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Satisfy CERT coding standards for C, C++ and Java applications with automated enforcement and detailed reporting. Ensure that your software adheres to industry-recognized security guidelines while accelerating delivery with Parasoft solutions.
The CERT secure coding standard was developed by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) for a variety of languages with the purpose of hardening your code by avoiding coding constructs that are more susceptible to security problems. The CERT coding standards is critical for reducing software vulnerabilities by establishing best practices that mitigate common security risks, such as buffer overflows, injection attacks, memory leaks.
In the CERT coding framework, priority is computed as a product of three factors.
It’s divided into levels: L1, L2, and L3.
L1 represents high severity violations with high likelihood and low remediation cost. In other words, L1 is the most important to address and indicates serious problems that are less complicated to fix.
Using CERT’s scoring framework provides great help in focusing efforts and enabling teams to make the best use of their time budgets.
Certification demonstrates a commitment to best security coding practices, enhancing credibility and fostering trust with stakeholders. Adherence to the CERT coding standard reduces security risks, prevents exploits, improves maintainability, and advances code quality. Proactive adoption ensures compliance while future-proofing software against emerging threats.
The CERT coding standards are a set of guidelines and best practices developed by the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) to help developers write secure, reliable, and maintainable code. These standards focus primarily on minimizing vulnerabilities and risks in software systems. They provide rules and recommendations for various programming languages, such as C, C++, Java, and others, to mitigate security flaws and improve software quality.
| Standard | Platform | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| CERT C | C | CERT C focuses on manual memory management and low-level system interactions, addressing risks such as memory corruption (buffer overflows, use-after-free), pointer misuse, and undefined behavior. Key rules include avoiding the use of strcpy() and opting for safer alternatives like strncpy() or other bounded functions, as well as manually validating array bounds due to the lack of built-in safety. Additionally, CERT C emphasizes strict rules for signal handling and managing integer overflow, which are critical for ensuring robust and secure C code. |
| CERT C++ | C++ | CERT C++ extends the C rules by identifying object-oriented risks, such as inheritance pitfalls and Resource Acquisition Is Initialization (RAII) issues related to resource leaks. It also addresses complexities from multiple inheritance, misuse of the Standard Template Library (STL), and move semantics. |
| CERT Java | Java | CERT Java concentrates on sandboxing, classloading, and enterprise-level threats. Key rules include validating inputs for java.sql/javax.servlet APIs, avoiding finalizer() methods (use AutoCloseable instead), and ensuring secure serialization/deserialization. Primary risks include injection (SQL, XSS), access control issues, and API misuse. |
| CERT Perl | Perl | CERT Perl focuses on risks in Perl. It includes taint mode violations, regex injection, and unsafe use of eval(). To mitigate these risks, key rules include enabling taint mode (-T) for untrusted input, sanitizing input before making shell or database calls, and avoiding dynamic code execution such as using eval() with user input. A unique aspect of Perl is its heavy emphasis on string and text manipulation, which introduces additional risks that must be carefully managed to ensure secure code. |
| CERT Android | Android | The CERT Android Standard aims at securing Android applications by addressing primary risks such as improper inter process communication (IPC), insecure storage, and permission leaks. Key rules to mitigate these risks include restricting intent broadcasts to prevent potential data leaks, encrypting sensitive files and avoiding using SharedPreferences for storing secrets, and validating WebView inputs to guard against JavaScript injection attacks. Unique to Android, there are platform-specific risks, such as improper use of the Binder mechanism and vulnerabilities associated with PendingIntent security, which require careful attention to ensure the security of Android applications. |
C/C++test and Jtest ensure secure, compliant, and high-quality code by enforcing CERT secure coding standards throughout the development life cycle. Our solutions enable organizations to scale securely by seamlessly integrating CERT checks into CI/CD pipelines, supporting Agile and DevOps teams.
AI-powered analysis, customizable rule sets, and actionable insights makes it easier to adopt CERT standards, minimizing technical debt and maximizing software resilience.
To effectively manage CERT secure coding standards, perform the following best practices.
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For enhanced security, pairing CERT standards with complementary frameworks, like OWASP Top 10 for web apps, provides a layered security approach.
Providing full support for CERT coding guidelines, C/C++test and Jtest include key guidelines that other static analysis tools miss. Mapped test configuration enables all checkers from the original CERT rule set to assure the security of the codebase so your organization can rely on a single tool with consistent reporting.
With over 10 million lines of safety-critical embedded code, Renovo was able to reduce time to market and quickly achieve100% CERT compliance through detecting bad coding practices, vulnerabilities, potential intrusions, and memory problems early in the SDLC using Parasoft’s testing solution.
Renovo Auto, now owned by Woven Planet Holdings, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp.
100%
CERT & AUTOSAR C++14 compliance achieved.
Our solutions deliver industry-leading CERT compliance with deep expertise and out-of-the-box support for CERT C, C++, and Java standards. Pre-configured rule sets eliminate guesswork, while automated enforcement seamlessly integrates into CI/CD pipelines, ensuring compliance without disrupting development. Beyond detecting issues, Parasoft leverages AI-driven analysis to provide actionable fix guidance, accelerating developer resolution.
Designed with developers in mind, our solutions integrate directly into IDEs like VS Code, Eclipse, and IntelliJ, providing real-time feedback during coding. The DevOps-friendly architecture ensures lightweight, scalable, and parallelized scans for high-speed analysis.
Organizations gain end-to-end security and quality. Go beyond CERT by incorporating OWASP, MISRA, AUTOSAR C++14, and custom policies for comprehensive coverage. Get support for both shift-left and shift-right strategies with static (SAST) and dynamic (DAST) testing in a single platform.
Trusted across regulated industries, Parasoft is proven in automotive (ISO 26262), medical (IEC 62304), aerospace (DO-178C), and more, delivering audit-ready compliance reporting for FDA, FAA, and other regulatory bodies.
The bottom line: Don’t just check boxes. Future proof your codebase against emerging threats while keeping your teams agile with Parasoft compliance solutions.
