Contrast SCA Review 2026: Runtime-Aware Analysis

Name: Contrast SCA
Availability: OnlineOnly

Contrast SCA is a software composition analysis tool that uses runtime instrumentation to prioritize vulnerabilities based on actual library usage. Instead of reporting every CVE in every dependency, it shows which vulnerable components are actually loaded and executed in production. In a landscape where the Synopsys 2024 OSSRA report found 96% of commercial codebases contain open-source components, knowing which of those components actually run is a meaningful signal cut.

Contrast SCA dashboard showing runtime-aware vulnerability findings and library analysis

The tool shares the same agent as Contrast Assess (IAST) and Contrast Protect (RASP). The agent monitors which libraries and classes execute at runtime, providing ground-truth usage data that static analysis cannot match.

What is Contrast SCA?

Contrast’s research shows 62% of libraries in applications are never used at runtime. Within the active libraries, only 31% of classes are actually invoked. Traditional SCA tools report every vulnerability across all dependencies. Contrast SCA narrows that down to the subset that is actually loaded and executed.

Runtime Visibility

Tracks library usage at the class and method level. Knows which classes are loaded, which methods are called, how often code paths execute, and the full call stack context.

Vulnerability Reachability

Combines static call graph analysis with runtime execution data to determine if vulnerable code is actually reachable. Deprioritizes vulnerabilities in unused code paths.

Shared Agent

Uses the same agent as Contrast Assess (IAST) and Contrast Protect (RASP). One agent provides SCA, IAST, and RASP coverage with no additional deployment overhead.

Key features

Feature	Details
Runtime tracking	Class and method-level execution monitoring across 7 language agents
Library filtering	62% of libraries never used at runtime; 31% of classes actually invoked
Reachability analysis	Combined static call graph + runtime execution data
Language agents	Java, .NET, Node.js, Python, Go, PHP, Ruby
SBOM generation	CycloneDX and SPDX formats enriched with runtime usage data
License compliance	Policy enforcement, conflict detection, attribution generation
Shared instrumentation	Same agent covers SCA, IAST (Assess), and RASP (Protect)
Reporting	Priority-based reports organized by runtime execution context

Supported languages and agents

Language	Agent	Runtime tracking
Java	Contrast Java Agent	Class and method-level
.NET	Contrast .NET Agent	Class and method-level
JavaScript/Node.js	Contrast Node Agent	Module-level
Python	Contrast Python Agent	Module-level
Go	Contrast Go Agent	Function-level
PHP	Contrast PHP Agent	Module-level
Ruby	Contrast Ruby Agent	Module-level

Runtime prioritization

Contrast tracks library usage down to the class and method level: which classes are loaded, which methods are called, how often code paths execute, and the call stack context. This turns the “247 dependencies with 89 vulnerabilities” problem into “focus on these 3 first.”

Contrast SCA workflow showing how runtime data enriches vulnerability prioritization

62% of Libraries Never Execute

Contrast’s runtime data shows 62% of libraries in applications are never used at runtime. Of the libraries that are loaded, only 31% of their classes are actually invoked. This means most SCA alerts from static-only tools are noise for code that never runs.

Vulnerability reachability

The tool combines static call graph analysis with runtime execution data and data flow to vulnerable methods. A CVE in a library that is loaded but never called gets deprioritized. A CVE in a method your application calls every request gets flagged immediately.

License compliance

Tracks open-source license obligations with license identification, compliance policy enforcement, license conflict detection, and attribution generation.

SBOM generation

Generates SBOMs in CycloneDX and SPDX formats. The runtime data enriches the SBOM with actual usage information beyond what static analysis provides.

Integrations

CI/CD & SCM

GitHub Actions

GitLab

Bitbucket

Jenkins

IDEs

IntelliJ IDEA

VS Code

Eclipse

Getting started

Install the Contrast agent — Add the Contrast agent to your application runtime. Agents are available for Java, .NET, Node.js, Python, Go, PHP, and Ruby.

Deploy your application — Start your application with the agent. Contrast begins monitoring library usage immediately.

Review findings — Check the Contrast dashboard for vulnerabilities prioritized by runtime usage. Focus on findings in executed code paths first.

Set up CI integration — Add Contrast to your CI/CD pipeline to scan new dependencies on each build.

When to use Contrast SCA

Contrast SCA fits teams that want runtime-aware vulnerability prioritization, especially those already using Contrast Assess or Protect. The shared agent means adding SCA requires no additional deployment.

The runtime data genuinely cuts through alert noise. If 62% of your libraries never execute, that is 62% fewer alerts to triage. The tradeoff: you need to instrument your application with the Contrast agent, which means SCA only works on running applications.

Teams that need to scan without running the application (build-time-only scanning) should consider static SCA tools like Snyk or Grype.

Best for

Teams already using Contrast Assess or Protect who want SCA with runtime-aware prioritization from the same agent. The runtime data cuts through alert noise better than static analysis alone.

How it compares:

vs.	Key difference
Snyk Open Source	Snyk uses static reachability analysis. Contrast SCA uses actual runtime data for more accurate prioritization but requires agent deployment.
Endor Labs	Endor Labs uses static call graph analysis for reachability. Contrast SCA adds runtime observation for ground-truth usage data.

Further reading: What is SCA? | SCA in CI/CD Pipelines

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Contrast SCA?

Contrast SCA is a software composition analysis tool that uses runtime instrumentation to determine which vulnerable libraries are actually executed in production. It shares the same agent as Contrast Assess (IAST) and Contrast Protect (RASP).

How does runtime prioritization work?

The Contrast agent monitors your application at runtime, tracking which libraries and classes are loaded and which methods are called. If a vulnerable library is loaded but the vulnerable method is never called, the finding gets deprioritized.

Does Contrast SCA require an agent?

Yes, Contrast SCA uses the same agent as Contrast Assess and Protect. The agent instruments your application to observe library usage at the class and method level. Agents are available for Java, .NET, Node.js, Python, Go, PHP, and Ruby.

Is Contrast SCA available separately?

Contrast SCA is available as part of the Contrast Security platform. It works best alongside Contrast Assess (IAST) and Contrast Protect (RASP), which share the same agent instrumentation.