Implementing Runtime Application Self-Protection
Overview
Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP) instruments application code at runtime to detect and block attacks by examining actual execution context rather than relying solely on network traffic patterns. Unlike WAFs that inspect HTTP requests externally, RASP agents intercept dangerous operations (SQL queries, file operations, command execution, deserialization) at the function level inside the application, achieving near-zero false positives. This guide covers deploying OpenRASP for Java applications, configuring detection policies for OWASP Top 10 attacks, tuning alerting thresholds, and integrating RASP telemetry with SIEM platforms.
Prerequisites
- Java 8+ application server (Tomcat, Spring Boot, or JBoss) or Python Flask/Django application
- OpenRASP agent package (rasp-java or equivalent)
- OpenRASP management console for centralized policy management
- SIEM integration endpoint (Splunk HEC, Elasticsearch, or syslog)
- Application staging environment for RASP testing before production
Steps
Step 1: Deploy RASP Agent
Install the RASP agent into the application server runtime using JVM agent attachment for Java or middleware hooks for Python.
Step 2: Configure Detection Policies
Define detection rules for SQL injection, command injection, SSRF, path traversal, XXE, and deserialization attacks with block or monitor actions.
Step 3: Tune and Baseline
Run the agent in monitor mode during normal operations to establish baseline behavior and tune policies to reduce false positives before switching to block mode.
Step 4: Integrate with SIEM
Forward RASP alerts to the SIEM for correlation with WAF, IDS, and authentication events to build comprehensive attack timelines.
Expected Output
JSON report containing RASP policy audit results, detected attack attempts with stack traces, blocked requests summary, and coverage assessment against OWASP Top 10.
Verification Criteria
Confirm successful execution by validating:
- [ ] All prerequisite tools and access requirements are satisfied
- [ ] Each workflow step completed without errors
- [ ] Output matches expected format and contains expected data
- [ ] No security warnings or misconfigurations detected
- [ ] Results are documented and evidence is preserved for audit
Compliance Framework Mapping
This skill supports compliance evidence collection across multiple frameworks:
- SOC 2: CC6.1 (Logical Access), CC8.1 (Change Management)
- ISO 27001: A.14.2 (Secure Development), A.14.1 (Security Requirements)
- NIST 800-53: SA-11 (Developer Testing), SI-10 (Input Validation), SC-18 (Mobile Code)
- OWASP LLM Top 10: LLM01 (Prompt Injection), LLM02 (Insecure Output)
Claw GRC Tip: When this skill is executed by a registered agent, compliance evidence is automatically captured and mapped to the relevant controls in your active frameworks.
Deploying This Skill with Claw GRC
Agent Execution
Register this skill with your Claw GRC agent for automated execution:
# Install via CLI
npx claw-grc skills add implementing-runtime-application-self-protection
# Or load dynamically via MCP
grc.load_skill("implementing-runtime-application-self-protection")Audit Trail Integration
When executed through Claw GRC, every step of this skill generates tamper-evident audit records:
- SHA-256 chain hashing ensures no step can be modified after execution
- Evidence artifacts (configs, scan results, logs) are automatically attached to relevant controls
- Trust score impact — successful execution increases your agent's trust score
Continuous Compliance
Schedule this skill for recurring execution to maintain continuous compliance posture. Claw GRC monitors for drift and alerts when re-execution is needed.