semgrep

Semgrep Static Analysis

Fast, pattern-based static analysis for security scanning and custom rule creation.

MCP Tools Available

If Semgrep MCP tools are available in your environment, prefer them for scanning:

• semgrep_scan — Scan code files for security vulnerabilities using built-in rulesets. Pass absolute file paths and an optional config (e.g., p/security-audit, auto).
• semgrep_scan_with_custom_rule — Scan code with a custom YAML rule you've written. Pass code content inline along with the rule.
• semgrep_findings — Fetch existing findings from the Semgrep AppSec Platform for a repository.
• semgrep_rule_schema — Get the full schema for writing Semgrep rules.
• get_supported_languages — List all languages Semgrep supports.

When MCP tools aren't available, fall back to the CLI commands below.

When to Use Semgrep

Ideal scenarios:

• Quick security scans (minutes, not hours)
• Pattern-based bug and vulnerability detection
• Enforcing coding standards and best practices
• Finding known vulnerability patterns (OWASP, CWE)
• Creating custom detection rules for your codebase
• Data flow analysis with taint mode

Installation (CLI)

# pip (recommended)
python3 -m pip install semgrep

# Homebrew
brew install semgrep

# Docker
docker run --rm -v "${PWD}:/src" semgrep/semgrep semgrep --config auto /src

---

Part 1: Running Scans

Quick Scan

semgrep --config auto .                    # Auto-detect rules

Using Rulesets

semgrep --config p/<RULESET> .             # Single ruleset
semgrep --config p/security-audit --config p/trailofbits .  # Multiple

Ruleset	Description
p/default	General security and code quality
p/security-audit	Comprehensive security rules
p/owasp-top-ten	OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities
p/cwe-top-25	CWE Top 25 vulnerabilities
p/trailofbits	Trail of Bits security rules
p/python	Python-specific
p/javascript	JavaScript-specific
p/golang	Go-specific

Output Formats

semgrep --config p/security-audit --sarif -o results.sarif .   # SARIF
semgrep --config p/security-audit --json -o results.json .     # JSON

Scan Specific Paths

semgrep --config p/python app.py           # Single file
semgrep --config p/javascript src/         # Directory
semgrep --config auto --include='**/test/**' .  # Include tests

Configuration

.semgrepignore

tests/fixtures/
**/testdata/
generated/
vendor/
node_modules/

Suppress False Positives

password = get_from_vault()  # nosemgrep: hardcoded-password
dangerous_but_safe()  # nosemgrep

---

Part 2: Creating Custom Rules

When to Create Custom Rules

• Detecting project-specific vulnerability patterns
• Enforcing internal coding standards
• Building security checks for custom frameworks
• Creating taint-mode rules for data flow analysis

Approach Selection

Approach	Use When
Taint mode	Data flows from untrusted source to dangerous sink (injection vulnerabilities)
Pattern matching	Syntactic patterns without data flow requirements (deprecated APIs, hardcoded values)

Prioritize taint mode for injection vulnerabilities. Pattern matching alone can't distinguish between eval(user_input) (vulnerable) and eval("safe_literal") (safe).

Quick Start: Pattern Matching

rules:
  - id: hardcoded-password
    languages: [python]
    message: "Hardcoded password detected: $PASSWORD"
    severity: ERROR
    pattern: password = "$PASSWORD"

Quick Start: Taint Mode

rules:
  - id: command-injection
    languages: [python]
    message: User input flows to command execution
    severity: ERROR
    mode: taint
    pattern-sources:
      - pattern: request.args.get(...)
      - pattern: request.form[...]
    pattern-sinks:
      - pattern: os.system(...)
      - pattern: subprocess.call($CMD, shell=True, ...)
    pattern-sanitizers:
      - pattern: shlex.quote(...)

Pattern Syntax Quick Reference

Syntax	Description	Example
...	Match anything	func(...)
$VAR	Capture metavariable	$FUNC($INPUT)
<... ...>	Deep expression match	<... user_input ...>

Operator	Description
pattern	Match exact pattern
patterns	All must match (AND)
pattern-either	Any matches (OR)
pattern-not	Exclude matches
pattern-inside	Match only inside context
pattern-not-inside	Match only outside context
metavariable-regex	Regex on captured value

Testing Rules

Test-first is mandatory. Create test files with annotations:

# test_rule.py
def test_vulnerable():
    user_input = request.args.get("id")
    # ruleid: my-rule-id
    cursor.execute("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = " + user_input)

def test_safe():
    user_input = request.args.get("id")
    # ok: my-rule-id
    cursor.execute("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?", (user_input,))

Run tests:

semgrep --test --config rule.yaml test-file

Command Reference

Task	Command
Run tests	semgrep --test --config rule.yaml test-file
Validate YAML	semgrep --validate --config rule.yaml
Dump AST	semgrep --dump-ast -l <lang> <file>
Debug taint flow	semgrep --dataflow-traces -f rule.yaml file

Rule Creation Workflow

1. Analyze the problem - Understand the bug pattern, determine taint vs pattern approach
2. Create test cases first - Write ruleid: and ok: annotations before the rule
3. Analyze AST - Run semgrep --dump-ast to understand code structure
4. Write the rule - Start simple, iterate
5. Test until 100% pass - No "missed lines" or "incorrect lines"
6. Optimize patterns - Remove redundancies only after tests pass

Output structure:

<rule-id>/
├── <rule-id>.yaml     # Semgrep rule
└── <rule-id>.<ext>    # Test file

Detailed References

Official Semgrep Documentation:

• Rule Syntax - Complete YAML structure, operators, and options
• Rule Schema - Full JSON schema specification

Local References:

• Workflow Guide - Complete step-by-step rule creation process
• Quick Reference - Pattern operators and taint components

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

Too broad:

# BAD: Matches any function call
pattern: $FUNC(...)

# GOOD: Specific dangerous function
pattern: eval(...)

Missing safe cases:

# BAD: Only tests vulnerable case
# ruleid: my-rule
dangerous(user_input)

# GOOD: Include safe cases
# ruleid: my-rule
dangerous(user_input)

# ok: my-rule
dangerous(sanitize(user_input))

Rationalizations to Reject

Shortcut	Why It's Wrong
"Semgrep found nothing, code is clean"	Semgrep is pattern-based; can't track complex cross-function data flow
"The pattern looks complete"	Untested rules have hidden false positives/negatives
"It matches the vulnerable case"	Matching vulnerabilities is half the job; verify safe cases don't match
"Taint mode is overkill"	For injection vulnerabilities, taint mode gives better precision
"One test case is enough"	Include edge cases: different coding styles, sanitized inputs, safe alternatives

---

CI/CD Integration

GitHub Actions

name: Semgrep

on:
  push:
    branches: [main]
  pull_request:
  schedule:
    - cron: '0 0 1 * *'

jobs:
  semgrep:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    container:
      image: returntocorp/semgrep

    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
        with:
          fetch-depth: 0

      - name: Run Semgrep
        run: |
          if [ "${{ github.event_name }}" = "pull_request" ]; then
            semgrep ci --baseline-commit ${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}
          else
            semgrep ci
          fi
        env:
          SEMGREP_RULES: >-
            p/security-audit
            p/owasp-top-ten
            p/trailofbits

---

Resources

Rule Writing:

• Rule Syntax: https://semgrep.dev/docs/writing-rules/rule-syntax
• Pattern Syntax: https://semgrep.dev/docs/writing-rules/pattern-syntax
• Rule Schema: https://github.com/semgrep/semgrep-interfaces/blob/main/rule_schema_v1.yaml

General:

• Registry: https://semgrep.dev/explore
• Playground: https://semgrep.dev/playground
• Docs: https://semgrep.dev/docs/
• Trail of Bits Rules: https://github.com/trailofbits/semgrep-rules