3.13 Security in Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) Explained
Key Concepts
Security in Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) involves integrating security practices throughout the software development lifecycle. Key concepts include Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), and Security as Code.
Static Application Security Testing (SAST)
SAST is a method of analyzing the source code of an application to identify potential security vulnerabilities. SAST tools scan the code without executing it, looking for common coding errors that could lead to security issues such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and buffer overflows.
Example: A development team uses a SAST tool to scan their codebase before each commit. The tool identifies a potential SQL injection vulnerability in a database query. The team fixes the issue before merging the code, ensuring that the application remains secure.
Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)
DAST involves testing an application while it is running to identify security vulnerabilities. DAST tools simulate attacks on the application to detect issues such as unvalidated inputs, cross-site scripting, and improper error handling.
Example: After deploying a new version of a web application, a DAST tool is used to perform a security scan. The tool identifies a cross-site scripting vulnerability in a user feedback form. The development team quickly patches the vulnerability, ensuring that users' data remains protected.
Security as Code
Security as Code is the practice of defining and enforcing security policies and configurations using code. This approach ensures that security is integrated into the CI/CD pipeline, allowing for automated enforcement and consistent application of security measures.
Example: A DevOps team implements Security as Code by defining security policies in YAML files. These policies are integrated into the CI/CD pipeline, automatically scanning and enforcing security best practices during each build and deployment. This ensures that security is consistently applied and vulnerabilities are caught early in the development process.
Conclusion
Security in CI/CD is crucial for ensuring that applications are built and deployed securely. By integrating Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), and Security as Code, organizations can identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities early in the development process, ensuring that their applications are secure by design.