Brakeman - Detailed Review

Here are some frequently asked questions about Brakeman, along with detailed responses to each:

What is Brakeman and how does it work?

Brakeman is an open-source static analysis security scanner specifically designed for Ruby on Rails applications. It analyzes the source code of these applications to identify potential security vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and mass assignment vulnerabilities. Brakeman operates by performing static analysis on the source code, examining controllers, models, views, and routes for potential security issues.

Do I need to set up my entire application stack to use Brakeman?

No, you do not need to set up your entire application stack to use Brakeman. Since Brakeman only requires the source code of your application, you can run it at any stage of development without needing to configure the whole application stack.

Why does Brakeman report false positives?

Brakeman can report false positives because it is extremely suspicious by default. Only the developers of the application can fully understand whether certain values or code patterns are dangerous or not. This can lead to many false positives, which need to be reviewed by the development team.

What if Brakeman hangs while processing my app?

If Brakeman hangs while processing your application, you should follow the troubleshooting instructions provided. This might involve checking for syntax errors in your code or ensuring that your Ruby version is compatible with Brakeman’s parser.

Why are line numbers reported incorrectly in Brakeman’s reports?

Line numbers can sometimes be off due to the parser reporting the wrong line number or occasional bugs in Brakeman. The reported line number indicates where the vulnerability was found, not necessarily where it was introduced.

What is the context difference between the code shown in the warning and the original file?

The code in the warning is what Brakeman sees after propagating variables and performing other transformations, while the code in the context is pulled directly from the original file. This can result in differences between the two.

Can Brakeman detect all security vulnerabilities?

No, Brakeman cannot detect all security vulnerabilities. While it provides comprehensive coverage of common security issues, there are many vulnerabilities that Brakeman cannot find. It is recommended to use Brakeman in conjunction with other security tools for more thorough security checks.

How do I customize the scanning process in Brakeman?

Brakeman allows you to customize the scanning process by specifying additional configuration options and excluding certain paths or files from analysis. You can also run a subset of checks or add and remove checks as needed.

What does the confidence level in Brakeman’s reports indicate?

The confidence level in Brakeman’s reports provides a rough estimate of how certain the tool is that a given warning is actually a problem. There are three confidence levels: high, medium, and weak.

Can I integrate Brakeman into my CI/CD pipeline?

Yes, you can integrate Brakeman into your CI/CD pipeline. This allows for continuous security monitoring, where automated scans can be run on each commit or deployment to maintain a high level of security throughout the development lifecycle.

Why does Brakeman report “Unresolved Model” or show variables as “SomeModel.new”?

“Unresolved Model” is a placeholder used when Brakeman cannot determine which model is being used at a particular location. Similarly, variables might be displayed as “SomeModel.new” if Brakeman cannot resolve the actual model being used, especially in cases where the model is not explicitly defined in the code snippet it analyzes.