Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) is a process for identifying security vulnerabilities in software during runtime, without requiring access to the source code. This allows for accurate analysis of how the application behaves while it is running, closely reflecting real-world usage scenarios.

DAST operates by simulating attacks from an external user’s perspective, sending requests to the application in the same way a hacker might, in order to uncover vulnerabilities such as:

• Simulated Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.
• Simulated SQL injection attacks.
• Detection of flaws in session management and cookie handling.
• Identification of misconfigurations in APIs or web forms.
  
  

DAST is suitable for teams looking to assess the security of applications in the staging or pre-production phase, or even in live production environments, to ensure that the application can withstand external threats.

By using DAST, development and security teams can identify issues before they become real incidents, reducing the risk of exploitation. It also enhances confidence in deploying the application to end users in a secure and reliable manner.