An SBOM is a detailed list of all components, libraries, modules, and dependencies used in a software project. It acts as an inventory, helping organizations and developers track and manage these elements for better transparency, security, and compliance. SBOMs are crucial for:
Vulnerability Management: Keeping track of dependencies makes it easier to identify potential vulnerabilities when security issues are disclosed in third-party libraries.
Compliance: Regulatory frameworks like the U.S. Executive Order on Cybersecurity require SBOMs to enhance transparency.
Supply Chain Security: By knowing the components and their sources, developers can avoid supply chain attacks or respond quickly when issues arise
CodeQL is a code analysis tool developed by GitHub. It allows for the creation of queries that help in identifying vulnerabilities or bugs by examining the source code. CodeQL treats code as data and allows developers to use queries to detect security issues, performance bottlenecks, or code quality problems.
Static Analysis: CodeQL performs static analysis to find issues like SQL injections, cross-site scripting, buffer overflows, etc., in the codebase.
Custom Queries: Developers can write custom queries using the CodeQL query language to search for specific patterns of vulnerabilities or to enforce coding standards.
Vulnerability Detection in Dependencies: SBOM can list all libraries and versions, while CodeQL can be used to inspect how those dependencies are being used in the codebase. This is especially important for checking whether known vulnerabilities in libraries are being exploited.
Automation in CI/CD Pipelines: Both SBOM generation and CodeQL analysis can be automated within CI/CD pipelines, providing continuous monitoring for potential security risks in both proprietary code and third-party components.Â
SAST (Static Application Security Testing):
Definition: SAST involves analyzing an application's source code, bytecode, or binary code for vulnerabilities without executing the program. It is performed early in the development cycle.
Use Case: Identifies security issues such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), or insecure coding patterns by reviewing the code itself.
Benefits: Can find vulnerabilities early in the development phase before the software is deployed.
DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing):
Definition: DAST tests an application from the outside by executing it and analyzing its behavior during runtime, without access to the source code. It simulates external attacks to find vulnerabilities.
Use Case: Identifies vulnerabilities like cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, and misconfigurations by simulating attacks in a live environment.
Benefits: Detects vulnerabilities that can only be found when the application is running, such as authentication issues or runtime errors.
SCA (Software Composition Analysis):
Definition: SCA involves analyzing third-party open-source components and libraries used in an application to identify known vulnerabilities, licensing issues, or compliance risks.
Use Case: Helps developers understand and manage security risks associated with using open-source software in their projects.
Benefits: Identifies vulnerabilities in third-party dependencies and ensures that licenses for external components are compliant with company policies.
SAST is static (reviews the code) and is done early.
DAST is dynamic (tests a running application) and is done later in the cycle.
SCA focuses on third-party libraries and components, ensuring external software security and compliance.