diff --git a/scripts/check_format.sh b/scripts/check_format.sh
index bd9b6a711d..5c769bef81 100755
--- a/scripts/check_format.sh
+++ b/scripts/check_format.sh
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ if hash shellcheck 2>/dev/null; then
 	# go to: https://trello.com/c/29Z90j1W
 	# Error descriptions can also be found at: https://github.com/koalaman/shellcheck/wiki
 	# This SHCK_EXCLUDE list is out "to do" and we work to fix all of this errors.
-	SHCK_EXCLUDE="SC2002,SC2010"
+	SHCK_EXCLUDE="SC2010"
 	# SPDK fails some error checks which have been deprecated in later versions of shellcheck.
 	# We will not try to fix these error checks, but instead just leave the error types here
 	# so that we can still run with older versions of shellcheck.
@@ -267,8 +267,8 @@ if hash shellcheck 2>/dev/null; then
 	#         or split robustly with mapfile or read -a.
 	# SC2207: Prefer mapfile or read -a to split command output (or quote to avoid splitting).
 	# SC2223: This default assignment may cause DoS due to globbing. Quote it.
-	SHCK_EXCLUDE="$SHCK_EXCLUDE,SC1083,SC1090,SC1091,SC2015,SC2016,SC2034,SC2046,SC2086,SC2119,SC2120,\
-SC2148,SC2153,SC2154,SC2164,SC2174,SC2001,SC2206,SC2207,SC2223"
+	SHCK_EXCLUDE="$SHCK_EXCLUDE,SC1083,SC1090,SC1091,SC2015,SC2016,SC2034,SC2046,SC2086,\
+SC2119,SC2120,SC2148,SC2153,SC2154,SC2164,SC2174,SC2001,SC2206,SC2207,SC2223"
 
 	SHCK_FORMAT="diff"
 	SHCK_APPLY=true
diff --git a/test/config_converter/test_converter.sh b/test/config_converter/test_converter.sh
index 5594df2d5d..7e241e38c8 100755
--- a/test/config_converter/test_converter.sh
+++ b/test/config_converter/test_converter.sh
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ function on_error_exit() {
 
 trap 'on_error_exit' ERR
 
-cat $CONVERTER_DIR/config.ini | python3 $SPDK_BUILD_DIR/scripts/config_converter.py > $CONVERTER_DIR/config_converter.json
-cat $CONVERTER_DIR/config_virtio.ini | python3 $SPDK_BUILD_DIR/scripts/config_converter.py > $CONVERTER_DIR/config_virtio_converter.json
+$SPDK_BUILD_DIR/scripts/config_converter.py < $CONVERTER_DIR/config.ini > $CONVERTER_DIR/config_converter.json
+$SPDK_BUILD_DIR/scripts/config_converter.py < $CONVERTER_DIR/config_virtio.ini > $CONVERTER_DIR/config_virtio_converter.json
 diff -I "cpumask" -I "max_queue_depth" -I "queue_depth" <(jq -S . $CONVERTER_DIR/config_converter.json) <(jq -S . $CONVERTER_DIR/spdk_config.json)
 diff <(jq -S . $CONVERTER_DIR/config_virtio_converter.json) <(jq -S . $CONVERTER_DIR/spdk_config_virtio.json)
 test_cleanup
diff --git a/test/iscsi_tgt/perf/iscsi_target.sh b/test/iscsi_tgt/perf/iscsi_target.sh
index 4c122f96df..d1e5e5a9d9 100755
--- a/test/iscsi_tgt/perf/iscsi_target.sh
+++ b/test/iscsi_tgt/perf/iscsi_target.sh
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ do
 	$rpc_py iscsi_create_target_node Target${i} Target${i}_alias "${bdevs[i]}:0" "$PORTAL_TAG:$INITIATOR_TAG" 64 -d
 done
 
-cat $testdir/perf.job | ssh_initiator "cat > perf.job"
+ssh_initiator "cat > perf.job" < $testdir/perf.job
 rm -f $testdir/perf.job
 timing_exit iscsi_config
 
diff --git a/test/json_config/alias_rpc/alias_rpc.sh b/test/json_config/alias_rpc/alias_rpc.sh
index 7c8ae7e76c..5af7f39ca3 100755
--- a/test/json_config/alias_rpc/alias_rpc.sh
+++ b/test/json_config/alias_rpc/alias_rpc.sh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ spdk_tgt_pid=$!
 waitforlisten $spdk_tgt_pid
 
 # Test deprecated rpcs in json
-cat $testdir/conf.json | $rootdir/scripts/rpc.py load_config -i
+$rootdir/scripts/rpc.py load_config -i < $testdir/conf.json
 
 # Test deprecated rpcs in rpc.py
 $rootdir/scripts/rpc.py delete_malloc_bdev "Malloc0"
diff --git a/test/json_config/json_diff.sh b/test/json_config/json_diff.sh
index 8b4bd6cbee..ce36d5a87c 100755
--- a/test/json_config/json_diff.sh
+++ b/test/json_config/json_diff.sh
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ tmp_file_1=$(mktemp /tmp/$(basename ${1}).XXX)
 tmp_file_2=$(mktemp /tmp/$(basename ${2}).XXX)
 ret=0
 
-cat $1 | $python_cmd $rootdir/test/json_config/config_filter.py -method "sort" > $tmp_file_1
-cat $2 | $python_cmd $rootdir/test/json_config/config_filter.py -method "sort" > $tmp_file_2
+$python_cmd $rootdir/test/json_config/config_filter.py -method "sort" < $1 > $tmp_file_1
+$python_cmd $rootdir/test/json_config/config_filter.py -method "sort" < $2 > $tmp_file_2
 
 if ! diff -u $tmp_file_1 $tmp_file_2; then
 	ret=1
diff --git a/test/make/check_so_deps.sh b/test/make/check_so_deps.sh
index 608f6c790e..1d6c2bc374 100755
--- a/test/make/check_so_deps.sh
+++ b/test/make/check_so_deps.sh
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ function replace_defined_variables() {
 		fi
 	done
 	for dep in "${bad_values[@]}"; do
-		dep_def_arr=($(cat $libdeps_file | grep -v "#" | grep "${dep}" | cut -d "=" -f 2 | xargs))
+		dep_def_arr=($(grep -v "#" $libdeps_file | grep "${dep}" | cut -d "=" -f 2 | xargs))
 		new_values=($(replace_defined_variables "${dep_def_arr[@]}"))
 		good_values=( "${good_values[@]}" "${new_values[@]}" )
 	done
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ function confirm_deps() {
 
 	#keep the space here to differentiate bdev and bdev_*
 	lib_shortname=$(basename $lib | sed 's,libspdk_,,g' | sed 's,\.so, ,g')
-	lib_make_deps=($(cat $libdeps_file | grep "DEPDIRS-${lib_shortname}" | cut -d "=" -f 2 | xargs))
+	lib_make_deps=($(grep "DEPDIRS-${lib_shortname}" $libdeps_file | cut -d "=" -f 2 | xargs))
 	lib_make_deps=($(replace_defined_variables "${lib_make_deps[@]}"))
 
 	for ign_dep in "${IGNORED_LIBS[@]}"; do
diff --git a/test/nvme/hotplug.sh b/test/nvme/hotplug.sh
index 3b2863dd9f..672c985d41 100755
--- a/test/nvme/hotplug.sh
+++ b/test/nvme/hotplug.sh
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ timing_exit wait_for_example
 
 trap - SIGINT SIGTERM EXIT
 
-qemupid=$(cat "$qemu_pidfile" | awk '{printf $0}')
+qemupid=$(awk '{printf $0}' "$qemu_pidfile")
 kill -9 $qemupid
 rm "$qemu_pidfile"
 rm "$test_img"
diff --git a/test/nvme/perf/common.sh b/test/nvme/perf/common.sh
index 9b88cdb6a3..8a9e94462e 100755
--- a/test/nvme/perf/common.sh
+++ b/test/nvme/perf/common.sh
@@ -239,42 +239,42 @@ function get_results(){
 
 	case "$1" in
 		iops)
-		iops=$(cat $NVME_FIO_RESULTS | jq -r '.jobs[] | (.read.iops + .write.iops)')
+		iops=$(jq -r '.jobs[] | (.read.iops + .write.iops)' $NVME_FIO_RESULTS)
 		iops=${iops%.*}
 		echo $iops
 		;;
 		mean_lat_usec)
-		mean_lat=$(cat $NVME_FIO_RESULTS | jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.lat_ns.mean * $reads_pct + .write.lat_ns.mean * $writes_pct)")
+		mean_lat=$(jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.lat_ns.mean * $reads_pct + .write.lat_ns.mean * $writes_pct)" $NVME_FIO_RESULTS)
 		mean_lat=${mean_lat%.*}
 		echo $(( mean_lat/100000 ))
 		;;
 		p99_lat_usec)
-		p99_lat=$(cat $NVME_FIO_RESULTS | jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.clat_ns.percentile.\"99.000000\" * $reads_pct + .write.clat_ns.percentile.\"99.000000\" * $writes_pct)")
+		p99_lat=$(jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.clat_ns.percentile.\"99.000000\" * $reads_pct + .write.clat_ns.percentile.\"99.000000\" * $writes_pct)" $NVME_FIO_RESULTS)
 		p99_lat=${p99_lat%.*}
 		echo $(( p99_lat/100000 ))
 		;;
 		p99_99_lat_usec)
-		p99_99_lat=$(cat $NVME_FIO_RESULTS | jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.clat_ns.percentile.\"99.990000\" * $reads_pct + .write.clat_ns.percentile.\"99.990000\" * $writes_pct)")
+		p99_99_lat=$(jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.clat_ns.percentile.\"99.990000\" * $reads_pct + .write.clat_ns.percentile.\"99.990000\" * $writes_pct)" $NVME_FIO_RESULTS)
 		p99_99_lat=${p99_99_lat%.*}
 		echo $(( p99_99_lat/100000 ))
 		;;
 		stdev_usec)
-		stdev=$(cat $NVME_FIO_RESULTS | jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.clat_ns.stddev * $reads_pct + .write.clat_ns.stddev * $writes_pct)")
+		stdev=$(jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.clat_ns.stddev * $reads_pct + .write.clat_ns.stddev * $writes_pct)" $NVME_FIO_RESULTS)
 		stdev=${stdev%.*}
 		echo $(( stdev/100000 ))
 		;;
 		mean_slat_usec)
-		mean_slat=$(cat $NVME_FIO_RESULTS | jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.slat_ns.mean * $reads_pct + .write.slat_ns.mean * $writes_pct)")
+		mean_slat=$(jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.slat_ns.mean * $reads_pct + .write.slat_ns.mean * $writes_pct)" $NVME_FIO_RESULTS)
 		mean_slat=${mean_slat%.*}
 		echo $(( mean_slat/100000 ))
 		;;
 		mean_clat_usec)
-		mean_clat=$(cat $NVME_FIO_RESULTS | jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.clat_ns.mean * $reads_pct + .write.clat_ns.mean * $writes_pct)")
+		mean_clat=$(jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.clat_ns.mean * $reads_pct + .write.clat_ns.mean * $writes_pct)" $NVME_FIO_RESULTS)
 		mean_clat=${mean_clat%.*}
 		echo $(( mean_clat/100000 ))
 		;;
 		bw_Kibs)
-		bw=$(cat $NVME_FIO_RESULTS | jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.bw + .write.bw)")
+		bw=$(jq -r ".jobs[] | (.read.bw + .write.bw)" $NVME_FIO_RESULTS)
 		bw=${bw%.*}
 		echo $(( bw ))
 		;;
diff --git a/test/vhost/common.sh b/test/vhost/common.sh
index 4a880e5656..16a2be6f0f 100644
--- a/test/vhost/common.sh
+++ b/test/vhost/common.sh
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ function vm_start_fio_server()
 	for vm_num in "$@"; do
 		notice "Starting fio server on VM$vm_num"
 		if [[ $fio_bin != "" ]]; then
-			cat $fio_bin | vm_exec $vm_num 'cat > /root/fio; chmod +x /root/fio'
+			vm_exec $vm_num 'cat > /root/fio; chmod +x /root/fio' < $fio_bin
 			vm_exec $vm_num /root/fio $readonly --eta=never --server --daemonize=/root/fio.pid
 		else
 			vm_exec $vm_num fio $readonly --eta=never --server --daemonize=/root/fio.pid
@@ -1092,7 +1092,7 @@ function run_fio()
 		vm_exec $vm_num cat /root/$job_fname
 		if ! $run_server_mode; then
 			if [[ -n "$fio_bin" ]]; then
-				cat $fio_bin | vm_exec $vm_num 'cat > /root/fio; chmod +x /root/fio'
+				vm_exec $vm_num 'cat > /root/fio; chmod +x /root/fio' < $fio_bin
 			fi
 
 			notice "Running local fio on VM $vm_num"
diff --git a/test/vhost/perf_bench/vhost_perf.sh b/test/vhost/perf_bench/vhost_perf.sh
index 7044183db2..5305aeef6c 100755
--- a/test/vhost/perf_bench/vhost_perf.sh
+++ b/test/vhost/perf_bench/vhost_perf.sh
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ if [[ $run_precondition == true ]]; then
 	# Using the same precondition routine possible for lvols thanks
 	# to --clear-method option. Lvols should not UNMAP on creation.
     $rootdir/scripts/gen_nvme.sh > $rootdir/nvme.cfg
-    mapfile -t nvmes < <(cat $rootdir/nvme.cfg | grep -oP "Nvme\d+")
+    mapfile -t nvmes < <(grep -oP "Nvme\d+" $rootdir/nvme.cfg)
     fio_filename=$(printf ":%sn1" "${nvmes[@]}")
     fio_filename=${fio_filename:1}
     $precond_fio_bin --name="precondition" \