What is the primary focus of static application security testing?

Static application security testing (SAST) primarily focuses on identifying coding errors. This method of testing analyzes the source code or compiled version of an application without executing it, allowing security professionals to detect vulnerabilities at an early stage in the software development lifecycle. By examining the code, SAST tools can pinpoint issues such as poor coding practices, potential security vulnerabilities, and adherence to secure coding standards.

The primary benefit of this approach is that it allows developers to rectify errors before the application goes into production, reducing the risk of security breaches. While other aspects, like runtime vulnerabilities, configuration issues, and user input validation, are important for overall application security, they are not the main focus of static application security testing. Instead, these elements fall under the purview of dynamic application security testing and operational security practices once the application is deployed.