additional support and knowledge, enabling teams to enhance their security practices.

Continuous Improvement

1. Feedback Loop

Synopsys DAST fosters a continuous feedback loop between security and development teams. Integrating with CI/CD pipelines and other development tools ensures that security testing and remediation are ongoing processes. This continuous feedback helps teams adapt and improve their security practices over time.

2. Automation and Integration

The tool's automation capabilities streamline the security testing process and enable regular and consistent scans. Integrating with development tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, and GitLab CI/CD embeds security testing in the development workflow, providing timely insights and remediation steps.

Limitations of Synopsys DAST

While Synopsys DAST offers many benefits, there are several reasons why organizations might seek alternatives:

1. Complex Configuration

Setting up and configuring Synopsys DAST can be complex and time-consuming, requiring significant expertise to optimize for specific applications. This can be a barrier for smaller teams or those with less technical knowledge.

2. False Positives

Like many automated testing tools, Synopsys DAST can generate false positives, wasting time and resources as security teams investigate non-existent issues. This can decrease efficiency and divert attention from real vulnerabilities.

3. Performance Impact

The scanning and attack simulation processes can impact the application's performance, potentially disrupting normal operations. This can result in slower response times and a less optimal user experience.

4. Limited Coverage

While DAST effectively finds certain vulnerabilities, it may not cover all security aspects, such as vulnerabilities in the application's codebase that SAST can detect.

5. Cost

The cost of deploying and maintaining Synopsys DAST can be high, especially for smaller organizations with limited budgets. This could make it less accessible for startups and small businesses.

Synopsys DAST Alternatives

While Synopsys DAST is a robust and reliable tool, several alternatives are available in the market that offer similar or enhanced capabilities. Here’s a look at some of the top alternatives:

1. Akto

Akto is a proactive API security platform providing comprehensive API security testing. While Synopsys DAST focuses on web applications, Akto specializes in API security testing with a robust testing library and supports Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST). This specialization makes it a strong alternative to Synopsys DAST, especially for organizations prioritizing API security.

2. OWASP ZAP

It is an open-source web application security scanner with active and passive scanning capabilities. It is highly extensible and supports various scripting languages, making it flexible for testing scenarios.

Widely used due to its cost-effectiveness and extensive community support, OWASP ZAP is a suitable alternative to Synopsys DAST for developers and security teams looking for a free, open-source solution with strong community backing and extensibility.

3. Burp Suite

Burp Suite is a popular web vulnerability scanner and security testing toolkit used by security professionals and penetration testers. It offers manual and automated testing capabilities for deep and thorough security assessments.

The extensibility through plugins and a robust suite of tools make Burp Suite a favorite among professional testers. It provides a strong alternative to Synopsys DAST for those who require a powerful toolkit for automated and manual security testing, making it ideal for comprehensive and customized assessments.

4. Acunetix

Acunetix is a comprehensive web vulnerability scanner designed to detect various security issues in web applications, including OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities. It offers advanced scanning capabilities and integrates seamlessly with CI/CD tools, supporting continuous security testing.

Known for its user-friendly interface and detailed reporting, Acunetix stands out as an alternative to Synopsys DAST for enterprises requiring extensive vulnerability coverage and seamless integration with development workflows.

5. Netsparker

It is an automated web application security scanner that identifies vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). It is known for its high accuracy and minimal false positives, achieved through its advanced scanning engine and proof-based scanning technology.

Netsparker’s unique ability to automatically verify vulnerabilities reduces the time required for manual verification, making it a strong alternative to Synopsys DAST. This is particularly true for organizations looking to minimize false positives and streamline the security assessment process.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, while Synopsys DAST (WhiteHat DAST) remains a leading tool for dynamic application security testing, exploring alternatives like Akto can provide additional benefits. It specializes in API security testing with a robust testing library and supports Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST). Akto’s user-friendly interface, seamless integration capabilities, and real-time vulnerability scanning make it a compelling choice for organizations looking to enhance their security posture.