How to Prepare for a Security Code Review

Getting your codebase ready for a security review can be the difference between a productive, insightful assessment and a costly, frustrating experience. Here’s how to set your project up for success:
1. Define Your Security Review Goals
Start with a clear understanding of what you want to get out of the review. Some common goals include:

• Identifying high-risk vulnerabilities
• Ensuring secure data handling
• Checking for potential data leaks between users

Knowing your priorities helps the assessment team focus on what matters most, saving you time and money.
2. Clean Up the Codebase
Before handing off your code, take a few steps to make the review smoother and more effective:

• Address Compiler Warnings: Turn on all compiler warnings, resolve each one, and upgrade to the latest compiler version to catch new issues.
• Improve Test Coverage: Make sure your unit and feature tests are current and comprehensive. This reduces the chance of missed bugs.
• Remove Dead Code: Clear out stale branches, unused libraries, and experimental features that won’t make it to production. This avoids wasted time on irrelevant code.

3. Document Everything
Treat the security team like new developers joining your project. Good documentation means faster assessments and more accurate results:

• Overview: Clearly explain what your product does, who uses it, and how it works.
• Inline Code Comments: Add context to complex sections and describe the intended function of key components.
• Test Documentation: Include descriptions for test cases, expected results, and known issues.
• Past Security Reviews: Share past assessments and known bugs to guide the team’s focus.

4. Prepare the Build and Deploy Environment
Make it easy for the security team to get your code running:

• Build Environment: Provide a clear, tested guide for setting up a build environment, including software versions and external dependencies.
• Deployment Process: Include detailed steps for building and deploying the application, with specific version requirements for libraries and tools.

The Payoff
With a clean codebase, clear goals, and thorough documentation, your assessment team can dive right into advanced analysis, rather than getting bogged down by setup issues. This means more accurate, valuable results for your product.

Contact a member of Proactive Risk to learn more how we can help you.