Titulo Estágio
Addressing Limitations of Static Analysis Tools (SATs) for Efficient Rapid Deployment Cycles: Practical Approaches and Mitigation Strategies
Local do Estágio
CISUC - SSE
Enquadramento
Efficient rapid deployment cycles are essential in modern software development practices. However, the limitations of static analysis tools often hinder their effectiveness, leading to delays and compromised code quality. This proposal aims to address the practical challenges posed by static analysis tools (SATs) and develop hands-on approaches to enhance their usability in rapid deployment cycles.
This research will focus on practical investigations into the limitations of SATs that impact deployment speed and code quality. By conducting experiments and case studies, we will evaluate the accuracy, efficiency, and scalability of existing tools in detecting vulnerabilities and ensuring reliable software releases. The research will also explore the challenges associated with integrating static analysis tools into continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery/deployment (CDE/CD) pipelines.
Based on the findings, practical mitigation strategies will be developed to overcome the identified limitations. These strategies may involve optimizing tool configurations, developing custom rule sets, enhancing automation and tool integration, and leveraging parallelization techniques to handle large codebases efficiently.
Through this research, we aim to provide practical insights and solutions that empower software development teams to effectively utilize SATs within rapid deployment cycles. The outcomes of this research will help streamline the deployment process, identify more vulnerabilities, and improve the overall quality and security of software releases.
Objetivo
The primary learning objectives of this research are as follows:
•Gain practical knowledge of SATs and their limitations in the context of rapid deployment cycles.
•Acquire hands-on experience in evaluating the accuracy, efficiency, and scalability of SATs.
•Develop practical skills in integrating SATs into CI/CDE/CD pipelines and optimizing their configurations.
•Explore practical strategies and techniques to mitigate the limitations of SATs and enhance their usability in rapid deployment cycles.
Potential tools for:
•CI: GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, Microsoft Azure DevOps
•Static Analysis (Java): SonarQube, SpotBugs, PMD, OWASP Dependency Check
•Static Analysis (C++): Clang Static Analyzer, Cppcheck, PVS-Studio, Coverity Scan, Flawfinder
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 1
T1. [Week 1 to Week 4] Literature Review and Tool Familiarization.
During this initial phase, an extensive literature review will be conducted to understand the existing SATs, their capabilities, and limitations. Additionally, hands-on familiarization with selected tools will be undertaken to gain practical insights into their features and usage.
T2. [Week 5 to Week 12] Evaluation of Tool Accuracy and Efficiency.
In this phase, experiments and case studies will be conducted to evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of SATs. Real-world codebases will be analyzed, and the SATs effectiveness in detecting vulnerabilities and producing reliable results will be assessed. Performance metrics, such as analysis time and false positive rates, will be measured to compare tool performance.
T3. [Week 13 to 17] Integration of Tools in CI/CDE/CD Pipelines.
The focus of this phase will be on integrating SATs into CI/CDE/CD pipelines. Practical approaches for seamless tool integration will be explored, ensuring efficient and automated vulnerability detection during the deployment process. The integration process will be tested and validated using representative projects and pipeline setups.
T4. [Week 18 to Week 20] Write the intermediate report.
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 2
T5. [Week 1 to Week 8] Optimization and Customization of Tools.
In this hands-on phase, strategies for customizing SATs in the CI/CDE/CD pipelines will be developed. Configuration parameters, rule sets, and thresholds will be adjusted to enhance tool performance and reduce false positives. Practical guidelines and best practices for customization will be documented to facilitate efficient tool usage.
T6. [Week 9 to Week 16] Development of Mitigation Strategies.
Based on the limitations identified and lessons learned, practical mitigation strategies will be developed. These strategies may include parallelization techniques, workflow enhancements, or the development of custom tool extensions. The effectiveness of these strategies will be evaluated through experiments and case studies.
T7. [Week 17 to Week 20] Report and Documentation.
The final phase will involve documenting the research findings, methodologies, and practical recommendations. A comprehensive report summarizing the research outcomes, including the evaluation of tools, integration approaches, optimization techniques, and mitigation strategies, will be prepared. The report will also include hands-on guidelines for software development teams to apply the research findings in real-world scenarios.
Condições
Estágio a ser feito no SSE de forma presencial ou remota.
Orientador
José Alexandre D'Abruzzo Pereira
josep@dei.uc.pt 📩