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FAQGLOBALNIST SP 800-218 SSDF

NIST SP 800-218 SSDF How should teams handle code scanning under NIST SP 800-218 SSDF?

Choose code review, analysis, and executable tests for the software risk, then trace findings to remediation, retesting, or an approved exception.

SSDF Version 1.1 does not require one scanner or universal severity threshold. The organization selects methods and criteria for the software, risks, and stage.

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Author
Sorena AI
Published
May 9, 2026
Updated
Oct 15, 2026
2 sections1 primary sources
Overview

Use when the organization's risk-based process selects code analysis or executable testing. PW.7 covers human-readable code review and analysis; PW.8 covers executable-code testing. Define coverage and criteria, record and triage findings, verify remediation, and retain approved exceptions. SSDF Version 1.1 does not mandate a particular scanner, cadence, or blocking severity.

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2 of 2 questions
Question 1

When should teams use code scanning under NIST SP 800-218 SSDF?

Use when your secure development process calls for code analysis, code review, or executable testing to find issues before release. NIST SP 800-218 recommends deciding whether review and analysis should be used, and it also recommends testing executable code to find vulnerabilities not identified earlier.

Tie the decision to the organization's secure coding standards, software stage, technology, threat model, and security-check criteria. Static analysis is one PW.7.2 example; PW.8 examples also include dynamic testing, fuzz testing, functional security testing, and penetration testing for high-risk scenarios when resources permit.

If scanning or testing is selected, define the covered repositories, branches, components, builds, and releases. Record tool and ruleset versions, relevant configuration, exclusions, results, triage, recommended remediations, fixes, retests, and approved risk responses in the team's workflow or issue tracker.

  • Decide whether code review, code analysis, and/or executable testing is needed.
  • Use the organization's secure coding standards to guide what the scans should look for.
  • Record discovered issues and recommended remediations in workflow or issue tracking systems.
  • Re-run the applicable check after relevant code, configuration, dependency, or threat changes and after a fix that needs verification.
Question 2

What evidence should support code scanning under NIST SP 800-218 SSDF?

A reviewer should be able to tell what was scanned or tested, which criteria and configuration applied, what the tool could not cover, who triaged the output, how each material issue was handled, and whether the affected release was approved.

  • Scope the repositories, code forms, components, branches, builds, releases, and test environments.
  • Record the selected review, analysis, or testing method and why it fits the software stage and risk.
  • Retain tool, version, ruleset, configuration, exclusions, timestamps, and complete results.
  • Assign triage and remediation owners and connect findings to fixes, retests, false-positive rationales, or approved risk responses.
  • Link open findings and exceptions to the release decision and record the authority and reassessment trigger.
  • Review recurring root causes and update coding, toolchain, or software development life cycle (SDLC) practices when appropriate.

Does NIST SP 800-218 require for every change?

No. PW.7.1 asks the organization to decide whether human-readable code review, code analysis, or both should be used, and PW.8.1 asks whether executable-code testing is needed to find vulnerabilities missed earlier. Make that decision from the software stage, technology, secure coding standards, threat model, and risk. A policy, contract, or other incorporating authority may impose a stricter cadence than SSDF itself.

What code-scanning evidence should a team retain?

Retain the covered repository, branch, component, build, release, or test environment; the selected method; tool, version, ruleset, configuration, exclusions, and timestamps; complete results; and the triage and disposition of every material finding. Link fixes to retests, false positives to their rationale, and unresolved findings or exceptions to the affected release and approving authority.

Does NIST SSDF set a severity that must block release?

No. NIST SP 800-218 does not set a universal vulnerability severity or scanner result that must block release. The organization defines security-check criteria under PO.4 and records approvals, rejections, and exception requests. If a finding remains open, record the affected release, risk response, decision authority, owner, and reassessment trigger instead of treating a scanner's default severity as the SSDF decision.

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Put this NIST SSDF guidance into practice

Use the cited SSDF tasks to define the scope, assign owners, list the required records, and set the decision or review point.

Assessment workflow
Open Assessment Autopilot for NIST SSDF

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Primary sources

References and citations

NIST SP 800-218 SSDF v1.1
doi.org3 citations
Referenced sections
  • Primary source for SSDF Version 1.1 decisions and evidence for code review, code analysis, executable testing, security checks, issue tracking, remediation, and root-cause feedback.
  • PW.7.1 and PW.8.1 make code review, analysis, and executable testing organization-defined decisions. PW.7.2 and PW.8.2 cover performing the selected checks and recording results, issues, triage, and recommended remediations.
  • PO.4 covers security-check criteria, approvals, rejections, exception requests, and safeguarded evidence. PW.7.2 and PW.8.2 cover results and issue records. RV.3 covers root-cause analysis and SDLC changes.

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Use risk modeling to assess software risk, connect findings to security requirements and design decisions, and revisit the record when its assumptions change.

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Run a documented path from vulnerability intake and credibility review through risk-based remediation, acquirer communication, and root-cause feedback.

What build-integrity evidence supports NIST SP 800-218 SSDF?

Connect each release to its protected build environment, approved tool configuration, integrity-verification data, provenance, and archived release record.

What secure coding evidence should teams keep for NIST SSDF SP 800-218?

Keep evidence that shows which secure coding practices applied, how code was reviewed or analyzed, what issues were found, and how each issue was handled.

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