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What are API Security Risks and How to Mitigate Them?
API security testing

What are API Security Risks and How to Mitigate Them?

API Security Risks are on the rise at an alarming rate, as 57 percent of organizations have had APIs exposed in the past two years and have become victims. Meanwhile, 37% of companies experienced API security incidents in 2024, up from 17% in 2023. Almost 61% of these unauthenticated attackers were able to access their API without using a security protocol. Indeed, generative AI risks will expand attack surfaces for organizations, but API abuses are predicted to become the most common attack vector in 2025. This indicates the importance of having a strong defense for the APIs. But how to get started? Let’s find out! Top Api security risks and solutions Risk 1: Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA) Often, an endpoint will allow an attacker to manipulate the ID on which the object is based and thus access unauthorized data (e.g., /users/{id}). For example, changing {id} would allow an attacker to retrieve other users’ sensitive information. Mitigation – Risk 2: Broken Authentication Attackers can compromise tokens, passwords, or API keys, and weak authentication mechanisms are present. These API Security Risks usually arise from insecure storage of credentials, predictable tokens, or a lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA). Mitigation – Risk 3: Broken Object Property Level Authorization This happens because of the use of APIs that expose too much data or allow mass assignment (e.g., allowing mass assignment of user roles). They abuse this to tweak sensitive properties. Mitigation – Risk 4: Unrestricted Resource Consumption If they have no rate limiting, APIs are a perfect target for Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks. An attacker bombards servers with many more requests than intended, causing downtime, heavy operational costs, or even complete service termination. The API Security Risks of being attacked by advanced Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are more complex, as the traffic can come from multiple sources to orchestrate it, making DDoS mitigation even more challenging. Mitigation – Risk 5: Broken Function Level Authorization When permissions are complex, they are often misconfigured, and attackers can use admin functions, such as deleting users or changing system settings. For example, attackers may exploit endpoints that lack role-based control by modifying HTTP methods. It grants the ability to enter unauthorized operations, which may result in data breaches or service disruptions. Mitigation – Latest Penetration Testing Report Download Risk 6: Unrestricted Access to Sensitive Business Flows High-value workflows (such as ticket purchases) can be automated through API’s, without anti-abuse measures, making the automated API’s vulnerable to attack. Attackers then use bots to buy bulk inventory and scalp it, making fair access difficult and damaging the brand’s reputation. Mitigation –  Use CAPTCHA, behavioral biometrics, or other methods to distinguish humans from bots. A sudden rise in the purchase volumes is something to be aware of. Limit the number of concurrent sessions to prevent automatic bulk processes. Risk 7: Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) The nature of the problem in API Security Risks is SSRF flaws, which allow attackers to manipulate APIs to read malicious URLs. This can, in turn, bypass firewalls and allow interaction with internal systems, such as databases or cloud metadata. Take, for example, an API that accepts URLs provided by users for processing images, which could be tricked into fetching sensitive AWS credentials. Mitigation – Enforce allow lists for trusted domains and block lists private IP ranges (e.g., 10.0.0.0/8). Using regex filters, validate user inputs to reject non-HTTP/HTTPS URLs, and force their selection to be an HTTP URL or a HTTPS URL. Isolated and inspected sandbox external requests to the fetched content. Risk 8: Security Misconfiguration Misconfigurations of security defaults, unpatched software, and overly permissive CORS policies are some of the primary reasons APIs are victims to security misconfigurations. For instance, allowing PUT and DELETE HTTP methods will increase the attack surface because things can be deleted, and error messages that contain sensitive information also contribute to this increase. These flaws allow an attacker to exploit unhardened systems as well as intercept data through misconfigured TLS. Mitigation – Get rid of features that don’t get you extra security, like DEBUG mode and extra HTTP methods. Restrict the amount of XSS by whitelisting trusted domains & forbidding wildcard (*) origins. Use tools like OWASP ZAP to automate configuration audits and identify what is different from the configuration hardening benchmarks. Try to send security headers such as Content-Security-Policy to prevent data exfiltration and XSS attacks. Risk 9: Improper Inventory Management Unused API inventories can be either shadow API (unpublished endpoints) or deprecated versions in API Security Risks, which do not have security patches. The 2022 Optus offence is a perfect example of how attackers use forgotten endpoints to attack: an unsecured API exposed 11.2 million customer account records. Mitigation – Maintain a centralized, version-controlled API penetration testing registry with date and environment tags to support versioning and deprecation schedules. Tools used to automate discovery should be set up to detect rogue endpoints in real-time, using discovery tools like API security gateways, even if this functionality is not available on all platforms. To enforce requests against undocumented routes, reject requests to undocumented routes, and align with documented behavior. Risk 10: Unsafe Consumption of Third-Party APIs Using third-party APIs comes with security risks, including API Security Risks of data leaks, SSRF attacks, and supply chain compromises. For instance, OSNIS considers offending SDKs or deprecated API versions of a vulnerable system that can allow an attacker to pivot and access primary systems to expose sensitive data or disrupt operations.  Mitigation –  Apply strict input/output schemas to validate and sanitize all third-party data inputs and outputs. All these data types will be unavailable to rendering code, and therefore, their validity and alignment with good patterns will allow rendering code to load.  Use SCA tools (e.g., Snyk) to monitor dependencies and detect vulnerabilities (e.g., Log4j).  Authenticate third-party interactions with enforced mutual TLS (mTLS) to prevent them from being spoofed or attacked in the middle.  Regular vendor risk assessments and restricting third-party access to only necessary endpoints are performed using the least privilege

API Security Testing Significance, Guidelines and Checklist
API Penetration Testing Services, API security testing, Cyber Crime, Rest API Security

API Security Testing- Significance, Guidelines, and Checklist

In today’s world where the development and introduction of new technologies are happening faster than before, one such rapidly growing technology is a web application. Web applications use APIs (application programming interfaces) for sharing and connecting the data between users. As businesses are dependent on the usage of APIs, they are prone to attacks by hackers and cybercriminals. This is where API security testing comes in. API security testing is important in making a safe place for users to share and receive data. This blog highlights the significance of the API security testing checklist & its guidelines to be followed by organizations to ensure data privacy. What Is API Security Testing? API security testing involves assessing the security measures of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to protect them against unauthorized access, data breaches, and other vulnerabilities. It verifies if APIs adhere to necessary security standards and best practices. API security testing includes evaluating authentication methods, such as API keys or tokens, to confirm they prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive data or functionalities. It also examines authorization controls to ensure that users only authorized users have access to the resources. Additionally, API security testing checks for encryption protocols to secure data transmitted between clients and servers. It involves conducting penetration tests to identify potential security gaps and vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit. By performing API security testing, organizations can enhance the overall security posture of their applications and systems, mitigating security risks and safeguarding sensitive information. What Is an API Security Checklist? APIs are prone to attacks by cyber-criminals, basic security checklist is needed to ensure that the data is protected. These checks will help the organizations cover their weak spots and make sure their data is safe and secured. API security testing is important because these APIs act as barriers between the third-party resources and the company’s resources. If either of these resources is compromised then the risks associated with it would also be large. This happens because security breaches can access and harm sensitive information. A Complete API security testing checklist needs to include all the steps such as : All the assets associated with the digital supply chain and APIs are covered and assessed. The focus shall be on runtime protection. Ensure a Strong API security plan after the security testing.  Why API security is important A firm must prioritize API security testing to keep digital assets safe. We need to secure the sensitive data exchanged between the user and the company’s resources. We must prevent data leaks and protect it from theft by cybercriminals. Apart from these reasons, the other reasons are as follows: 1. Integration Demands Most businesses have undergone digital transformation and have made their presence online. APIs are a great set of tools but without API integration, sensitive data is left unsecured and hence needs to be protected. 2. Dependency on APIs Cloud-based web applications depend on APIs. APIs are essential for exchanging data. If there is any vulnerability unchecked, this can affect the whole cloud-based web application. Hence API security testing is essential for avoiding the risk. 3. Unique API Vulnerabilities APIs have their own set of vulnerabilities. API access cannot be just protected by the current policies provided. Cybersecurity companies like Qualysec can expose those API vulnerabilities that are not properly covered by standard security methods and they can also tailor custom solutions. APIs introduce unique security challenges, and traditional security solutions designed for web applications may fall short. Attackers can exploit API vulnerabilities not adequately addressed by generic security measures, making specialized API security solutions necessary. 4. Complex Ecosystems The rise of microservices architectures further complicates API security. Numerous interconnected microservices communicate through APIs, creating an intricate web of potential vulnerabilities. 5. Exposure to Threats The increased number of application programming interfaces (APIs) has exposed them to cybercriminals. If we don’t minimize threats, their exposure and attacks increase. Every single API endpoint can become a potential ransomware call, so we should pay additional attention to firewalls and other protective algorithms. Types of API Security Testing 1. REST APIs Security Testing Just think about REST APIs as a postman. They use a system called JSON system which uses the internet to perform various tasks like sending, getting, and deleting messages. Storing these messages in a specific order to make them safe, is much like securing an object behind a closed door, which is why we call it the API gateway. In this security testing, the testing firm installs the REST APIs behind the API gateway to protect it. 2. SOAP APIs Security Testing Consider SOAP APIs as special mail trucks that carry structured data, thus providing benefits over the Internet. Cybersecurity firms usually protect data with a system known as HTTPS, and then the cybersecurity firms encrypt the data with digital signatures and codes. A code of conduct known as Web Services (WS) protocols is followed during SOAP API security testing, which secures the communication 3. GraphQL Security Testing GraphQL is like an interpreter which tells clients how to interact with information. This solution also enables the existing data to meet these tasks. Developers communicate with GraphQL to retrieve specific data from single or multiple sources. However, the security of GraphQL is hard due to the flexible nature of the tasks. During GraphQL API security testing, risks are minimized by limiting the throttling defining a maximum query depth, and using a query timeout. API Security Best Practices APIs are needed despite these dangers mentioned above, APIs. Nearly every online application that needs to connect to others requires APIs. Every time we introduce a new API, it opens a new gate for hackers to intercept personal data. Therefore, while managing software integration the firm implementing the integration must understand API security issues as well. Cybersecurity firms measure and defend weak spots against cyber-attacks and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. 1. Implement Authentication and Authorization In simple words, implementing authentication means establishing authentication through valid credentials. A Firm should prevent unauthorized access by developing a system that logs in with valid credentials and

Ultimate Guide to API Security
Cyber Crime

The Ultimate Guide to API Security

In today’s API-driven environment, API security is critical when the typical application is powered by 26 to 50 APIs. Unsecured APIs are simple targets for malicious actors looking for vulnerable application logic, resources, and sensitive data. Despite having numerous API security technologies in place, 92% of the firms polled for this research reported an API-related security event in the previous year. Of them, 57% had numerous API-related security issues. Even more worrying, 74% of firms claimed to have a strong API security program. In this blog, we’ll walk you through a complete guide on API security, its importance, the top vulnerabilities, challenges, and best practices for securing it. Continue reading to learn more. What is API Security? The application programming interface (API) security field prevents or reduces attacks on APIs. APIs serve as the web and mobile applications’ backend framework. Thus, the sensitive data they carry must be protected. An API allows an application to communicate with another app. If a software or application includes an API, external clients can use it to request services. API security refers to the process of safeguarding APIs against threats. APIs, like applications, networks, and servers, are vulnerable to various dangers. Application programming interface (API) security refers to the practice of preventing or mitigating attacks on APIs. Therefore, it is critical to protect the sensitive data they transfer.    API security is a fundamental aspect of web application security. Most current online apps rely on APIs to function, and APIs increase the risk to a program by enabling third parties to access it. One example is a firm that opens its doors to the public: having more people on the premises, some of whom may be unfamiliar with the company’s personnel, increases risk. Similarly, an API enables outsiders to utilize a program, increasing the risk to the API service’s infrastructure.  Why is Securing an API Important? API security is important because organization use APIs to connect services and to transfer data, so a hacked API can lead to a data breach. API security testing safeguards data over APIs, often used to link clients and servers across public networks. Businesses utilize APIs to link services and move data. A compromised, exposed, or hacked API may reveal personal information, financial information, or other sensitive data. As a result, security is an important issue while designing and creating RESTful and other APIs. APIs are subject to security flaws in backend systems. If an attacker compromises the API provider, they may have access to all API data and capabilities. APIs can also be hacked through malicious queries without being properly written and secured. A denial of service (DoS) attack, for example, has the potential to bring an API endpoint back online or drastically reduce performance. Attackers can exploit APIs to scrape data or breach use limitations. More skilled attackers can use malicious code to conduct illegal activities or compromise the backend. With the emergence of microservices and serverless architectures, nearly every corporate application relies on APIs for fundamental operation. This makes API security an essential component of modern information security. Also read : Beyond the Basics: Advanced Web API Pentesting Strategies The Difference Between API Security and General Application Security API security encompasses more than just website security. API security follows many of the same concepts as web security. However, protecting APIs poses particular issues that necessitate specific security techniques. APIs are frequently accessed over the web and use HTTP as the underlying protocol. As a result, API security follows many of the same security principles as web security. For example, API security entails safeguarding against SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF), and other typical API threats. API security also includes implementing secure communication protocols like HTTPS to safeguard data in transit, a critical component of online security. However, certain API security vulnerabilities are outside the scope of web security. Built by Third-Party Vendors One of the most significant API security problems is that APIs are frequently built to be available to third-party apps or services. This means APIs are vulnerable to a broader spectrum of attackers than standard web apps. Attackers can utilize APIs to exploit application weaknesses, steal sensitive data, or initiate attacks on other apps or services. APIs Flexibility Opens the Gate for Assaults Another difficulty with API security is that APIs are frequently meant to be very flexible and configurable, making them more open to assaults. For example, APIs may allow users to define the data type or format in which the data is returned. This flexibility may make it simpler for attackers to exploit API code or configuration flaws. Authentication and Access Control API protection also offers issues in terms of authentication and access control. APIs frequently employ tokens or other types of authentication to manage API access. However, these tokens may be stolen or compromised, giving attackers access to the API and associated data. Use of Modern Software Systems Finally, API security might be difficult due to the large number of APIs in modern software systems. Applications may interface with other applications or services via dozens or hundreds of APIs. This complicates effective API monitoring and protection. Common Threats in API: OWASP API Security Top 10 The OWASP API Security Top 10 lists the most serious API security threats that enterprises must address. The list is periodically updated to reflect current trends and risks. The 2023 edition of the list contains the following vulnerabilities: API1:2023- Broken Object-Level Authorization Broken Object Level Authorization is a vulnerability that arises when an API fails to properly validate and implement access control restrictions at the object level. This indicates that an attacker can get unauthorized access to data or manipulate objects. Broken Object-Level Authorization vulnerabilities typically arise when APIs rely on user input to select which objects to access. For example, an API may enable a user to include the ID of a user account in an API request. If the API fails to validate the user account ID, an attacker can exploit this by modifying the ID to get access to another user’s account. API2:2023- Broken Authentication Broken authentication happens when an API’s authentication method is ineffective or poorly built,

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Pabitra Kumar Sahoo

Pabitra Kumar Sahoo

COO & Cybersecurity Expert

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Pabitra Kumar Sahoo

Pabitra Kumar Sahoo

COO & Cybersecurity Expert