Top 10 revised code security best practices for developers
Introduction
The quality and security of the software can be improved to a significant extent with just a simple step which is implementing a formal process for code reviews. A list of errors can occur at the time of development which can go unrecognized by developers. Using several code review processes and individual expertise, teams can uncover the errors or mistakes that were never noticed. Getting help from human experts can reveal mistakes that may be missed by automated code review tools.
It may not be practical for companies especially when developers are also working in remote first environments, to gather all the team members for a code review activity and rapidly execute the task at hand. To overcome these scenarios, a defined code review process can help guide the development and security teams to achieve the desired result (high-quality and secure code).
You can learn more about Code Security here.
In this article; We will be covering the top 10 revised code security best practices that developers can use to achieve the desired security level for their code.
Small Pull Requests And A Focused Purpose
Before merging the changes into production environments, Pull requests (PRs) are raised and code reviews are done. The smaller the PR, the easier it is to review thoroughly, allowing for better detection of security vulnerabilities and code quality issues.
How to execute?
- Break down large code changes into smaller and logical units, with a clear purpose for each PR.
- Focus on a single functionality at a time or a single bug fix per PR for better reviewer understanding.
Conducting Security Code Review
This step primarily focuses on a specialized review only for security vulnerabilities. A security code review goes beyond a general code review, employing security expertise to identify vulnerabilities that may have been missed during the standard code review process.
Recently, our friend Sydney Cohen - CTO and Co-founder of Axolo said in their blog post - “Code review is a cornerstone of quality software development”. He also highlights some essential best practices as follows;
- Regular Code Reviews: Crucial for maintaining high code standards.
- Self-Review: A preliminary step where developers scrutinize their code before external reviews.
- Diverse Perspectives: Inviting reviews from various team members to broaden understanding and share knowledge.
- Focused Pull Requests: Smaller, well-defined PRs lead to more efficient and thorough reviews.
Tips for execution
- We recommend involving security engineers and security developers with strong security knowledge in code reviews, especially for the critical parts of the codebase.
- Leverage advanced security code scanning tools that are capable of detecting complex vulnerabilities beyond basic SAST capabilities.
Add Clear Comments
Adding clear comments in the code sections helps teams to understand the functionality of code sections and in return, it improves readability and maintainability.
The practice of adding comments is recommended because it helps developers including themselves (for future reference) understand the logic behind the code, making it easier to identify potential security vulnerabilities or unintended behavior. Additionally, comments also help code reviewers understand the rationale behind a specific coding choice or group of sections.
Tips for execution
- Use descriptive comments to explain non-obvious code sections, algorithms, or security-related decisions.
- Follow a consistent commenting style for better organization.
Test and Trust
Sometimes developers can write code without testing its actual working. Remember, assuming the code behavior can lead to security vulnerabilities. Thorough testing is necessary to verify that the code functions are working as intended and identify unexpected behavior that could introduce a security breach.
Tips for execution
- Write unit tests that focus on individual code units such as functions or classes.
- Consider integration tests to ensure different types of code work together seamlessly.
- Leverage security-focused testing tools to scan for common vulnerabilities.
Run Test Suites on Proposed Code
This practice primarily focuses on the code review pull requests where new code is introduced. Running tests before integrating the code catches errors and vulnerabilities early in the development process, saving time and effort, and is also beneficial compared to fixing issues later.
Tips for execution
- Integrate automated testing pipelines that run unit and integration tests whenever a pull request is submitted.
- Encourage developers to write tests along with their code for better maintainability. Your security teams should help them in such activities. Remember, developers are not the security experts.
Automated Code Scanning
Automated code-scanning tools help to scan code for common vulnerabilities and coding best practices. Understand these automated checkers as the first line of defense, identifying potential security issues early and efficiently, saving much time for developers compared to manual testing.
Tips for execution
- Integrate Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools in your development pipelines to scan code during development and before pull requests.
- Configure the integrated SAST tools to your desired programming language and frameworks to identify the correct security mishaps.
- Investing in tools like ours (Cloudanix) that provide multi-faceted security like SAST, DAST, SCA, IAST, Database Scanning, ASTaaS, and other complicated jargons is worth.
Review Code and Pull Requests
You will be required to introduce all the necessary experts and developers to review the code for new or changed code. Code reviews are essential for identifying security vulnerabilities, logic errors, and code quality that might have been missed by the developer or automated checks.
Refer to this Youtube video from Axolo here.
Tips
- Establishing a code review process where all code changes including the bug fixes and new features undergo review by another experienced developer. This person ideally should be unfamiliar with the code.
- We encourage a culture of open communication during code reviews to discuss security concerns and best practices.
Limit Time for Code Reviews and Checks
Give enough time for the review process, but ensure focused and efficient code reviews. Reviewing too much code at once can lead to reviewer fatigue and missed vulnerabilities. Setting time limits helps reviewers maintain focus and drive quality throughout the process.
How to execute?
- Define a recommended maximum number of code lines for a single pull request to ensure thorough review.
- Allocate dedicated time for code reviews to avoid rushed or incomplete assessments.
Threat Modeling
Threat modeling is a proactive approach to security that involves identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle. Threat modeling helps developers understand the types of attacks an application may face. This unblocks developers to write code with security in mind, and mitigating vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
You can learn more about threat modeling here.
How to execute?
- Conduct threat modeling workshops during the design phase of development to identify potential threats and attack vectors.
- Use the identified threats to guide secure coding practices and prioritize security testing efforts.
Staying up-to-date on Security Vulnerabilities
The world of security threats is constantly evolving and new vulnerabilities are being discovered regularly. Staying informed about the latest security vulnerabilities allows developers to proactively address them in their code and leverage secure coding practices to avoid similar issues further.
How to execute?
- Subscribe to security advisories and vulnerability databases relevant to your programming languages and frameworks.
- Attend security workshops or conferences to stay updated on emerging threats and best practices.
- Integrate security vulnerability scanning tools into your development workflow to identify known vulnerabilities in third-party libraries used within your code.
Conclusion
As we always say “Building secure code is a collaborative effort that requires a blend of developer awareness, best practices, and ongoing vigilance”. By following the 10 practices outlined here, developers can significantly reduce the risk of introducing vulnerabilities into their code. Remember, secure coding is not a one-time fix; it's a continuous process that requires staying updated on threats and adapting practices as needed. By prioritizing secure coding practices, developers can contribute to building a more secure and trustworthy software ecosystem.