How do I ignore false positives in Sobelow?

Add # sobelow_skip comments before function definitions with module names (e.g., ["Traversal"]), or use the --ignore flag with comma-separated types. For bulk skipping, run --mark-skip-all to tag findings, then use --skip in future scans.

Sobelow vs. Credo for Elixir security?

Sobelow is specialized for security vulnerability detection in Phoenix apps, while Credo is a general code linter for style and consistency. Use Sobelow for security audits and Credo for code quality, but they can complement each other in a pipeline.

Does Sobelow work with Phoenix LiveView?

The README doesn't explicitly mention LiveView, but as it scans Phoenix code, it may detect related vulnerabilities. However, specific checks for LiveView patterns might be limited or require custom configuration.

How to integrate Sobelow into CI/CD?

Use the --exit flag with a confidence threshold (e.g., --exit High) to return a non-zero exit status when findings are detected, allowing CI tools to fail builds. Combine with --format json for automated reporting.

What vulnerabilities does Sobelow detect?

It covers issues like SQL injection, XSS, command injection, insecure configurations, and directory traversal, with a focus on Phoenix-specific patterns. The full list is in the modules section, accessible via mix help sobelow.

Can Sobelow scan for vulnerable dependencies?

Yes, it includes checks for known-vulnerable dependencies as part of its modules, but it's not a replacement for dedicated dependency scanners like mix audit or Dependabot for comprehensive coverage.

Open-Awesome

sobelow

Apache-2.0Elixirv0.13.0

Security-focused static analysis tool for Elixir and Phoenix applications, detecting common vulnerabilities.

GitHub

1.8k stars119 forks0 contributors

What is sobelow?

Sobelow is a security-focused static analysis tool built for Elixir and the Phoenix framework. It scans codebases to detect common vulnerabilities like SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and insecure configurations, helping developers identify security risks early in the development cycle.

Target Audience

Elixir and Phoenix developers, project maintainers, and security researchers who need to audit or secure web applications built with the Phoenix framework.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Sobelow for its deep integration with Phoenix, confidence-based vulnerability reporting, and practical false-positive management, making it a specialized alternative to generic security scanners for Elixir ecosystems.

Overview

Security-focused static analysis for the Phoenix Framework

Use Cases

Best For

Auditing Phoenix applications for common web vulnerabilities
Integrating security scanning into CI/CD pipelines for Elixir projects
Quick security assessments during code reviews
Educating developers about Phoenix-specific security pitfalls
Preventing introduction of known vulnerabilities in new code
Managing technical debt by tracking and ignoring false positives over time

Not Ideal For

Projects using non-Elixir frameworks like Ruby on Rails or Node.js, as Sobelow is specifically built for Elixir and Phoenix.
Teams needing runtime or dynamic security testing, since Sobelow is strictly a static analysis tool with no execution monitoring.
Organizations that prohibit code annotations for tool configuration, due to its reliance on # sobelow_skip comments to manage false positives.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Confidence-Based Prioritization

Color-codes findings as high (red), medium (yellow), or low (green) confidence based on input validation likelihood, allowing developers to focus on critical issues first, as detailed in the README.

Comprehensive Vulnerability Detection

Identifies a wide range of Phoenix-specific security issues like SQL injection, XSS, and insecure configurations, covering common web vulnerabilities out of the box.

Flexible False Positive Management

Supports skipping findings via code comments (# sobelow_skip) or command-line flags (--ignore), enabling teams to reduce noise as projects mature, a key feature highlighted in the false positives section.

Umbrella Application Support

Works seamlessly with Elixir umbrella apps through mix aliases and per-app configuration files, simplifying security scans across complex codebases.

Cons

High False Positive Rate

Deliberately over-reports potential vulnerabilities to avoid missing issues, leading to significant manual validation effort, especially for low-confidence findings marked green.

Manual Validation Burden

Low-confidence findings require greater manual inspection, as admitted in the README, which can slow down development and increase time costs for security audits.

Limited Ecosystem Scope

Only supports Elixir and Phoenix, making it ineffective for polyglot projects or applications using other Elixir frameworks without Phoenix integration.

Frequently Asked Questions

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