DAST: 7 Use Cases with Real-Life Examples, Pros & Cons in '24

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) is a critical practice for businesses aiming to safeguard their web applications. DAST’s ability to mimic real-world cyberattacks and expose vulnerabilities in real-time makes it a valuable asset in the cybersecurity toolkit. We can observe a notable increase in the popularity of DAST in the last five years, as seen in the graph. 

Considering that a significant portion of software attacks exploit the application layer ¹ DAST’s focus on external testing becomes even more crucial. This article aims to provide an insightful exploration into DAST, helping companies and security and development teams to navigate its complexities and leverage its strengths to fortify their digital defenses effectively.

What is Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)?

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) is a method used to identify security vulnerabilities in web applications.

DAST tools act as external scanners and treat applications as black boxes. They test applications from the outside while applications are running in a production-like environment. This methodology of testing applications externally allows DAST to simulate real-world attacks on an application, similar to the techniques a hacker might employ.

In modern software development practices, particularly those following DevOps methodologies, DAST and DAST tools can be integrated into continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. This integration ensures ongoing security assurance throughout the application’s lifecycle.

To choose a DAST tool, visit the list of top DAST solutions.

Pros and Cons of DAST 

How Does DAST Work?

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) works by simulating external attacks on a web application to identify security vulnerabilities. Here’s an overview of how DAST typically operates:

1. Target Identification: Initially, the DAST tool needs to know what it is testing. This usually involves specifying the URL of the web application or API endpoints.
2. Crawling: The DAST tool starts by crawling the application, much like a search engine. It navigates through the application’s web pages and functionalities, mapping out its structure and identifying the different inputs and endpoints it can test.
3. Attack Simulation: Using the information gathered during crawling, the DAST tool simulates various attack scenarios. It inputs malicious data (such as SQL injection, XSS payloads, etc.) into forms, URL parameters, cookies, and headers to test how the application responds. Techniques includes:
   • Fuzzing: Injecting unexpected data
   • Parameter tampering: Modifying user inputs
   • Session hijacking: Simulating unauthorized access
4. Analysis of Responses: The tool analyzes the application’s responses to these simulated attacks. If the application returns error messages, behaves unexpectedly, or reveals sensitive information, the tool flags these as potential vulnerabilities.
5. Reporting: After completing the tests, DAST tools generate reports detailing the vulnerabilities discovered. These reports often include the severity of each vulnerability, its location, and sometimes suggestions for remediation.
6. Re-testing: Often, after vulnerabilities are fixed, the DAST tool is used again to verify that the security issues have been adequately addressed.

Top 7 DAST Use Cases

By addressing the dynamic aspects of web applications and simulating real-world attack scenarios, DAST plays a crucial role in identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities, thereby helping to protect sensitive data and maintain the integrity and availability of web services. Following is a list of key reasons why you might invest in DAST solutions:

1-Integration with Development Lifecycle

DAST can be integrated into secure code during the later stages of the software development lifecycle, such as during testing or post-deployment. This helps ensure that security is maintained throughout the lifecycle of the application and that bugs are identified earlier and resolved easier.

Case study

Park ‘N Fly, a company providing various airport services in the United States, needed a DAST solution for about 10 internal and on-prem apps, a kiosk application at each location, and facility management system software. Invicti’s DAST solution was integrated into their existing environment, improving DevSecOps process efficiency. This integration provided Jira and Azure DevOps capabilities, allowing Park ‘N Fly to scan and fix new applications before reaching production, significantly reducing manual work. 

Invicti’s automated features provided a security overview, enabling quicker prioritization and management of critical issues, effectively saving the equivalent of one full-time employee’s workload.²

2-Real-World Attack Simulation

DAST tools simulate real-world attacks on a web application, providing a practical assessment of its security posture. This approach helps in identifying vulnerabilities that might be exploited by malicious actors. 

A potential real-life scenario

• Scenario: An e-commerce company wants to ensure that its website is secure against common web attacks like SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF).
• DAST Application: A DAST tool is deployed to scan the website while it is live. The tool simulates attacks by sending malicious inputs to the application’s forms and APIs.
• Outcome: The DAST tool identifies a SQL Injection vulnerability in the website’s search functionality. The company’s developers quickly patch the vulnerability, preventing potential data breaches.

3-Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

Many regulations and standards, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), require regular security testing of applications that handle sensitive data. DAST helps organizations comply with these requirements by identifying vulnerabilities that could compromise data security.

DAST tests the effectiveness of security controls in a live environment. This is essential for compliance, as it provides empirical evidence that the deployed security measures are functioning as intended.

Case study

In compliance with regulations, including GDPR, Channel 4 was required to prove its data’s safety and security. This necessitated the implementation of strong security measures and technologies to guard against present and prospective risks. Consequently, the company was in search of an efficient and economical method to evaluate its security systems.

Channel 4 collaborated with Invicti to enhance its cybersecurity and streamline efficiency. Through this collaboration, they were able to decrease their yearly expenditure on penetration testing by about 60% in the first year, with further reductions in the subsequent year. Channel 4 implemented Invicti’s automated vulnerability scanning system, which facilitated ongoing and effective security evaluations of their online platforms ³

4-Comprehensive Coverage

DAST can test an application from the outside, exploring publicly available interfaces and endpoints. This allows it to find and identify vulnerabilities that might not be apparent through static analysis alone, such as issues with user authentication, session management, and other dynamic aspects of the application.

5-Ease of Use

DAST tools are generally easy to use and do not require access to the source code. This makes them a convenient option for businesses and organizations whose security teams might not have the technical expertise to conduct more complex forms of security testing.

6-Identification of Runtime Issues

Since DAST tests applications in their running state, it can identify issues that only appear during runtime. This includes problems with the application’s interaction with other systems, its use of third-party components, and its response to various types of input.

7-Complement to Other Testing Methods

DAST is often used in conjunction with Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and other methodologies, such as interactive application security testing, to provide a more comprehensive view of an application’s security. While SAST analyzes the source code for potential vulnerabilities, DAST tests the application in its running state, offering a different perspective.

What are the differences and similarities between DAST, vulnerability scanning, API, and application security tools?

DAST tools, vulnerability scanning tools, API security tools, and application security tools each serve specific purposes in the broader context of cybersecurity, with some areas of overlap.

DAST tools specialize in testing the security of web applications while they are running, simulating external attacks to uncover vulnerabilities that are only apparent during operation.

Vulnerability scanning tools provide a broader service, scanning systems, networks, or applications for a variety of security issues, including weaknesses that might not be limited to the software itself but could involve configurations or outdated systems.

API security tools are specifically designed to protect APIs, which are critical interfaces between different software applications. These tools focus on security concerns unique to APIs, such as securing endpoints, authenticating and managing API calls, and ensuring data integrity during transmission.

Application security tools encompass a wide range of tools, including the above-mentioned types, and are aimed at securing applications throughout their lifecycle. This category includes tools and practices that address security at different stages—from development to deployment and maintenance.

These categories, however, do overlap:

• DAST tools are a subset of application security tools, specifically aimed at identifying vulnerabilities in live web applications through simulated external attacks.
• API security tools also fall under the broader umbrella of application security tools, but they focus specifically on the security of API interfaces, addressing unique challenges like endpoint security and authentication.
• Vulnerability scanning tools have a wider scope, encompassing security checks across entire systems, including networks and applications. They often include capabilities to identify vulnerabilities in web applications and APIs, thus overlapping with DAST and API security tools.

1-Limited Visibility into Internal Code

DAST only tests the exposed interfaces of an application. It cannot analyze the internal source of application code, so it might miss vulnerabilities that are not visible from an external perspective.

2-Late Discovery of Vulnerabilities

DAST is typically used in the later stages of development or even after deployment. This means vulnerabilities might be discovered late, making them more expensive and time-consuming to fix.

3-False Positives and Negatives

DAST can produce false positives (incorrectly identifying benign aspects of the application as vulnerabilities) and false negatives (failing to detect actual vulnerabilities). This can lead to unnecessary work or overlooked security risks.

4-Limited to Specific Types of Vulnerabilities

While DAST is effective at identifying specific vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS), it may be less effective at detecting more complex security issues like business logic flaws.

5-Performance Impact

DAST tests an application in its running state, meaning running DAST tools can impact an application’s performance. This needs to be carefully managed to avoid disrupting normal operations.

6-Difficulty in Identifying the Exact Source of Vulnerabilities

DAST can indicate that a vulnerability exists but often cannot pinpoint the exact location in the code. This can make troubleshooting and fixing issues more challenging.

7-Dependency on the Application’s Dynamic Behavior

The effectiveness of DAST can vary based on the specific dynamic behavior of the application being tested, potentially leading to inconsistencies in testing outcomes; this may hinder finding 
application security vulnerabilities.

If you have further questions, reach us:

External Links

• 1. A. Praseed and P. S. Thilagam, “DDoS Attacks at the Application Layer: Challenges and Research Perspectives for Safeguarding Web Applications,”, in IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 661-685
• 2. “Park-n-fly-case-study” Invicti
• 3. “Channel 4 Case Study” Invicti