Advanced DAST Techniques and Capabilities

Modern DAST tools employ sophisticated techniques beyond basic parameter fuzzing. Stateful scanning maintains application context throughout tests, enabling detection of complex vulnerabilities requiring specific application states. For example, tools can detect authorization flaws by comparing responses between different user privilege levels or identify race conditions through concurrent request testing.

API security testing has become a crucial DAST capability as applications increasingly rely on REST and GraphQL APIs. Specialized API testing features parse API definitions (OpenAPI/Swagger) to understand endpoint structure and expected parameters. This knowledge enables more targeted testing compared to generic web application scanning. API-focused tests include schema validation, authorization matrix testing, and business logic vulnerability detection.

JavaScript analysis capabilities allow DAST tools to understand modern client-side applications. By executing JavaScript in controlled environments, tools can discover dynamically generated content and API endpoints. This analysis identifies client-side vulnerabilities like DOM-based XSS while improving server-side test coverage by discovering all application functionality.