Best SAST tools in 2025

SAST, or Static Application Security Testing, is a method for securing software by analyzing its source code, bytecode, or binaries to identify security vulnerabilities. Unlike dynamic testing, SAST tools do not require the application to be running. This “white-box” approach allows for the early detection and remediation of security flaws, which is more cost-effective.

SAST is crucial for modern development because it integrates security checks directly into the development process. By catching vulnerabilities at the coding phase, it prevents them from reaching later stages of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), which saves time and money. SAST tools also help enforce secure coding practices and can assist in meeting compliance standards like PCI DSS.

SAST tools scan the application’s source code and components for a fixed set of patterns or rules that indicate potential vulnerabilities. They can analyze code at different levels—function, file, or application—and can be integrated into IDEs for real-time feedback or into CI/CD pipelines for automated scans on every commit or build.

SAST and DAST are complementary security testing methodologies.

• SAST (Static Application Security Testing) is a “white-box” approach that analyzes an application’s source code without executing it. It is language-dependent and helps find code-level vulnerabilities early in the SDLC. SAST can produce more false positives due to a lack of runtime context.
• DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) is a “black-box” approach that tests a running application by simulating attacks from the outside. It is language-agnostic and is effective at finding runtime vulnerabilities like misconfigurations and broken authentication.

When selecting a SAST tool, consider these key factors:

• Accuracy: Look for a low false positive rate to prevent alert fatigue and a high true positive rate for effective vulnerability detection.
• Integration: The tool should seamlessly integrate with your existing development environments, version control systems, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Language Support: Ensure the tool supports all the programming languages and frameworks used by your team.
• Customization: The ability to create custom rules and configure scan policies is essential to align with your organization’s specific security standards.
• Remediation: Look for features that provide actionable reports, remediation guidance, and even automated fixes to help developers resolve issues quickly.

Yes, integrating SAST into a CI/CD pipeline is a core practice of DevSecOps. It allows for automated security scans on every code change, providing immediate feedback to developers. This can be configured to run on pull requests, merge requests, or as a part of the build process, ensuring that security is a continuous part of the development and deployment cycle.

Mend SAST integrates directly into your AI development workflow to secure both human-written and AI-generated code. It helps developers find and fix vulnerabilities early in the development process.

Key Features:

• Pre-commit Agentic SAST support for AI Code Editors: Integrates with AI coding assistants (like Cursor, Windsurf, and Copilot) to automatically find and fix flaws before you commit code.
• Reduced Noise: Groups related findings to deliver 38% better precision and 48% better recall than competitors ensuring you focus on the most critical issues directly within your repository.
• AI-Powered Fixes: Provides accurate, AI-based code fixes to help you resolve vulnerabilities quickly and avoid manual errors.
• Fast Scanning: Scans are up to 10x faster than traditional tools, keeping pace with rapid AI-driven development without slowing you down.
• On-Premises Compliance: Scans code on-premises to keep sensitive data private while still providing cloud-based compliance reports and workflow automation.