Source Code security review is a critical aspect of ensuring the security of software applications. It is a process that involves examining the source code of software to identify security vulnerabilities and weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers.

At its core, Source Code security review is a process of reviewing code for security issues. This process is most effective when it is integrated into the Secure Software Development Life Cycle (SSDLC). By incorporating security testing and review into the development process, organizations can minimize the risk of introducing security issues into their software applications. Benefits of employing Source Code Security Review in SSDLC include:

• Early identification and remediation of security vulnerabilities
• Minimizing the risk of financial and reputational damage caused by security breaches
• Reducing the overall cost of fixing security issues
• Improving the quality of code by identifying design flaws and coding errors
• Enhancing the overall security posture of the software

Another approach to source code security reviews is a blackbox source code audit. It involves analyzing the source code without prior knowledge of the system’s internal design or architecture. A blackbox source code audit can identify potential vulnerabilities, making it an effective approach to ensure security. Benefits of a blackbox source code audit include:

• Unbiased analysis
• Identifying hidden vulnerabilities

he most efficient approach is to employ a source code review as a part of an application assessment, where the source code review is used as an augmentation to an application security assessment. This approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the application’s security posture by combining both security testing and source code review. The source code review can be used to identify potential security vulnerabilities that may not be detected by testing.

Source code security reviews can be performed manually or through the use of automated tools. A combination of both methods is often the most effective approach. Manual reviews can provide a more thorough analysis of the source code, while automated tools can help to identify security issues that may have been missed.

Security reviews of source code are essential to ensure the security of software applications. Employing them in SSDLC or as a part of an application security assessment offer benefits such as early identification and remediation of security vulnerabilities, minimizing the risk of financial and reputational damage caused by security breaches, and improving the quality of code.