The Role of Generative AI in Strengthening Secure Software Coding Practices: A Systematic Perspective

Abstract: As software security threats continue to evolve, the demand for innovative ways of securing coding has tremendously grown. The integration of Generative AI (GenAI) into software development holds significant potential for improving secure coding practices. This paper aims at systematically studying the impact of GenAI in enhancing secure coding practices from improving software security, setting forth its potential benefits, challenges, and implications. To outline the contribution of AI driven code generation tools, we analyze via a structured review of recent literature, application to the industry, and empirical studies on how these tools help to mitigate security risks, comply with the secure coding standards, and make software development efficient. We hope that our findings will benefit researchers, software engineers and cybersecurity professionals alike in integrating GenAI into a secure development workflow without losing the advantages GenAI provides. Finally, the state of the art advances and future directions of AI assisted in secure software engineering discussed in this study can contribute to the ongoing discourse on AI assisted in secure software engineering.