Shift-Left DAST

StackHawk is the only true shift-left DAST. By running directly in and from your CI/CD pipelines, StackHawk tests running apps to find critical API vulnerabilities and business logic flaws before they reach production. Real-time feedback for developers, AI-powered remediations, and powerful business logic and vulnerability testing for API-powered apps.

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Modern DAST Title Image - Shield and Lightning Bolt

Dynamic Analysis Against Running Applications

Critical vulnerabilities like authorization and business logic flows only emerge when applications are running and can’t be tested by static tools. But production testing is too late. StackHawk DAST is built to find those vulnerabilities by automating testing against running, pre-production applications and APIs, sending real requests, analyzing responses, and simulating attack scenarios.

A screenshot of a webpage section about SQL Injection, labeled HIGH risk and CWE-89, featuring AppSec Risk Prioritization advice, and showing Node.js code with Mongoose for input sanitization as remediation.

A dashboard displaying gRPC-Beak-Performance scan results: 11 high, 32 medium, and 43 low issues. Findings include SQL Injection and Path Traversal, with AppSec Risk Prioritization applied to highlight high-criticality risks.

Support for APIs, Microservices, and Complex App Ecosystems

Built specifically for today’s modern, API-driven applications, StackHawk tests REST, GraphQL, SOAP, and gRPC endpoints across microservices, SPAs, and traditional applications. Our AI-powered testing engine covers all OWASP vulnerabilities, complex business logic flaws, and critical LLM security risks.

Integrated With and Run From Your CI/CD Pipelines

StackHawk executes directly in and from your CI/CD infrastructure, running in parallel with existing tests for increased performance and speed. This is the only way to get true shift-left dynamic testing, enabling developers to incrementally test only the code changes on each build rather than scanning entire applications for speed and scale. Plus, feedback in context means faster fixes and fewer slowdowns.

A grid of dark squares displays logos for GitHub, Azure, CircleCI, AWS, Jenkins, and GitLab—highlighting Shift-Left Security in CI/CD; some squares have a checkmark. The right side softly fades into white.

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Seamless Remediation and Validation Loops for Developers

StackHawk delivers vulnerability context, remediation guidance, and fix code directly to developers—directly in their CI/CD. And once fixes are implemented, you can re-run only the tests that failed to quickly validate fixes before re-submitting PRs or running a new build. Our shift-left and developer-first approach bridges the gap between AppSec and engineering to bake security in from the start.

Extended by Our AppSec Intelligence Platform

StackHawk extends DAST with our AppSec Intelligence Platform. With source-based API discovery that finds every endpoint, risk-based repository mapping that focuses testing on your most critical applications, and continuous oversight that shows exactly what needs attention, StackHawk enables AppSec teams to cut through the noise and streamline their programs.

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Learn How to Scale AppSec Testing Coverage With the SOAR Framework

Scale runtime security testing beyond the pilot. The SOAR Framework maps key milestones across four phases—and breaks down the meetings, red flags, and pro tips to scale coverage fast without becoming a bottleneck.

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Discoverable & Exploitable Vulns,
Delivered Directly to Devs

Stop wasting time with DAST scans that find vulnerabilities too late. StackHawk scans directly in your CI/CD pipeline, so you can test running apps as part of each build when your devs can actually fix them quickly.

Runtime Testing Finds What Others Miss

Legacy DAST tools weren’t built for modern API-driven applications and SAST misses critical authorization flaws and business logic vulnerabilities. StackHawk tests APIs as they actually operate, discovering the vulnerabilities that actually cause breaches—without false positives.

Fix Issues 50% Cheaper in Pre-Production

Surfacing vulnerabilities after deployment with legacy tools and manual testing means emergency patches, rollbacks, ticket chasing, and expensive firefighting. StackHawk catches critical security issues during development when fixes are fast and cheap, before they become production crises.

Developer Workflow Integration

StackHawk runs in and from your CI/CD infrastructure, testing only the code being changed for faster scans and more relevant findings. Developers get contextual remediation guidance delivered directly in their workflow when they can act on it, eliminating security review bottlenecks down the line.

Beyond Legacy DAST Limitations

Legacy DAST Problems:

Only tests production or staging environments after development
Requires separate infrastructure and scheduled scans
Finds vulnerabilities too late for easy fixes
Misses critical vulnerabilities in modern app architectures

StackHawk’s Modern Approach:

Tests running applications pre-production for fast feedback
Runs directly within CI/CD on incremental code changes
Discovers issues when developers can fix them immediately
Is built to test APIs & microservices for critical risks

Loved by Devs.
Trusted by AppSec.
Backed by Badges.

Our G2 badges aren’t just for show—they reflect real-world impact and the confidence developers and security teams have in StackHawk.

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How Does Your DAST Stack Up?

Whether you are implementing dynamic application security testing for the first time or are evaluating against existing systems, make sure you are using modern DAST tooling.

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Features

Legacy Vendors

StackHawk

DAST Scanner

Automated Authenticated Scanning

Server-side HTML Application Testing

Single Page Application Testing

SOAP API Testing

REST API Testing

GraphQL Testing

Technology Specific API Scan Configs

Optimized for Fast Scanning in CI/CD

No Infrastructure Configuration Required

CI/CD Automation

Findings Triage and State Management

Finding History and Documentation

Docker-Based Scanner to Scan Anywhere

Integrations with All Major CI/CD Tools

Testing Experience

User-First Web Application

Simplified YAML Configuration

Simplified Fixes with Docs and cURL Command Generation

Slack Integration

MS Teams Integration

Jira Integration

Datadog Integration

OpenAPI Spec Integration for API Testing

Not supported Partially supported

StackHawk DAST FAQs

How is StackHawk different from static analysis tools?

Static analysis examines code patterns but can’t detect runtime vulnerabilities like authorization bypasses or business logic flaws. StackHawk tests APIs as they actually operate, finding the critical security issues that only emerge when applications are running.

What makes StackHawk different from legacy DAST tools?

Legacy DAST tools test production or staging environments after development is complete, making fixes expensive and disruptive. StackHawk runs within your CI/CD infrastructure on incremental code changes, finding vulnerabilities when developers can fix them immediately as part of their normal workflow.

Won't running security tests in CI/CD slow down our builds?

StackHawk tests only the code being changed in each build, not entire applications. This incremental approach delivers security feedback in minutes without impacting development velocity. Many teams find builds actually get faster because they catch issues early instead of dealing with emergency fixes later.

How does StackHawk handle modern authentication and API complexity?

StackHawk is built specifically for today’s API-driven applications, with native support for REST, GraphQL, SOAP, and gRPC endpoints. We understand modern authentication patterns, JWT tokens, OAuth flows, and the complex authorization logic in microservices architectures.

What about false positives? Will this create noise for our developers?

Runtime testing dramatically reduces false positives because we test against actual running applications, not code patterns. StackHawk focuses on genuinely exploitable vulnerabilities with clear remediation guidance, so developers get actionable findings they can fix immediately.

Can StackHawk scale with our development team growth?

Yes. Because StackHawk runs automated tests within your existing CI/CD infrastructure, security testing scales automatically as you add developers and applications. There’s no need to hire additional security staff or coordinate manual testing processes.

Can you write custom scripts?

Yes, with StackHawk you can create custom test scripts to cover specific scenarios for your application.

Does StackHawk only scan APIs?

We focus on APIs because they are the biggest, fastest-growing attack surface for modern apps, and that is where we provide the best value, but you can scan SPAs and classic web apps with StackHawk as well.

Can you schedule scans?

You can schedule tests with StackHawk using any scheduling tool your team already uses, such as cron jobs, CI/CD pipeline schedules, or enterprise schedulers.

Interested in seeing StackHawk at work?

Schedule time with our team for a live demo.