The Application Security Podcast

When one AI model can find a vulnerability, another can write the exploit, and the gap between discovery and attack is collapsing. Hannah Foxwell, co-founder of BIMP and former product director for Snyk Container, joins Chris Romeo and Robert Hurlbut to argue that the time to exploit is now effectively negative, and that AppSec has never mattered more. Drawing on her path from release manager to DevOps, platform engineering, and container security, Hannah explains why security teams are facin...

Are your developers still reading their security findings, or are their agents answering for them? Ahmad Sadeddin, founder and CEO of Corgea, brings data from Corgea's customers: replies to security comments written with em dashes jumped from 2.5 percent in May to about a third, and once long, verbose replies are counted, somewhere between 35 and 60 percent come from agents. Chris and Ahmad dig into developers using agents to wave off findings as false positives, why commits per PR keep climb...

What happens when a protocol goes from idea to everywhere before security can catch up? Vandana Verma Sehgal, leader of the OWASP MCP Top 10, returns to explain why most organizations cannot say how many MCP servers are running on their developers' machines. She walks Chris and Robert through how MCP turns a chatbot into a new execution layer, how four lines of malicious code in a tiny server can slip past everyone, and why shadow MCP servers are shadow IT with direct access to action. The th...

What happens when a tsunami of AI-written code meets a security industry that has spent decades chasing vulnerabilities? Brook S.E. Schoenfield, CTO of Rezliant and author of Securing Systems, returns to warn about "the illusion of omniscient perfection," the cheerful confidence that makes AI output feel finished, and the "learned fragility" that sets in when nobody understands the code anymore. He, Chris, and Robert debate whether an AI threat model that gets 90% of the way there is a win, h...

Jim Manico thinks the era of human code review is ending, and that clinging to it will hurt your company. The founder of Manicode Security returns to explain why AI didn't kill AppSec education but supercharged it, why vague prompting on frontier models turns companies into "token furnaces," and why prompt injection is the one genuinely new vulnerability class of the AI era. He walks Chris and Robert through his full AI coding workflow, from reverse engineering an architecture file to securit...

Three years ago, Jeevan Singh mapped out what an application security engineer needed to know. AI has rewritten the job since. Jeevan, Director of Security Engineering at Rippling, returns to unpack how his team polices thousands of engineers shipping 10x more code: a "vulnerability jail" that locks non-compliant teams out of the main branch, AI-reviewed extension requests, and homegrown agents that hunt for entire classes of vulnerabilities instead of one bug at a time. He and Chris debate w...

Most fault trees get built on gut feeling. Petra Vukmirovic did something rarer: she borrowed the actual math from aviation and nuclear-plant safety engineering and pointed it at AI agents. Petra traded emergency medicine for application security and now heads information security at Numan — and she joins Chris Romeo and Robert Hurlbut to make the case for fault tree analysis (FTA), the deductive method that picks up exactly where threat modeling stops. Petra walks through a "wrong customer r...

Most security champions programs don't fail on tooling — they fail on people. Lisi Hocke spent three years as a champion before moving fully into product security, which means she has argued both sides of this from inside the trenches. Drawing on the talk she and Mireia Cano gave at OWASP Global AppSec EU 2026, Lisi walks us through the four things that actually make these programs work: psychological safety first, then cognitive load, then influence when you hold no formal authority, then a ...

Is traditional DAST finally dead? James Berthoty came back to settle the argument that his last episode started. James is the founder and analyst behind Latio, and he argues that AI pentesting is a genuinely different animal — payloads generated with context about your actual application, agents that chase findings the way a human tester would, and results a scanner was never going to produce. We get into what it costs once tokens enter the picture, who pays for them, whether a pentest on eve...

AI security has no shortage of standards — the problem is turning them into something a team can actually use. Rob van der Veer has spent 34 years in AI and security, founded the OWASP AI Exchange, and created MOSAIC, the agreement that brought eight standards bodies together with SANS to stop the fragmentation. Rob explains what responsible AI really means, what the EU AI Act actually asks of you, and why most AppSec teams are still missing the point on AI-generated code. We also get into ag...

You don't have to let AI do the thinking for you. In this episode, Vikram Narayan shares why the smartest teams use AI as an accelerant — not a replacement — and why human judgment still matters most in threat modeling. Vikram created Precogly, an open-source threat modeling platform now running as an OWASP project, and he walks us through what it took to build a free tool on par with commercial vendors. We dig into the tension among speed, compliance, and real risk; whether the Threat Modeli...

AI is moving AppSec's control point out of CI and directly into the coding agent—but what happens when the model writing the code is also expected to secure it? Semgrep co-founder and CEO Isaac Evans explains why deep background analysis and real-time agent plugins may replace universal rule sets with organization-specific security controls. He and Chris explore how security engineering roles will change, why independent verification still matters, and where business-logic flaws may become th...

Why do broken access control and injection still dominate the OWASP Top 10 despite years of mature tooling? Okta's José Carlos Chávez joins Chris to explain what changed in the 2025 list—and what stubbornly did not. Drawing on his path from software engineering and observability into security, José examines why ownership and root causes matter more than another scanner. They explore the rise of supply-chain and software-integrity failures, the fragile security model around downloaded AI skill...

When every employee can generate working software, who owns the risk? Michael Burch, VP of AI Enablement and Acceleration at Security Journey, explains how AI is turning nondevelopers into citizen developers faster than enterprises can build guardrails around them. He and the hosts examine rollouts that hand GitHub and Claude Code to hundreds of employees, the danger of measuring adoption instead of business value, and why prompt libraries alone do not meet people where they work. Michael arg...

Traditional SAST is deterministic but shallow; AI can reason about context but may answer differently every time. Can the two approaches make each other better? Bounce Security CTO Josh Grossman explains why he built AGHAST, an open-source framework that combines static discovery with LLM analysis to investigate authorization, business-logic, and organization-specific risks. He walks through reducing false positives, importing SARIF, controlling token costs, and deciding where AI-assisted che...

GitGuardian found 29 million hard-coded secrets in public GitHub commits in one year—a 34% increase and its largest jump yet. Why is a supposedly simple problem getting worse? Principal Developer Advocate Dwayne McDaniel explains what the 2026 State of Secrets Sprawl report reveals about public and private repositories, AI coding tools, MCP server templates, and developer-targeted supply-chain attacks. He and Chris unpack why standing credentials persist, how private repositories create false...

If AI writes all the code and the developer barely reads it, where does AppSec fit? Tanya Janca returns to define vibe coding and explain why models trained on insecure public code do not understand secure design by default. She and the hosts build a practical secure-vibe-coding framework: explicit requirements, human-led threat modeling, reusable security prompts, iterative review, SAST, and independent testing. Tanya shares hard-earned examples of Claude removing error handling, models conf...

AI is multiplying the amount of software organizations produce, but security teams are not multiplying with it. Caroline Wong, author of The AI Cybersecurity Handbook and Chief Strategy Officer at Axari, explains how AppSec must change when agents generate code, make decisions, and assemble systems at machine speed. She and the hosts examine the growing backlog, the need for architecture and visibility, and why trust must be evaluated through accuracy, reliability, explainability, and account...

OpenClaw makes always-on personal AI agents feel inevitable—and exposes how poorly prepared most organizations are for their autonomy. Steve Wilson, Chief AI and Product Officer at Exabeam and founder of the OWASP GenAI Security Project, returns to explain how advanced agents differ from chatbots and why their permissions, memory, and ability to act create a radically larger blast radius. He and the hosts explore source-code exposure, prompt injection, supply-chain risk, and the uncomfortable...

AppSec teams are drowning in repetitive triage while the work that requires judgment keeps piling up. Brad Geesaman, Principal Security Engineer at Ghost Security, explains how large language models can shrink that toil without handing security decisions to an unreliable black box. He walks through using LLMs for classification, evidence gathering, and contextual analysis, with humans retaining final authority. Brad and Chris examine prompt engineering, trust, market disruption, and the limit...

What should OWASP become, and which leaders have a credible plan to get it there? In this special 2025 Board of Directors candidate debate, nine candidates present their qualifications and answer the same questions about OWASP's future. The discussion tests concrete ideas for expanding education, improving global and chapter outreach, strengthening project support, finding sustainable funding, and making the Foundation's impact easier to measure. Candidates identify where OWASP performs well,...

Most products labeled as AI agents are little more than chatbots with tools. Francesco Cipollone, founder and CEO of Phoenix Security, explains what makes an agent genuinely agentic and why his team uses multiple specialized models instead of one all-purpose system. He and the hosts unpack the Agentic AI Manifesto's principles, including responsible adoption, human augmentation, transparency, and resisting automation for its own sake. Francesco also shares the practical economics behind multi...

Security education often struggles because the people in the room are being talked at instead of invited to participate. Simon and Devika Gibbs, the duo behind CyberSec Games, explain how tabletop games can turn abstract security concepts into shared experiences that connect developers, security practitioners, and business teams. They trace their path from agile stationery into threat-modeling games, describe what they learned from Elevation of Privilege and OWASP Cornucopia, and discuss the ...

APIs power modern applications, yet many AppSec programs still cannot reliably inventory them, model their threats, or enforce authorization. Akansha Shukla draws on more than a decade in application security and DevSecOps to explain why API security remains immature and what practitioners can do about it. She and the hosts examine the OWASP API Security Top 10, broken object-level authorization, API-specific threat modeling, and the role of posture management. The conversation also asks why ...

The EU Cyber Resilience Act turns product security from a best practice into a market-access requirement, and its effects extend well beyond Europe. Application Security Architect and OWASP SAMM core team member Nariman Aga-Tagiyev explains what manufacturers need to know about product classes, conformity assessments, vulnerability handling, software components, and enforcement. He and the hosts explore why global software companies should care, how the rules apply to commercial uses of open ...

Security champions programs rarely fail because the idea is bad; they fail because organizations launch without management support, meaningful incentives, or a plan to prove value. Marisa Fagan, Head of Product at Katilyst and a veteran security-culture practitioner, shares a practical blueprint for piloting and scaling a program that lasts. She explains how to recruit and motivate champions using status, access, power, and stuff, why a pilot should produce both learning and a business case, ...

A dashboard full of green indicators can still describe an insecure organization. Aram Hovsepyan, founder and CEO of Codific and an OWASP SAMM contributor, explains why vulnerability totals and unexamined CVSS scores often measure activity instead of security outcomes. He introduces the Goal Question Metric framework as a way to begin with an organizational goal, ask what must be understood, and choose measurements that answer those questions. Aram and the hosts distinguish precision, reliabi...

We’re discussing the intersections of application security (AppSec) and sales strategy with our guest, Sean Varga. Sean shares the unique challenges and best practices in AppSec sales, like the importance of empathy, understanding customer needs, and community participation. Learn about the OWASP top 10 for AppSec Sales and discover how to achieve success by aligning with customer goals, maintaining detailed living documents, and fostering strong partnerships. AppSec meets sales strategy. Thi...

Sarah-Jane Madden joins Chris and Robert to ask what AI actually changes in software development—and what foundational practices still matter. Drawing on her OWASP Global AppSec EU keynote, she challenges the idea that AI makes the SDLC obsolete or turns every prompt into production-ready software. The conversation examines vibe coding, the difficulty of operationalizing AI-generated prototypes, skill atrophy, hallucinations, and the quality problems hidden by code that merely passes generate...

Dag Flachet joins us to discuss the concept of Kaizen and its application in improving application security. Dag shares his journey into the world of security, emphasizing the importance of iterative, small-step improvements. The conversation delves into how organizations can effectively implement maturity models to enhance their security programs, the limitations of compliance-focused frameworks like ISO 27,000 and SOC 2, and the practical application of Kaizen principles. They also explore ...

What happens when teams add large language models to real applications and discover that familiar AppSec controls are no longer enough? Andra Lezza and Javan Rasokat share lessons from building, breaking, and defending LLM-enabled systems at Sage and presenting their findings at DEF CON. They compare prompt injection with SQL injection, explain AI red teaming, and unpack hallucinations, retrieval-augmented generation, grounding, and model safeguards. The conversation also examines corporate d...

Former CISO Jim Routh discusses his perspective on retirement and career fulfillment in cybersecurity. Rather than viewing retirement as simply stopping work, Routh describes his three-filter approach: working only with people he respects and admires, doing only work he finds fulfilling, and controlling when he works. He shares valuable lessons learned about which post-retirement opportunities truly bring satisfaction and explains why he avoids certain roles. Routh emphasizes the importance o...

Henrik Plate joins us to discuss the OWASP Top 10 Open Source Risks, a guide highlighting critical security and operational challenges in using open source dependencies. The list includes risks like known vulnerabilities, compromised legitimate packages, name confusion attacks, and unmaintained software, providing developers and organizations a framework to assess and mitigate potential threats. Henrik offers insights on how developers and AppSec professionals can implement the guidelines. Ou...

Security expert Tanya Janca discusses her new book "Alice and Bob Learn Secure Coding" and shares insights on making security accessible to developers. In this engaging conversation, she explores how security professionals can better Tanya Jenka, aka She Hacks Purple, is the bestselling author of Alice and Bob Learn Secure Coding, Alice and Bob Learn Application Security, and Cards Against AppSec. Over her 28-year IT career, she's won countless awards, including the OWASP Lifetime Distinguish...

Mehran Koushkebaghi, a seasoned engineering expert, delves into the intricacies of systemic security. He draws parallels between civil engineering and IT systems, and explains the importance of holistic thinking in security design. Discover the difference between semantic and syntactic vulnerabilities and understand how anti-requirements play a critical role in system resilience. This episode offers fresh perspectives on application security. Mehran Koushkebaghi has 15 years of engineering ex...

Kalyani Pawar shares critical strategies for integrating security early and effectively in AppSec for startups. She recommends that startups begin focusing on AppSec around the 30-employee mark, with an ideal ratio of one AppSec professional per 10 engineers as the company grows. Pawar emphasizes the importance of building a security culture through "culture as code" - implementing automated guardrails and checkpoints that make security an integral part of the development process. She advises...

Milan Williams discusses the importance of application security metrics and how to make them both meaningful and actionable. She explains that metrics are crucial for tracking progress in what can often feel like an overwhelming security landscape, and they're valuable for career advancement and securing resources. We discuss metrics categories and several specific metrics that are good to track. Milan shares important principles on the importance of making metrics actionable through storytel...

Mo Sadek shares his unique journey of building an Application Security program from scratch at Roblox. Mo discusses his unconventional path, including temporarily joining the infrastructure team to truly understand engineering challenges. He emphasizes that security isn't about mandating rules, but about making processes easier and more secure by default. Mo shares his insights on how to build effective cross-team security relationships and approaches for gaining leadership buy-in. Mo Sadek i...

Brett Crawley discusses the Elevation of Privilege (EoP) card game, a powerful tool for threat modeling in software development. The discussion explores recent extensions to the game including privacy-focused suits and TRIM (Transfer, Retention/Removal, Inference, Minimization) categories. Crawley emphasizes that threat modeling shouldn't end with the game but should be an ongoing process throughout an application's lifecycle, ideally starting before implementation. He also shares insights fr...

Matin Mavaddat discusses his perspective on security as a systemic concern, developed from his background in requirements engineering and systems architecture. He introduces the concept of "anti-requirements" - defining what a system should not do - and distinguishes between "syntactic security" (addressing technical vulnerabilities that are always incorrect) and "semantic security" (context-dependent security emerging from system interactions). Mavaddat shares his perspective that security i...

Kayra Otaner joins the podcast today to discuss DevSecOps and answer the question, is it dead? Kayra is the Director of DevSecOps at Roche and is highly involved in the DevSecOps community. Kayra states that DevSecOps in its traditional form is “dead” and that each organization should approach its needs based on their size. Otaner introduces the concept of "security as code" and "policy as code" as more effective approaches, where security functions are codified rather than relying on traditi...

François Proulx shares his discovery of security vulnerabilities in build pipelines. Francois has found that attackers can exploit this often overlooked side of the software supply chain. To help address this, his team developed an open source scanner called Poutine that can identify vulnerable build pipelines at scale and provide remediation guidance. Francois has over 10 years of experience in building application security programs, he’s also the founder of the NorthSec conference in Montre...

Steve Wilson, the author of 'The Developer's Playbook for Large Language Model Security’ is back to dive into topics from his book like AI hallucinations, trust, and the future of AI. Steve has been at the forefront of the explosion of activity at the intersection of AppSec, LLM, and AI. We discuss the biggest fears surrounding LLMs and AI, and explore advanced concepts like Retrieval Augmented Generation and prompt injection. Steve Wilson is the author of The Developer's Playbook for Large L...

Jeff Williams, a renowned pioneer in the field of application security is with us to discuss Application Detection and Response (ADR), detailing its potential to revolutionize security in production environments. Jeff shares stories from his career, including the founding of OWASP, and his take on security assurance. We cover many topics including; security assurance, life, basketball and plenty of AppSec as well. Jeff Williams is a veteran application security expert who founded and led OWAS...

Philip Wiley shares his unique journey from professional wrestling to being a renowned pen tester. We define pen testing and the role of social engineering in ethical hacking. We talk tools of the trade, share a favorite web app pentest hack and offer good advice on starting a career in cybersecurity. Philip shares some insights from his book, ‘The Pentester Blueprint: Starting a Career as an Ethical Hacker. ’ And we discuss the impact of AI on pen testing and where this field is headed in th...

Steve Springett, an expert in secure software development and a key figure in several OWASP projects is back. Steve unpacks CycloneDX and the value proposition of various BOMs. He gives us a rundown of the BOM landscape and unveils some new BOM projects that will continue to unify the security industry. Steve is a seasoned guest of the show so we learn a bit more about Steve's hobbies, providing a personal glimpse into his life outside of technology. Steve Springett educates teams on the stra...

Irfaan Santoe joins us for an in-depth discussion on the power of strategy in Application Security. We delve into measuring AppSec maturity, return on investment, and communicating technical needs to business leaders. Irfaan shares his unique journey from consulting to becoming an AppSec professional, and addresses the gaps between CISOs and AppSec knowledge. Irfaan shares valuable insights for scaling AppSec programs and aligning them with business objectives. Irfaan Santoe joins us to discu...

Andrew Van Der Stok, a leading web application security specialist and executive director at OWASP joins us for this episode. We discuss the latest with the OWASP Top 10 Project, the importance of data collection, and the need for developer engagement. Andrew gives us the methodology behind building the OWASP Top 10, the significance of framework security, and much more. Andrew Vanderstock is a seasoned web application security specialist and enterprise security architect. He's the executive ...

Derek Fisher, an expert in hardware, software, and cybersecurity with over 25 years of experience is back on the podcast. Derek shares his advice on cybersecurity hiring, specifically in application security, and dives into the challenges of entry-level roles in the industry. We discuss the value of certifications, the necessity of lifelong learning, and the importance of networking. Listen along for good advice on getting noticed in cybersecurity, resume tips, and the evolving landscape of A...

Tanya Janka, also known as SheHacksPurple, discusses secure guardrails, the difference between guardrails and paved roads, and how to implement both in application security. Tanya is an award-winning public speaker and head of education at SEMGREP and the best-selling author of ‘Alice and Bob Learn Application Security’. Tanya shares her insights on creating secure software and teaching developers in this episode. Tanya Jenka, also known as She Hacks Purple, is the bestselling author of Alice...

Jahanzeb Farooq discusses his journey in cybersecurity and the challenges of building AppSec programs from scratch. Jahanzeb shares his experience working in various industries, including Siemens, Novo Nordisk, and Danske Bank, highlighting the importance of understanding developer needs and implementing the right tools. The conversation covers the complexities of cybersecurity in the pharmaceutical and financial sectors, shedding light on regulatory requirements and the role of software in c...

David Quisenberry shares about his journey into the security world, insights on building AppSec programs in small to mid-sized companies, and the importance of data-driven decision-making. The conversation delves into the value of mentoring and why it's important to build real relationships with the people you work with, the vital role of trust with engineering teams, and the significance of mental health and community in the industry. David Quisenberry leads security teams at Capri Health, w...

Matt Rose, an experienced technical AppSec testing leader discusses his career journey and significant contributions in AppSec. The conversation delves into the nuances of software supply chain security and exploring how different perceptions affect its understanding. Matt provides insights into the XZ compromise, critiques the buzzword 'shift left,' and discusses the role of digital twins and AI in enhancing the supply chain security. He emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach beyon...

James Berthoty, a cloud security engineer with a diverse IT background, discusses his journey into application and product security. James highlights his career trajectory from IT operations to cloud security, his experiences with security tools like Snyk and StackHawk, and the evolving landscape of Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) and API security. They delve into the practical challenges of CVEs, reachability analysis, and the complexities of patching in mid-sized companies. Jame...

ZAP supports an enormous share of the application security ecosystem, but who pays for the people keeping it reliable? Project founder Simon Bennetts and OWASP co-founder Mark Curphey join Chris to examine the uncomfortable economics of widely used open-source security tools. Simon describes the nontechnical work behind maintaining ZAP, from community support to managing companies that build commercial offerings on top of it. Mark explores funding structures, foundations, and the incentives t...

Devon Rudnicki, the Chief Information Security Officer at Fitch Group, shares her journey of developing an application security program from scratch and advancing to the CISO role. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration, understanding the organization's business, and using metrics to drive positive change in the security program. Devin Rudnicki, the Chief Information Security Officer at Fitch Group, developed an application security program and advanced to the CISO role after years in...

Dustin Lehr, Senior Director of Platform Security/Deputy CISO at Fivetran and Chief Solutions Officer at Katilyst Security, joins Robert and Chris to discuss security champions. Dustin explains the concept of security champions within the developer community, exploring the unique qualities and motivations behind developers becoming security advocates. He emphasizes the importance of fostering a security culture and leveraging gamification to engage developers effectively. They also cover the ...

Francesco Cipollone, CEO of Phoenix Security, joins Chris and Robert to discuss security and explain Application Security Posture Management (ASPM). Francesco shares his journey from developer to cybersecurity leader, revealing the origins and importance of ASPM. The discussion covers the distinction between application security and product security, the evolution of ASPM from SIEM solutions, and ASPM's role in managing asset vulnerabilities and software security holistically. Francesco empha...

Mukund Sarma, the Senior Director for Product Security at Chime, talks with Chris about his career path from being a software engineer to becoming a leader in application security. He explains how he focuses on building security tools that are easy for developers to use and stresses the importance of looking at application security as a part of the broader category of product security. Mukund highlights the role of collaboration over security mandates and the introduction of security scorecar...

AppSec specialist Megan Jacquot joins Chris and Robert for a compelling conversation about community, career paths, and productive red team exercises. Megan shares her unique cybersecurity origin story, tracing her interest in the field from childhood influences through her tenure as an educator and her formal return to academia to pivot into a tech-focused career. She delves into her roles in threat intelligence and application security, emphasizing her passion for technical work, penetratio...

Robert is joined by Bill Sempf, an application security architect with over 20 years of experience in software development and security. Bill shares his security origins as a curious child immersed in technology, leading to his lifelong dedication to application security. They discuss CodeMash, a developer conference in Ohio, and recount Bill's presentation on the Veilid application framework, designed for privacy-driven mobile applications. Bill also explores his efforts in educating childre...

Robert and Chris talk with Hendrik Ewerlin, a threat modeling advocate and trainer. Hendrik believes you can threat model anything, and he recently applied threat modeling to the process of threat modeling itself. His conclusions are published in the document Threat Modeling of Threat Modeling, where he aims to help practitioners, in his own words, "tame the threats to the threat modeling process. Hendrik Ewerlin loves to build secure software and empower people to do so. He strongly believes...

Jason Nelson, an accomplished expert in information security management, joins Chris to share insights on establishing successful threat modeling programs in data-intensive industries like finance and healthcare. Jason presents his three main pillars to consider when establishing a threat modeling program: consistency, repeatability, and efficacy. The discussion also provides a series of fascinating insights into security practices, regulatory environments, and the value of a threat modeling ...

Erik Cabetas joins Robert and Chris for a thought-provoking discussion about modern software security. They talk about the current state of vulnerabilities, the role of memory-safe languages in AppSec, and why IncludeSec takes a highly systematic approach to security assessments and bans OWASP language. Along the way, Erik shares his entry into cybersecurity and his experience consulting about hacking for TV shows and movies. The conversation doesn't end before they peek into threat modeling,...

Justin Collins of Gusto joins Robert and Chris for a practical conversation about running security teams in an engineering-minded organization. Justin shares his experience leading product security teams, the importance of aligning security with business goals, and the challenges arising from the intersection of product security and emerging technologies like GenAI. Justin Collins currently heads up security at Gusto. In the past, he's been an AppSec engineer at SurveyMonkey, Twitter, and AT&...

Kyle Kelly joins Chris to explore the wild west of software supply chain security. Kyle, author of the CramHacks newsletter, sheds light on the complicated and often misunderstood world of software supply chain security. He brings unique insights into the challenges, issues, and potential solutions in this constantly growing field. From his experiences in sectors like cybersecurity and security research, he adapts a critical perspective on the state of the software supply chain, suggesting it...

Chris Hughes, co-founder of Aquia, joins Chris and Robert on the Application Security Podcast to discuss points from his recent book Software Transparency: Supply Chain Security in an Era of a Software-Driven Society, co-authored with Tony Turner. The conversation touches on the U. government in the software supply chain, the definition and benefits of software transparency, the concept of a software bill of materials (SBOM), and the growth of open-source software. Chris Hughes is a proven cl...

Is application security dead, or does it need to grow into something larger? CoverMyMeds security leaders Jay Bobo and Darylynn Ross challenge the traditional AppSec model and argue for product security that follows business risk across the whole product. They compare centralized security teams with security specialists embedded in engineering, explain where threat modeling and automated testing belong, and discuss how to give developers useful SAST findings without drowning them in tool outp...

Eitan Worcel joins the Application Security Podcast, to talk automated code fixes and the role of artificial intelligence in application security. We start with a thought-provoking discussion about the consistency and reliability of AI-generated responses in fixing vulnerabilities like Cross-Site Scripting (XSS). The conversation highlights a future where AI on one side writes code while AI on the other side fixes it, raising questions about the outcomes of such a scenario. We're thrilled to ...

Bjorn Kimminich, the driving force behind the OWASP Juice Shop project, joins Chris and Robert to discuss all things Juice Shop. The OWASP Juice Shop is a deliberately vulnerable web application that serves as an invaluable training tool for security professionals and enthusiasts. Bjorn provides a comprehensive overview of the latest features and challenges introduced in the Juice Shop, underscoring the project's commitment to simulating real-world security scenarios. We're excited to have Bj...

Arshan Dabirsiaghi of Pixee joins Robert and Chris to discuss startups, AI in appsec, and Pixee's Codemodder. io. This leads to a lengthy and convoluted process for fixing security issues, a problem that Arshan and his team have been working to address through their open-source tool, Codemodder. Arshan's journey from co founding Contrast with Jeff Williams to his current endeavors is filled with invaluable insights and lessons that have shaped the cybersecurity landscape. This is Chris Romeo....

Chris and Robert are thrilled to have an insightful conversation with Dr. Jared Demott, a seasoned expert in the field of cybersecurity. The discussion traverses a range of topics, from controversial opinions on application security to the practical aspects of managing bug bounty programs in large corporations like Microsoft. Hey folks, we're thrilled to welcome Dr. Jared DeMott, a cybersecurity veteran who started his journey at the NSA and has since made significant contributions to the wor...

Dr. Katarina Koerner, a renowned advisor and community builder with expertise in privacy by design and responsible AI, joins Chris and Robert to delve into the intricacies of responsible AI in this episode of the Application Security Podcast. She explores how security intersects with AI, discusses the ethical implications of AI's integration into daily life, and emphasizes the importance of educating ourselves about AI risk management frameworks. She also highlights the crucial role of AI sec...

What does an application security leader need to know before stepping into the CISO role? Ray Espinoza joins Chris and Robert to share lessons from becoming a first-time CISO, aligning security work with business priorities, and building a culture where developers take pride in secure craftsmanship. Ray explains how he evaluates tools without confusing activity for impact, what good vendor relationships look like from the buyer’s side, and why empathy and credibility matter when security team...

Chris John Riley joins Chris and Robert to discuss the Minimum Viable Secure Product. MVSP is a minimalistic security checklist for B2B software and business process outsourcing suppliers. It was designed by a team that included experts from Google, Salesforce, Okta, and Slack. The MVSP objectives are targeted at startups and other companies creating new applications, helping such organizations meet security standards expected by larger enterprises like Google. The MVSP is designed to be acce...

The first OWASP Top 10 for Large Language Model Applications gave developers and security teams a shared threat model for a rapidly changing technology. Project leaders Steve Wilson and Gavin Klondike walk through the inaugural list and explain why familiar controls need to be reconsidered around probabilistic systems. They cover prompt injection, insecure output handling, training-data poisoning, denial of service, supply-chain vulnerabilities, sensitive information disclosure, insecure plug...

Tanya Janca, also known as SheHacksPurple, joins the Application Security Podcast again to discuss secure coding, threat modeling, education, and other topics in the AppSec world. With a rich background spanning over 25 years in IT, coding, and championing cybersecurity, Tanya delves into the essence of secure coding. We're honored to host the remarkable Tanya Janca, widely recognized as SheHacksPurple. Tanya is a brilliant mind behind the best selling book, Alice and Bob Learn Application Se...

Hasan Yasar believes that everyone shares the responsibility of creating a secure environment, and this can only be achieved by working collaboratively. He underscores the idea that security is not an isolated endeavor but a collective effort, urging everyone to come together and build a world where safety and security are paramount. We're honored to have Hasan Yasar, the technical director of the Continuous Deployment of Capability Group at the renowned Software Engineering Institute at Carn...

Varun Badhwar is a three-time founder, a luminary in the cyber security industry, and a clear communicator. He joins Chris and Robert on the Application Security Podcast to discuss scanning with context, SBOM plus VEX, and the developer productivity tax. The concept of a "Developer Productivity Tax" acknowledges the challenges developers face when bombarded with a plethora of vulnerabilities. This "tax" represents the drain on developers' time and resources as they navigate through a myriad o...

Six candidates for the 2023 OWASP Board of Directors debate the choices that shape the foundation and its community. Paulino Calderon, Steve Springett, Avi Douglen, Izar Tarandach, Sam Stepanyan, and Fred Donovan discuss the experience they would bring to the board, their priorities if elected, and how OWASP should support projects as open source changes. Chris and Robert press the candidates on declining membership, vendor neutrality, and the role of revenue from global events. The result is...

Itzik Alvas, Co-founder and CEO of Entro, is an expert on secrets security. Itzik joins Chris and Robert to discuss the significance of understanding and managing secrets, emphasizing the importance of knowing how many secrets an organization has, where they are located, and their potential impact. He elaborates on the three pillars of secrets management: listing and locating secrets, classifying and understanding their potential blast radius, and monitoring them for any abnormal behavior. It...

Harshil Parikh is a seasoned security leader with experience building security and compliance functions from the ground up. He notably built the security and compliance team at Medallia from scratch and led it through several transitions. He is also a conference speaker, and, most recently, he co-founded Tromzo. Harshil shares insights about AppSec, running a startup, selling effectively, and provides justification for his mantra, "Context is king. Scaled the team globally, achieved complianc...

Jeff Willams of Contrast Security joins Chris and Robert on the Application Security Podcast to discuss runtime security, emphasizing the significance of Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) in the modern DevOps landscape. After reflecting on the history of OWASP, the conversation turns to the challenges organizations face in managing their application security (AppSec) backlogs. Jeff highlights the alarming number of unresolved issues that often pile up, emphasizing the inefficien...

Development, operations, and security teams generate oceans of data yet still struggle to answer basic questions about what code is running, who owns it, and which findings matter. OWASP founder Mark Curphey and security veteran John Viega introduce Chalk, an open-source telemetry and observability tool designed to connect repositories, builds, deployments, and production systems. They explain how better provenance can eliminate irrelevant alerts, prioritize deployed software, trace incidents...

Maril Vernon is passionate about Purple teaming and joins Robert and Chris to discuss the intricacies of purple teaming in cybersecurity. She underscores the significance of fostering a collaborative environment between developers and the security team. Drawing from her experiences, Maril shares the challenge of development overlooking her remediation recommendations. She engaged directly with the developers, understanding their perspective and learning to frame her remediations in developer-...

Dan Küykendall visits The Application Security Podcast to discuss his series "Why All AppSec Products Suck" and explain why software companies should understand the uses and limitations of any security tool. The series aims to highlight the limitations of each tool and to help users make informed decisions when selecting the right tools for their needs. In this field, there is no such thing as an expert; there is always something new to learn. Dan Küykendall is an industry leader in AppSec fo...

Kevin Johnson is the CEO of Secure Ideas. He began his career as a developer but turned toward security when he discovered that the interface for an intrusion detection system, Snort, was out of date. This led him to create BASE (Basic Analysis and Security Engine), a testament to Kevin's proactive approach. Kevin came to security from a development and system administration background. He has many years of experience performing security services for Fortune 100 companies, and in his spare ti...

Tony Quadros, the AppSec Lumberjack, shares the unique career path that led him to find his passion in Application Security. The discussion delves into the work of an AppSec vendor, with Tony explaining his role and the responsibilities it entails. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the needs and environment of the customer, and whether the product he represents can fulfill their requirements. Tony also shares his philosophy of sales, centered around solving problems and providing ...

Cloud security is on an evolutionary path, with newer platforms embracing secure-by-default settings. This has led to a significant improvement in security but also adds complexity as developers need to understand these defaults when deploying to the cloud. Steve Giguere has experienced a wide breadth of technologies throughout his career, spending the aero, telecoms, and automotive industries improving quality, safety, velocity, and efficiency. After spending many years as a solution archite...

"Visualizing the Software Supply Chain" is a project which aims to kick off a discussion about the scope and breadth of the software supply chain. Paul McCarty is a DevSecOps evangelist and the founder of Secure Stack, which helps software engineers and security teams collaborate better while building more secure applications. Paul is the author of several open source projects and is a collaborator on a number of others and helps run three meetups where he lives in Australia. Paul tried to be...

Application security teams rarely have enough specialists to embed one expert with every development team. Farshad Abasi joins Chris for a focused comparison of three staffing models he used while building enterprise AppSec programs: expert-led support, a federated risk-based model, and a security champion or deputy model. Farshad explains why dedicated experts struggle to scale, how application tiering concentrates attention on the systems that matter most, and how champions can take ownersh...

Kim Wuyts discusses her work in privacy threat modeling with LINDDUN, a framework inspired by Microsoft's STRIDE for security threat modeling. LINDDUN provides a structure to analyze privacy threats across multiple categories such as linking, detecting data disclosure, and unawareness. The framework has been updated over the years to incorporate new knowledge and developments in privacy, and it has become recognized as a go-to approach for privacy threat modeling. Kim Wutz is a senior privacy...

Software supply chain -- how deep does the problem go? François is here to help us realize how deep the rabbit hole of the supply chain is and enlighten us with strategies to get out of the hole. François is a senior product security engineer for Boost Security, where he leads the supply chain research team. With over 10 years of experience in building AppSec programs for large corporations such as Intel and small startups, he's been in the heat of the action as the DevSecOps movement took sh...

How do we do security in the world of AI and LLMs? A great place to start is with an OWASP project tasked with creating a standardized guideline for building secure AI applications with large language models such as ChatGPT. Enter OWASP Top Ten for LLMs, and Steve Wilson, the project leader. Steve Wilson is currently the Chief Product Officer at Contrast Security. Today, his team is responsible for engineering, product management, product marketing, and product design for all products. He's a...

What is the state of application security? JB Aviat answered that question by creating the state of application security report based on data from Datadog customers using the application security and APM products. It provides insights into threat detection, vulnerability detection, prioritization, and general trends regarding the most significant risks. Jean dedicates to democratizing security by developing the security products of Datadog, leveraging the unique observability capabilities of ...

What is zero trust, and how does it impact the world of applications and application security? We dive deep into zero trust with Joshua Wells, a seasoned cybersecurity expert with over ten years of experience. Joshua explores the intricacies of zero trust, a cybersecurity model that dictates no user or machine is trusted by default and must be authenticated every time. Joshua Wells is a seasoned cybersecurity expert with over 10 years of experience leading teams and organizations through intr...

Jeevan Singh, the director of product security at Twilio, discusses the future of application security engineers. Singh highlights the importance of embedding security into all aspects of software development and the need for a strong security culture within organizations. He also explains the skills required for a senior application security engineer, such as application security, software development, and teaching skills. Singh underscores the importance of empathy and influence, emphasizin...

Have you ever considered using an SBOM to inform your threat modeling? Tony Turner has. Tony joins us to discuss SBOMs, threat modeling, and the importance of Cyber Informed Engineering. Tony Turner is the CEO and founder of Ops-Wright, a new type of cybersecurity company disrupting security engineering for critical infrastructure. I found Tony via a talk he did on threat modeling in SBOM. Topic caught my attention, so I reached out to have a conversation. We talk about threat modeling in SBO...

Christian Frichot, an AppSec hacker, security leader, and developer of hcltm. He discusses the DevOps threat modeling tool he dreamed up and built. The tech was created to fit into developers' workflows and leverage tools they are familiar with. hcltm is designed to drive valuable change and be updated and maintained easily by software engineers. It is a developer-centric software product not heavily opinionated on diagramming, allowing users to employ their preferred methods for threat model...