Top 7 SAST Tools for Mobile App Security Testing

Looking to boost your mobile app's security? Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools can help. Here's a quick rundown of the top 7 SAST tools for mobile app security:

1. Checkmarx
2. Veracode
3. SonarQube
4. Fortify Static Code Analyzer
5. Snyk
6. CodeQL
7. Appknox

These tools scan your code for vulnerabilities before compilation, catching issues early and saving time and money.

Quick Comparison:

Remember: No single tool catches everything. Use a mix of SAST, DAST, and manual testing for best results.

To get the most out of SAST:

• Start early in development
• Integrate with your CI/CD pipeline
• Scan often, ideally with each code change
• Keep your tools updated
• Train your team on security best practices

By using SAST tools effectively, you'll catch vulnerabilities sooner, ship safer apps, and keep your users' data secure.

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What is SAST for Mobile Apps?

SAST (Static Application Security Testing) is like having a security expert check your mobile app's code before it's compiled and released. It spots potential security issues early on.

Here's what makes SAST for mobile apps stand out:

• Analyzes code without running the app
• Scans millions of lines quickly
• Catches problems early in development

SAST vs. DAST:

Mobile app security testing challenges:

1. Device fragmentation

SAST helps by focusing on code-level issues that apply across all devices.

2. Local data storage

SAST can spot insecure data handling in the code.

3. Third-party libraries

SAST flags potential risks in external code.

4. App store compliance

SAST helps developers meet store-specific security rules from the start.

SAST isn't perfect. It can miss runtime issues and sometimes flags false positives. That's why it's often used with other testing methods.

In 2022, Gartner found that over 75% of mobile apps fail basic security tests.

SAST is key to improving these numbers.

Important Features in SAST Tools

When choosing a SAST tool for mobile app security testing, focus on these key features:

1. Language Support

Pick tools that cover many programming languages. This lets you:

• Test your whole app
• Stick with one tool even if you switch languages

Veracode supports 100+ languages and frameworks. Checkmarx? 50+ languages and 80 frameworks.

2. Integration Options

Good SAST tools fit your workflow. They should:

• Work with your dev pipeline
• Connect to CI processes
• Scan code as it's written

This catches issues early and saves time.

3. Scanning Speed and Accuracy

Fast, accurate scans are key. Look for tools that:

• Scan millions of code lines quickly
• Check only changed code
• Minimize false results

This keeps devs productive and focused on real problems.

4. Customization

Your app is unique. Choose tools that let you:

• Adjust scanning rules
• Create custom queries
• Set up compliance presets (like OWASP Top 10)

This helps catch issues specific to your app.

5. Reporting and Guidance

Clear reports and advice matter. Top tools offer:

• Detailed vulnerability reports
• Exact issue locations
• Step-by-step fixing instructions

This helps devs understand and fix problems fast.

6. Automation

Automated scans save time. Look for tools that:

• Run scans on code commits
• Schedule regular scans
• Integrate with your build system

This keeps security checks consistent.

Feature Comparison Table

Focus on these features to pick a SAST tool that finds issues AND helps your team work better.

"Snyk Code gave us a net new capability to add to our arsenal, ... It analyzes code we write, quickly, and provides legitimate, actionable information that engineers can use during development and within build workflows." - Joren McReynolds, Director of Engineering at Panther Labs.

This quote shows how a good SAST tool can make a real difference.

Checkmarx: A Top SAST Tool for Mobile App Security

Checkmarx is a standout SAST tool for mobile app security testing. Here's why:

It Speaks Your Language

Checkmarx supports over 35 programming languages and 80 frameworks. That means you can use it for both iOS and Android development. One tool, multiple platforms. Simple.

Plays Nice with CI/CD

It integrates with popular CI/CD platforms like Jenkins, TeamCity, GitHub, Azure DevOps, and Maven. No plugin? No problem. Checkmarx offers CLI integrations too.

The best part? It scans code on check-in directly from source repositories. Catch issues early, fix them fast.

Reports That Make Sense

Checkmarx doesn't just find problems - it helps you solve them:

• Pinpoints exact issue locations
• Gives step-by-step fixing instructions
• Provides analytics dashboards for a big-picture view

Mobile-Specific Smarts

For mobile apps, Checkmarx CxSAST:

• Analyzes iOS and Android code
• Spots flaws other tools miss
• Tracks tricky vulnerabilities like code injection

It's automated, so you can focus on fixing, not finding.

In real-world use, Checkmarx can be up to 90% faster than some competitors and cut false positives by up to 80%. That's a big time-saver.

"Checkmarx One checks all my boxes... It's easy to get right to the problem with little to no learning curve." - Joel Godbout, Cybersecurity and Networking Manager

But it's not perfect. Some users see it more as a compliance tool than a true shift-left solution. And there have been reports of high false positive rates in some cases.

Overall, Checkmarx is a solid choice for teams looking to beef up their mobile app security testing. It offers comprehensive analysis, good integration options, and user-friendly features.

2. Veracode

Veracode is a top SAST tool for mobile app security testing. Here's what you need to know:

Language Support

Veracode's got you covered:

• 100+ languages and frameworks
• SCA and SAST plugin for Visual Studio Code
• Binary code assessment (great for third-party stuff)

Integration with CI/CD

It plays nice with your workflow:

• Works with Azure DevOps, GitHub, Jenkins, and more
• APIs for custom setups
• Automated feedback in IDEs and pipelines

Reporting and Analytics

Clear insights, fast:

• Reports in PDF, JUnit, or CSV
• Dashboards for vulnerability assessment
• 90-second median scan time

Mobile-Specific Features

For mobile apps, Veracode offers:

• Static Analysis for iOS and Android
• Dynamic Analysis for runtime issues
• Software Composition Analysis for open-source risks

In March 2023, a fintech company used Veracode to scan their mobile banking app. They caught 17 critical vulnerabilities before launch. That's a big win.

But it's not all roses. Some devs find the UI clunky and integration tricky. It needs two builds and only scans compiled code, which can slow things down.

Still, for teams wanting to shift left on security, Veracode's a solid bet. Its coverage and low false-positive rate make it a strong player in the SAST tool game.

3. SonarQube

SonarQube is an open-source SAST platform that's caught the eye of many developers. It's a solid choice for mobile app security testing, packing a punch with its features.

Language Support

SonarQube's got you covered for mobile development:

• Supports 20+ languages
• Handles Swift and Objective-C for iOS
• Works with Java for Android

For Objective-C, you'll need a Build Wrapper. Don't worry, it's available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.

Plays Nice with CI/CD

SonarQube fits right into your workflow:

• Works with GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, Azure Pipelines, and Jenkins
• Kicks off analysis when you commit code
• Uses Quality Gates to keep your builds in check

Clear Insights

SonarQube breaks down your code quality:

It uses a simple rating system, so you can quickly see how your code stacks up.

Mobile-Specific Features

For mobile apps, SonarQube offers:

• A Swift plugin for iOS
• Mobile-specific metrics
• Code coverage during automated tests

Here's a real-world example: A fintech startup added SonarQube to their mobile banking app development in January 2023. Result? They caught 23 critical vulnerabilities and cut their bug rate by 40% in just one quarter.

Setting up SonarQube for Swift? Here's the quick version:

1. Get SonarQube and SonarScanner
2. Update .bash_profile
3. Add sonar-project.properties to your project root

With over 5,000 rules and taint analysis, SonarQube is a strong contender for mobile app security testing. It catches issues early, saving you time and headaches down the road.

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4. Fortify Static Code Analyzer

Fortify Static Code Analyzer is a SAST tool that finds security issues in mobile apps fast. It's part of OpenText's security solutions, focusing on native source code analysis for Android and iOS apps.

What It Does

This tool works with native Android and iOS codebases. It fits into modern dev workflows by:

• Working with popular CI/CD programs
• Finding security vulnerabilities early
• Helping fix coding errors in real-time

Reporting

Fortify offers a user-friendly dashboard for tracking risks and mistakes. It reports on:

Mobile App Focus

For mobile apps, Fortify:

• Analyzes native source code
• Finds mobile-specific security issues
• Detects and reports errors in real-time

An IT pro said: "It fixes coding errors in real-time. The dashboard makes tracking mistakes and security risks easy."

Users like Fortify:

Want to try it? Fortify offers a free trial to test how it boosts your mobile app security and dev speed.

5. Snyk

Snyk is a security platform for developers. It finds and fixes vulnerabilities in code, dependencies, containers, and infrastructure as code. It's great for mobile app security testing, especially for open source libraries.

Language Support

Snyk works with many programming languages, making it good for both Android and iOS development. Its SAST features cover popular mobile languages and frameworks.

Integration with CI/CD

Snyk fits easily into CI/CD workflows. It works with tools like:

• AWS CodePipeline
• Azure Pipelines
• Bitbucket Pipelines
• CircleCI
• GitHub Actions
• Jenkins
• Maven
• TeamCity

You can add security checks to your workflow without much trouble. For example, scan your code every time you push changes or during builds.

Reporting and Analytics

Snyk gives detailed reports to help teams tackle security issues:

Mobile-Specific Features

For mobile apps, Snyk offers:

• Dependency scanning
• Code analysis
• Container scanning

Snyk is fast. It scans code 2.4 times faster than similar tools, which speeds up development.

"As a security leader, my main job is to make sure all our code is secure by design, whether AI-generated or human-written. Snyk Code's AI static analysis and DeepCode AI Fix help our teams ship software faster and more securely." - Steve Pugh, CISO, ICE/NYSE

Snyk gets results. 82.7% of customers said their developer processes improved after using it.

To make the most of Snyk for mobile app security:

1. Integrate early: Add Snyk to your IDE or CI pipeline.

2. Use fail criteria: Fail builds if high-severity issues are found.

3. Use AI-powered fixes: Try Snyk's AI fix suggestions.

4. Keep monitoring: Watch your dependencies even after release.

6. CodeQL

CodeQL is a static analysis tool that scans source code for vulnerabilities. It's useful for mobile app security testing and manual code reviews.

Language Support

CodeQL works with many mobile app development languages:

For Android, CodeQL treats Java and Kotlin as one language. iOS developers can use it to scan Swift code.

Integration with CI/CD

You can use CodeQL in CI/CD workflows through GitHub Actions:

1. Turn on the GitHub Action in your repo

2. CodeQL makes a database of your code

3. It runs queries to find issues

This process is usually automatic for interpreted languages.

Reporting and Analytics

CodeQL gives detailed reports on security issues:

• Finds hundreds of vulnerability types
• Tracks data flow to spot security holes
• Lets you write custom queries with QL

Mobile-Specific Features

For mobile apps, CodeQL offers:

• Kotlin and Swift support (added in version 2.18.1)
• Framework modeling
• Custom queries for mobile-specific issues

"Developers have fixed over 6,000 Kotlin alerts since we announced Kotlin support for code scanning." - GitHub

To get the most out of CodeQL for mobile app security:

1. Use java-kotlin for Android projects

2. Try the security-and-quality query suite

3. Write custom queries for your app

4. Use CodeQL early in development to catch issues quickly

7. Appknox

Appknox is a mobile app security platform that's all about making your apps safer. It uses both automated and manual testing to give you a full picture of your app's security.

CI/CD Integration

Want to add Appknox to your development pipeline? Here's how:

1. Get the Appknox CLI

2. Set up your access token

3. Use appknox upload <assert> to send your app

4. Combine upload and cicheck to spot high-risk issues

This setup keeps your team in the loop about security with each new build.

Reports and Insights

Appknox's dashboard gives you:

• A quick look at vulnerabilities
• Risk levels at a glance
• Fast, accurate scans (60 minutes for automated)
• A breakdown of your app's components (SBOM)

Mobile Security Features

Appknox works for both Android and iOS, so it's got you covered no matter what you're building.

"Appknox makes fixing vulnerabilities a breeze. We manage security for all our apps in about 45 minutes." - Taryar W, Senior Security Researcher

SAST Tools Comparison

Let's compare the top 7 SAST tools for mobile app security testing:

No tool is perfect. Even top performers like Contrast and SBwFSB (with F1-scores of 84.4% and 82.8%) miss some real-world vulnerabilities. In fact, combining all evaluated SAST tools still left 70.9% of vulnerabilities undetected. This shows why you need multiple tools and human expertise.

For mobile apps, consider platform-specific tools:

• QARK (Android): Focuses on security loopholes
• ImmuniWeb® MobileSuite: Offers zero false-positive SLA for mobile and backend testing

When choosing your tools, think about:

1. Scalability

Checkmarx handles up to 3000 releases daily. Is that enough for your team?

2. Integration

Veracode and Snyk play nice with CI/CD pipelines. How easily will the tool fit into your workflow?

3. Support

Veracode's responsive team can be a lifesaver. How much help will you need?

4. False positives

ImmuniWeb promises zero false positives, but others need more verification. How much time can you spend on manual checks?

Tips for Using SAST in Mobile App Development

SAST can boost your mobile app's security. Here's how to use it effectively:

Start Early, Scan Often

Run SAST from day one and after every code change. It catches issues early, saving time and money. Camelot Lottery Solutions does this with NowSecure in their Bitrise pipeline.

Integrate with CI/CD

Automate SAST in your CI/CD pipeline. This:

• Spots vulnerabilities with each commit
• Creates build reports showing bugs
• Stops insecure code from progressing

Mix SAST with Other Tests

SAST works best with other security tests:

Using these together gives full coverage.

Manage False Positives

SAST can flag non-issues. To handle this:

1. Adjust your SAST tool to your app
2. Compare findings from multiple scanners
3. Use threat modeling for high-risk areas

Update Your SAST Tool

Keep your SAST tool current. It helps catch new threats. Review your setup regularly to stay effective.

Train Your Team

Teach developers about security. It helps them understand SAST results and write safer code. As Panos Megremis from Camelot Lottery Solutions says:

"It's really important nowadays to get quick feedback."

Fast SAST feedback plus developer know-how improves app security.

Check Third-Party Code

Scan third-party dependencies regularly. They can bring in vulnerabilities. Include this in your SAST process to catch issues early.

Wrap-up

SAST tools are crucial for early security issue detection in mobile apps. They analyze code without execution, catching vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting before they become real problems.

When choosing a SAST tool for your mobile app, look at:

• Development process compatibility
• Language support
• Integration with other security tools
• Report quality

SAST is just one piece of the security puzzle. It's most effective when combined with other testing methods:

SAST tools can be cost-effective. GrammaTech's research shows that early flaw detection can lead to significant project cost savings.

To maximize SAST benefits:

1. Implement early in development

Start using SAST as soon as you begin coding. This helps catch issues before they become deeply embedded in your app.

2. Scan frequently

Run SAST checks often, especially before code commits. This keeps your codebase clean and secure.

3. Educate your team

Make sure your developers understand SAST results and know how to address identified issues.

4. Keep tools updated

Regularly update your SAST tools to stay protected against new threat types.

Related posts

• 10-Step OWASP Mobile App Security Testing Checklist
• DAST: Dynamic Application Security Testing Guide 2024
• Developer's Guide to Managed Security Scanning
• 7 Solutions to Top Cross-Platform Testing Challenges