Penetration Testing for DevOps: How to Embed Pentests into Your CI/CD

• What it is: DevSecOps pentesting embeds automated security checks (SAST, DAST, SCA, IaC & secrets scanning) directly into CI/CD so security is continuous and developer first.
• Why it matters: It finds issues early, lowers remediation costs, and prevents security bottlenecks. In 2025, the U.S. average breach cost reached $10.22M (global: $4.44M), reinforcing the ROI of proactive controls.
• How to start: Run SAST & SCA on every commit, add DAST & IaC scans in staging, then enforce risk based security gates that block High/Critical findings pre deploy.
• Key KPI: Reduce the vulnerability escape rate (defects found in production vs. pre production) to measure the effectiveness of your shift left strategy.

What is Penetration Testing for DevOps?

Penetration testing for DevOps is the practice of embedding automated and continuous security validation across the entire Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). This approach augments, not replaces, human led pentests: automation covers breadth on every build, while experts probe complex business logic and chained exploits that scanners miss.

In 2025, this is non-negotiable. The CI/CD pipeline itself is a prime target. The XZ Utils upstream backdoor (CVE 2024 3094) showed how a sophisticated, patient attacker could compromise a core dependency and ripple into production systems worldwide. With breach costs in the U.S. averaging $10.22M in 2025 (versus a global average of $4.44M), proactive security is a financial necessity.

The 2025 Standards Crosswalk: NIST, OWASP & SLSA

A modern DevSecOps program aligns with key industry standards that provide a battle tested roadmap for security.

• NIST SSDF (SP 800 218): This framework provides high level secure development practices that you can operationalize through pipeline policy and automation.
• NIST SP 800 204D (final, Feb 12, 2024): This publication offers concrete strategies to integrate software supply chain security (attestations, dependency controls, build integrity) into DevSecOps CI/CD.
• OWASP Top 10 CI/CD Security Risks: Anchor your controls to critical risks like CICD SEC 1 (Insufficient Flow Control), CICD SEC 4 (Poisoned Pipeline Execution), and CICD SEC 6 (Insufficient Credential Hygiene).
• SLSA (Supply chain Levels for Software Artifacts): This framework is a maturity roadmap for artifact integrity and provenance. Starting at SLSA Level 2 is a practical goal for most organizations.

How Do I Add Pentesting to a CI/CD Pipeline?

You can start integrating security into your pipeline by following a clear, five step process. This checklist provides a structured way to begin shifting security left without overwhelming your development teams.

Quick Start: 5 Steps to Embed Pentesting in CI/CD

1. Commit Scan the code (SAST + SCA + secrets): Integrate tools like Semgrep for SAST and GitHub secret scanning to block leaked credentials on every commit.
2. Build Harden artifacts (container scan + SBOM): Use a tool like Trivy to scan container images for vulnerabilities and generate an SPDX or CycloneDX Software Bill of Materials (SBOM).
3. Test Attack the running app (DAST): Deploy to a staging environment and run OWASP ZAP to spider and passively scan for runtime vulnerabilities.
4. Deploy Enforce security gates (fail on High/Critical): In platforms like GitLab, use Merge Request approval policies tied to scanner reports to block insecure code from being merged.
5. Post deploy Sign & monitor: Use Sigstore/Cosign for keyless signing and to create SBOM/SLSA attestations for your artifacts. Continue monitoring in production and schedule regular manual pentests.

Where Does Each Scan Fit?

Each type of security scan plays a specific role at a different stage of the pipeline, providing a defense in depth strategy.

• SAST (Static Application Security Testing): Analyzes raw source code for issues like injection patterns. Open source tools like Semgrep are highly effective here.
• DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing): Tests the running application for runtime findings like broken authentication or server misconfigurations. OWASP ZAP is the go to open source tool.
• SCA (Software Composition Analysis): Scans for known vulnerabilities (CVEs) in your open source dependencies.
• IaC (Infrastructure as Code) Scanning: Checks Terraform or Kubernetes configurations for misconfigurations like public S3 buckets. Checkov and KICS are popular choices.
• Secret Scanning: Prevents leaked keys and tokens from ever entering your codebase. Tools like GitHub Secret Protection and checks against databases like Have I Been Pwned (Pwned Passwords) are essential.

Other helpful entities to be aware of for a comprehensive security posture include CISA, ENISA, CERT In, MFA, and infostealer malware.

What is Poisoned Pipeline Execution (PPE) and How Do We Prevent It?

Poisoned Pipeline Execution (PPE) is an attack where malicious commands are injected into a pipeline's configuration file and run with the CI system's permissions. It's identified as CICD SEC 4 in the OWASP Top 10 CI/CD Security Risks.

A strong PPE playbook includes these countermeasures:

• Branch Protection: Enforce mandatory code reviews before merging to the main branch.
• Signed Commits: Require developers to cryptographically sign commits to verify their identity.
• Least Privilege & Isolated Runners: Ensure build jobs run with minimal necessary permissions in isolated, ephemeral environments.
• Review Gates: Address CICD SEC 1 (Insufficient Flow Control) by requiring automated security scans to pass before a merge is allowed.

YAML in 60 Seconds: Practical Security Gates

GitLab Enable SAST on Every Merge Request You can enable SAST with a simple template include, then enforce a gate using Merge Request approval policies.

#.gitlab-ci.yml
include:
  - template: Jobs/SAST.gitlab-ci.yml

# Then, enforce approvals when scanners report High/Critical findings
# via Project Settings » Merge requests » Approvals.
# Require "Security scan to pass" for a true gate.

This configuration ensures SAST runs before code is merged, and the approval policy prevents insecure code from entering your main branch.

GitHub ZAP Baseline Action as a DAST Gate This GitHub Action runs an OWASP ZAP scan against a staging URL and can be configured to fail the build if it finds vulnerabilities.

#.github/workflows/zap.yml
name: ZAP baseline
on: [push, pull_request]
jobs:
  zap:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: ZAP baseline scan
        uses: zaproxy/[email protected]
        with:
          target: https://staging.example.com
          fail_action: true
          rules_file_name: '.zap/rules.tsv'   # Ignore tuned false positive rules
          cmd_options: '-a'                   # Include active/passive checks

The fail_action: true parameter is what turns this scan into a practical security gate.

Sign and Attest with Sigstore/Cosign

Cryptographically signing your artifacts provides a verifiable guarantee of their integrity. Sigstore's Cosign tool enables "keyless" signing, which is ideal for automated CI/CD environments.

# Build & push image first, then:
cosign sign --yes $IMAGE_DIGEST
trivy image --format spdx-json -o sbom.json $IMAGE
cosign attest --yes --predicate sbom.json --type spdx $IMAGE_DIGEST

This workflow signs a container image digest and attaches an SBOM as a verifiable attestation, using short lived certificates instead of manually managed keys.

Metrics That Prove "Shift-Left" is Working

To demonstrate the ROI of your DevSecOps program, track these key metrics:

Key KPI Definitions

• Mean Time to Detect (MTTD): The average time it takes to identify a vulnerability from the moment it's introduced.
• Mean Time to Remediate (MTTR): The average time it takes to fix a vulnerability once it's been detected.
• Vulnerability Escape Rate: The percentage of vulnerabilities discovered in production versus those found in pre production. This is the ultimate measure of your "shift left" effectiveness.

Micro Cases from the Field

• FinServ API: A financial services firm implemented mandatory SAST gates on all merge requests. This reduced their vulnerability escape rate from 7% to 1.8% in two quarters by blocking High/Critical findings before they reached the main branch.
• E-commerce Platform: By running an OWASP ZAP baseline scan on every deployment to staging, an e-commerce company caught multiple misconfigured security headers and a reflected XSS vulnerability that had been repeatedly missed by manual QA.
• SaaS Provider: After adopting IaC scanning with Checkov, a SaaS provider reduced cloud misconfigurations by over 80%, virtually eliminating public S3 buckets and overly permissive IAM roles from being deployed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is penetration testing compatible with continuous delivery?

Yes. Automate routine SAST/DAST/SCA scans on each change and schedule human led pentests for high risk releases. This aligns with NIST SP 800 204D guidance for CI/CD supply chain controls.

What standards should my pipeline meet in 2025?

Your pipeline should align with NIST SSDF (SP 800 218) for process maturity, NIST SP 800 204D for supply chain controls, OWASP Top 10 CI/CD for pipeline threats, and aim for SLSA Level 2 for provenance and signing.

How do we avoid noisy scanners?

Tune your rulesets. Start by only blocking on High/Critical findings. Use per-repository baseline or ignore lists (e.g., ZAP's rules.tsv or Semgrep's --baseline flag) to manage accepted risks and false positives.

How do I secure API authentication in CI/CD tests?

Follow the OAuth 2.0 Security Best Current Practice and ensure your DAST tool is configured to handle token based authentication flows.

Integrating penetration testing into DevOps is the definitive way to build secure software at modern speeds. It’s a strategic shift from reactive, end of cycle security to a proactive, continuous, and developer centric model. By leveraging automation, aligning with modern standards like NIST SSDF and SLSA, and fostering a culture of shared responsibility, you can transform your CI/CD pipeline into your strongest security asset.

The journey starts with small, iterative steps: add one scanner, tune the results, and automate a single gate. Over time, these incremental improvements compound to create a resilient, secure, and efficient software delivery process that doesn't just meet compliance checkboxes for standards like the PCI DSS 11.3 penetration testing guide 2025 it builds trust with every release.

Ready to Strengthen Your Defenses?

The threats of 2025 demand more than just awareness; they require readiness. If you're looking to validate your security posture, identify hidden risks, or build a resilient defense strategy, DeepStrike is here to help. Our team of practitioners provides clear, actionable guidance to protect your business.

Explore our penetration testing services for businesses to see how we can uncover vulnerabilities before attackers do. Drop us a line, we’re always ready to dive in.

About the Author

Mohammed Khalil is a Cybersecurity Architect at DeepStrike, specializing in advanced penetration testing and offensive security operations. With certifications including CISSP, OSCP, and OSWE, he has led numerous red team engagements for Fortune 500 companies, focusing on cloud security, application vulnerabilities, and adversary emulation. His work involves dissecting complex attack chains and developing resilient defense strategies for clients in the finance, healthcare, and technology sectors.