Clear DefinitionsStatic Analysis
1 min read
Pronunciation
[stat-ik uh-nal-uh-sis]
Analogy
Like using a spell-checker to catch typos before printing a book, static analysis finds bugs before deployment.
Definition
Automated code inspection techniques that analyze source or bytecode without executing programs to detect potential vulnerabilities or coding issues.
Key Points Intro
Static analysis tools scan code for known patterns of security defects and quality issues.
Key Points
Source inspection: examines ASTs and control flow graphs
Rule-based detection: uses signatures for common vulnerabilities
Integration: runs in IDEs and CI pipelines for continuous feedback
Limitations: cannot detect runtime or environment-dependent bugs
Example
A Solidity project integrates Slither to flag reentrancy, unchecked calls, and uninitialized storage pointers during CI builds.
Technical Deep Dive
Tools parse code into abstract syntax trees (ASTs), generate control-flow and data-flow graphs, and apply taint-analysis to track untrusted inputs. Plugins can enforce coding standards (e.g., OWASP, CERT) and produce compliant reports. Integration with SARIF enables unified reporting across scanners.
Security Warning
Static analysis may yield false positives and miss complex, context-specific flaws; manual review remains essential.
Caveat
Overreliance on static tools can create a false sense of security if not complemented by runtime testing.
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