Glossary
What is code scanning?
Code scanning is the automated analysis of source code to identify security vulnerabilities, coding errors, and quality issues early in the software development lifecycle. It helps detect flaws such as injection points, insecure configurations, and logic errors before code is deployed to production.
Code scanning is a foundational practice in modern application security. It is often used in secure DevOps (DevSecOps) pipelines to ensure that code is safe, compliant, and high-quality.
Why scan your code?
Software vulnerabilities often originate in source code and, if left undetected, can become exploitable weaknesses in production systems. Code scanning helps:
- Identify vulnerabilities early when they are cheaper and easier to fix
- Reduce the risk of deploying insecure code
- Shift security “left” to developers, improving speed and quality
- Meet industry compliance and secure coding standards (e.g., OWASP, CWE, MISRA)
Without code scanning, vulnerabilities may only be discovered post-deployment, increasing remediation time, cost, and potential business impact.
How does code scanning work?
Code scanning tools operate by statically analyzing source code to find security and quality issues without executing the code. They typically:
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Parse the Codebase: Read the syntax and semantics of source code across various languages.
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Apply Rule Sets or Heuristics: Identify patterns indicating vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection or hardcoded credentials.
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Integrate with CI/CD Pipelines: Run automatically during code commits or builds.
- Provide Feedback: Offer detailed issue descriptions, remediation suggestions, and severity levels.
Two primary types of code scanning:
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SAST (Static Application Security Testing): Focuses on security vulnerabilities.
- Linters & Quality Tools: Focus on code quality, style, and maintainability.
Advanced tools may also include AI-based analysis, taint tracking, and support for multiple programming languages
Benefits:
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Reduces Application Risk: Catches security issues early in the SDLC.
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Accelerates DevSecOps: Provides security feedback to developers in real time.
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Lowers Cost of Remediation: Fixing flaws in development is significantly cheaper than in production.
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Improves Software Quality: Enforces coding standards and best practices.
- Supports Compliance: Helps meet requirements for secure development processes in standards like ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, and SOC 2.
Code scanning vs.
|
Term |
Focus Area |
Key Difference from Code Scanning |
|
SAST |
Security-focused static scanning |
SAST is a subset of code scanning with a security lens. |
|
DAST |
Runtime vulnerability scanning |
DAST tests running applications, not source code. |
|
Dependency Scanning |
Third-party component risks |
Focuses on external libraries, not custom code. |
|
Code Review |
Manual code inspection |
Code scanning is automated, scalable, and consistent. |
Limit attacks with code scanning:
- Detect insecure code patterns (e.g., injection, buffer overflows) before release
- Block builds that contain critical vulnerabilities
- Integrate secure coding practices into developer workflows
- Continuously scan for regressions as code evolves
Use cases:
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Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC): Embed security checks early in development to identify and remediate code flaws before release.
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CI/CD Pipeline Integration for DevSecOps: Automate code scanning during builds to ensure every deployment meets security standards.
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Security Gatekeeping for Code Merges: Block vulnerable or non-compliant code from entering production through enforced pre-merge checks.
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Developer Security Training and Feedback: Provide developers real-time insights on insecure code patterns to build secure coding habits.
- Pre-Audit Risk Reduction: Address security issues proactively to minimize findings during regulatory or customer audits.
Additional considerations:
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False Positives: Some tools may generate noise; fine-tuning rules is essential.
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Language Coverage: Ensure your scanning solution supports the languages in use.
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Developer Adoption: Security feedback must be timely, actionable, and non-disruptive.
- Tool Consolidation: Consider platforms that combine code scanning with SCA, SAST, and secret detection.
