Best SAST Tools of 2025

Security vulnerabilities in production ultimately lead to exponential cost compared to fixing them earlier in development. The smartest way to avoid all that? Catch issues early. That’s precisely what static application security testing (SAST) does.

SAST emerged in the early 2000s as a manual code review automation tool, primarily focused on finding simple pattern-based vulnerabilities. Early tools introduced in the early 2000s, such as Fortify and Coverity, required significant configuration and generated high false positive rates. Over the past two decades, SAST has undergone considerable evolution, with many modern tools now leveraging AI, integrating seamlessly into CI/CD pipelines, providing real-time IDE feedback, and offering contextual remediation guidance. What once took days of manual scanning now happens automatically with every commit.

Today’s SAST tools go further than detection. They streamline and automate vulnerability detection and give developers clear, actionable guidance for remediation. In this guide, we’ll outline the benefits and types of vulnerabilities SAST detects and help you choose the right SAST tool for your use case.

Understanding SAST

SAST stands for static application security testing. It analyzes an application’s source code or compiled versions, such as binary code, to detect SQL injection flaws, cross-site scripting, and other security flaws before they reach production. 

​​Because it’s a form of white-box testing, SAST doesn’t need a running application. Instead, it does source code analysis using techniques like data flow analysis and pattern matching. As you write code, SAST flags vulnerabilities in real time, giving developers visibility into potential vulnerabilities before they reach production, where fixes become exponentially more expensive.

How SAST Actually Works

SAST employs multiple analysis techniques to identify vulnerabilities. These include:

Lexical analysis

SAST reads the raw code line by line and assigns meaningful tokens to it. For example, `if` -> keyword, `password` -> identifier, and `==` -> operator. The parser then builds an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST). This helps SAST understand the flow and structure of the code. 

Once the tokens and structure are clear, the SAST scans for vulnerabilities such as hard-coded credentials or weak authentication areas.

Semantic analysis

Next, SAST digs into the meaning and relationships between code elements. This is where it catches security issues like:

• SQL injection: when user-controlled data is inserted into an SQL query without validation, giving attackers the ability to alter queries and run arbitrary commands.
• Buffer overflows: when a program writes more data to a buffer than it can hold. The code may compile without errors, but it could still introduce a buffer overflow at runtime.
• Cross-site scripting (XSS): When user input flows into HTML output without proper sanitization. 

Control and data flow analysis

Control flow analysis maps out all possible paths that the code logic can pass through. This identifies constructs like loops, conditionals, and function calls. By analyzing these paths, SAST tools can detect unreachable code, infinite loops, improper branching, and other logical errors.

Data flow analysis tracks how data moves from sources to sinks, such as user input flowing into a database query. For example, it detects if user input flows into a SQL query without being validated, exposing the system to injection risks.

Types of Vulnerabilities Detected by SAST 

SAST tools detect vulnerabilities by mapping code patterns against established security frameworks, such as the OWASP Top 10 and CWE/SANS Top 25. Here’s what they catch:

Injection Vulnerabilities

SAST traces untrusted input flowing into sensitive operations. For example, when user input reaches a SQL query without validation, it flags potential SQL injection. Similarly, it catches command injection, LDAP injection, and cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities.

Broken Access Control

SAST identifies missing or weak authorization checks, such as:

• Hardcoded credentials like `password = “admin123″`
• Functions accessing sensitive data without role validation
• Direct object references without permission checks

Cryptographic Issues

SAST flags insecure cryptographic practices:

• Weak algorithms (MD5, SHA1)
• Hardcoded encryption keys
• Improper random number generation for tokens

Language-Specific Vulnerabilities

Each language has unique security pitfalls:

• C/C++: Buffer overflows, memory leaks, use-after-free errors
• Python: Unsafe use of `eval()`, `exec()`, or `pickle.loads()`
• Java: Insecure deserialization, weak XML parsing configurations
• JavaScript: Prototype pollution, unsafe DOM manipulation

Top SAST Tools for Code Security

Here are the top 5 SAST tools, covering their own strengths and best-fit use cases.

Semgrep 

Semgrep stands out as a lightweight, open-source SAST tool that prioritizes developer experience and customization. Originally developed at Facebook (as pfff), it’s now maintained by Semgrep Inc. and has gained rapid adoption for its speed and low false-positive rates. 

Unlike traditional SAST tools that rely on complex data flow analysis, Semgrep uses semantic pattern matching, meaning it understands code structure rather than just text patterns. This approach enables incredibly fast processing while maintaining accuracy. Developers can write custom rules in YAML that look like the code they want to find, making rule creation easy and intuitive.

Key features: 

• Lightning-fast scanning that won’t slow down CI/CD pipelines 
• Rule marketplace with 2,000+ community-contributed rules 
• Easy custom rule creation using pattern syntax that mirrors actual code 
• Free tier includes unlimited scanning for open-source projects 
• Supports 30+ languages with consistent rule syntax across all

GitHub Advanced Security

GitHub Advanced Security brings enterprise-grade protection directly into the GitHub platform. Because it’s built right into the developer workflow, checks start from the very first commit, making it truly developer-first.

It includes a Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tool called Code Scanning. Code scanning uses CodeQL, a powerful static analysis engine, to identify and fix code vulnerabilities.

GitHub Advanced security is available for those who purchase either GitHub Secret Protection or GitHub Code Security plan. 

Key features:

• Native GitHub integration
• Custom queries using QL language with CodeQL for domain-specific scans
• Automated Remediation with Copilot Autofix

SonarQube

SonarQube is the go-to open-source option for developers who want application security testing without the upfront cost. Its free Community Edition comes packed with code scanning to spot vulnerabilities, code smells, and overall quality issues.

It’s initially built for code quality and managing technical debt, but later advanced with robust security rules. That makes it a strong choice for teams looking to balance both security and code quality in one platform. 

Key features:

• Supports over 25 programming languages
• Seamlessly integrates with developer tools and CI/CD pipelines
• Flexible deployment options, including on-prem, cloud, or as a server with Docker or Kubernetes.
• Free Community Edition available, with paid Enterprise tiers offering advanced security features and scalability

Checkmarx

Checkmarx started as a dedicated SAST tool and later expanded to include Software Composition Analysis (SCA) and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) scanning. Still, its core strength remains static code analysis. It’s known for deep data flow (taint) analysis across multiple files, functions, and even frameworks.

Its unique query language (CxQL) makes customizable scans precise and effective. 

While built for enterprise security and DevSecOps teams, Checkmarx still provides developers with near-real-time feedback right inside their IDEs.

Key features:

• Identifies vulnerabilities across source code, containers, and IaC files
• On-prem and cloud deployment options
• Includes Codebashing, a built-in training platform for secure coding practices
• AI-powered query builder for generating custom security rules

Snyk Code

Snyk Code takes a modern, AI-driven approach to static analysis. Its engine is trained on millions of open-source repositories, so instead of relying on manually written rules, it learns patterns from real-world code.

It includes a priority scoring system that assigns a risk score to each issue based on severity, prevalence, risk factors, and ease of resolution, allowing you to prioritize and efficiently resolve vulnerabilities.

It offers lighter compliance/reporting features than the other tools mentioned, but it is known for its modern adoption of AI to improve accuracy and auto-fixes. 

Key features:

• Real-time scanning and actionable insights directly in developer workflows
• Offers a free plan with 100 tests per month
• Developers get context-specific fix suggestions with real code examples
• Integration with DAST tools like StackHawk

Selecting the Right SAST Tools

Since there are numerous SAST tools available, selecting the right one can be a challenge. Each platform comes with its own pros and cons. These are the particular areas you’ll want to focus on when selecting the best tool for your team:

Accuracy and Risk Prioritization

Every SAST vendor claims “low false positives,” but real accuracy comes from intelligent risk prioritization. Look for tools that:

• Provide proof-of-concept or exploitation paths for findings
• Score vulnerabilities based on exploitability, not just severity
• Consider data flow context (is sensitive data actually at risk?)
• Allow custom tuning to reduce noise specific to your codebase
• Offer confidence scores for each finding

Broad language support

When adopting a SAST tool, look for tools that cover a wide range of languages and frameworks, as multiple teams often work across different stacks. Certain tools do work better with certain languages, so take into account what you’re currently using and potential languages/frameworks you may use in the future (within reason) to ensure that you don’t need to flip out tools just because your new stack isn’t supported. Here’s a quick breakdown of what the tools we selected above support best:

Language/Framework	Best Tools	Key Strengths
JavaScript/TypeScript	Semgrep, Snyk Code	Modern framework support (React, Vue, Node.js)
Java/Spring	Checkmarx, SonarQube	Enterprise Java, Spring-specific vulnerabilities
Python	Semgrep	Django/Flask, Python-specific security patterns
C/C++	Checkmarx	Memory safety, deep taint analysis
Go	GitHub CodeQL, Semgrep	Go-specific antipatterns and security rules
Infrastructure as Code	Checkmarx, Snyk	Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes

AI-powered SAST tools

Large language models (LLMs) improve accuracy by understanding the intent behind code. They also generate contextual remediation advice and natural-language fix suggestions. Snyk Code and Semgrep are great examples of this AI-driven security approach.

Integration capabilities

You might already use different IDEs, version control, and CI/CD tools. Look for a SAST tool that plugs directly into these workflows. Beyond development tools, consider how SAST fits into your broader security ecosystem. Modern Application Security Posture Management (ASPM) platforms aggregate findings from multiple scanners, so ensure your SAST tool has APIs for centralized vulnerability management. 

Combining SAST with DAST tools also creates comprehensive coverage. This means that if your SAST tool finds a potential vulnerability and DAST confirms it’s exploitable in runtime, you know it’s a critical priority. The best SAST tools act as part of a unified AppSec strategy rather than isolated scanners.  

Compliance and code quality support

Strong SAST helps enforce secure coding practices and compliance standards. SonarQube, for instance, started as a code quality platform before expanding into security testing. If you know that your code should adhere to particular standards, make sure the tool is able to support it.

Cost

Some security tools are open source (like SonarQube), some offer free tiers, and others are paid platforms with advanced capabilities. Open source tools often lack advanced features like deep data flow or taint analysis, but they’re a solid option if you mainly need pattern matching and quality checks. 

For advanced security features, compare the pricing plans of different tools to find the right balance for your team’s budget and tool offerings.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right SAST Tool for 2025

Static application security testing has become an essential component of modern secure development practices. By identifying vulnerabilities early in the development cycle, SAST tools help organizations avoid the exponential costs and risks associated with production security incidents. 

While SAST alone can’t catch every vulnerability, like those that only manifest at runtime, it provides a critical first layer of defense that integrates seamlessly into developer workflows. This leads us back to the fact that SAST and DAST work best together. SAST identifies source code errors early, while DAST detects potential errors in real-world conditions. 

A tool like StackHawk is a solid option for dedicated DAST coverage. Check out this list of the best DAST tools if you want to explore the top ones.