Static Application Security Testing (SAST) is a method of analyzing an application’s source code, bytecode, or binaries for security flaws without executing the program.
SAST tools read code from the inside and flag risky patterns such as SQL injection, hardcoded secrets, and unsafe function calls. Because they need no running application, they slot naturally into a CI/CD pipeline and give developers feedback while a fix is still cheap. A typical finding might be unsanitized user input flowing straight into a database query. The main tradeoff is noise. Static analysis tends to produce false positives and cannot see runtime behavior, authentication logic, or configuration problems that only appear once the app is live. That is why teams pair it with dynamic testing, which exercises the running application. A common mistake is dumping thousands of raw findings on developers, who then start ignoring the scanner altogether. Tuning rules and prioritizing real, exploitable issues is what makes SAST useful rather than an obstacle.
How is SAST tested on the CISSP?
SAST belongs to Domain 8, Software Development Security, which is 10% of the exam. Know how it differs from dynamic testing and where it fits in a secure development lifecycle.