As the approach to application programming interface (API) security becomes more comprehensive in data knowledge, daily security measures from organizations continue to bait issues from its basic approaches.
Ranging from common risks which include, API keys, OAuth, firewalls, the level of challenges dejected from API's complexity and its service-oriented architecture (SOA), making it vulnerable as a prime target.
According to a recent study, the increase in the state of hacking by exploiters has increased by 321% in API traffic and by 681% increase in fraudulent activities. Yet, most of these organizations in API productions remain unprepared and lack significant API security strategies.
With these setting them by the edge for more risks; it is important to understand the value of API, how to keep your API secure from its exploiters, what you can do to protect them, and the best approach to guarding your API security.
However, there are several types of API security, which include SOAP APIs, GraphQL APIs, and RESTful APIs — with different approaches to their vulnerable systems.
In this article, we explore the best tools and resources for expanding your API security, the top risks to API security, how to choose the right API security tools, and helpful resources to test and secure your API security.
Tools Required For API Security Testing.
Karate
Karate is an open-source API testing framework that simplifies the process of testing web services and APIs.
It provides a comprehensive set of features for making HTTP requests, validating responses, handling data, and generating test reports.
With its intuitive syntax and robust capabilities, Karate is widely used for API testing and automation, helping organizations ensure the quality and reliability of their APIs.
Apache JMeter
Apache JMeter is a free open source Java built software, originally designed as a web application load tester (WAT) to test and monitor a wide crest of application and server key performance.
JMeter is a powerful tool that has the ability to multi-perform API security testing measures and enables you to automate work with CSV files with zero programming skills. Following its wide range protocols, it can also be used to test both statistics and active applications on web servers.
SoapUI
In 2006, SoapUI was the first open source with Soap and REST API test application created by SmartBear software with a user-friendly interface, giving its users perfect navigation on macOS S, a desktop app for Windows, and Linus.
SoapUI has an automated application that enables its users to perform both simple and complex tasks with just a drag-and-drop feature, enabling users to reuse its regenerated scripts.
It also has an additional paid version called ReadyAPI with three different pricing models, guarded with additional features which include CI/CD pipeline integration, GraphQL, JMS, JDB, data-driver performance testing, and service visualization.
Katalon Studio
Katalon Studio is a satisfying API, web, desktop application, and mobile software automation testing tool that allows you to test several applications and software, and web servers with maximum API security.
Unlike many API testing tools, Katalon Studio supports simple object access control (SOAP) and representational state transfer (REST).
Postman
Postman is a free API development and usage tool with over 20 million users across 500 thousand organizations.
Postman was originally built as a plugin for Chrome but now has an extension that offers the latest version of Mac and Windows to simplify and improve collaboration with small teams and developers.
OWASP ZAP
OWASP ZAP is an open-source web application security testing tool designed to help developers, security professionals, and organizations identify vulnerabilities and security issues in web applications during the development and testing phases.
Due to its extensive features, active development, and open-source nature, it is widely used and well-regarded in the web application security community. It helps identify security vulnerabilities early at the development stage — enabling developers to address them promptly and improve the overall security posture of their web applications.
However, ZAP provides a comprehensive set of features for both manual and automated security testing. Some of its key features include active and passive scanning, spidering, intercepting proxy, authentication, session management testing, reporting, and automation.
Wallarm
Wallarm is a modern application security platform that provides continuous protection for web applications, APIs, and microservices.
It combines advanced security testing and protection capabilities to help organizations detect and mitigate vulnerabilities and attacks.
Wallarm uses AI-powered vulnerability detection, real-time threat intelligence, and adaptive security controls to identify and block threats, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and API abuse.
It integrates seamlessly into the DevOps workflow, providing automated security testing, API discovery, and robust reporting. With its scalable and intelligent approach, Wallarm enables organizations to proactively safeguard their applications and data from evolving cyber threats.
Top 5 Risks of API Security
The top risks to API security can vary depending on specific context and implementation.
However, to mitigate these risks, organizations should consider implementing strong authentication and access controls, enforcing proper input validation and output encoding, applying encryption and secure transport protocols, conducting regular security testing, and staying up to date with API security best practices and standards.
Here are five common risks that organizations should be aware of:
Unauthorized Access: Insufficient authentication and authorization mechanisms can lead to unauthorized access to APIs, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized entry to sensitive data or perform unauthorized actions.
Injection Attacks: APIs can be vulnerable to injection attacks, such as SQL injection or command injection if input validation and parameter handling are not properly implemented
Attackers may exploit these vulnerabilities to execute malicious code or gain unauthorized access to data.
Insufficient Data Protection: Inadequate encryption and data protection measures can expose sensitive information transmitted over APIs. Without proper encryption, data in transit and at rest may be vulnerable to interception or unauthorized access.
Broken Authentication and Session Management: Weaknesses in authentication and session management processes can lead to compromised user accounts or session hijacking.
Also, inadequate implemented session management can allow attackers to impersonate authenticated users or bypass authentication controls
Lack of API Security Testing: Insufficient security testing of APIs can leave vulnerabilities undiscovered. Failure to conduct comprehensive security testing, including penetration testing and vulnerability assessments, may allow attackers to exploit weaknesses in APIs.
How to Choose the Right API Security Tools.
Choosing the right API security tool is a critical decision that can greatly impact the protection of your APIs and the sensitive data they handle. To make an informed choice, you need to evaluate several factors within a solid context.
Start by assessing your specific security needs and requirements. Consider the types of threats your APIs may face, such as unauthorized access, injection attacks, or data breaches. Look for a tool that offers a comprehensive set of security features to address these risks effectively.
Ensure that the tool integrates seamlessly with your programming languages, frameworks, and infrastructure. The compatibility will enable a smooth implementation process and minimize disruptions to your development workflow.
Scalability and performance are vital considerations, particularly if your APIs handle a large volume of requests. The tool should be capable of handling your expected traffic without compromising performance or introducing latency.
The tool should have a user-friendly interface and be easy to configure and operate. Clear documentation and helpful support resources will assist your team in effectively utilizing the tool and maximizing its capabilities.
Comprehensive reporting and analytics features are essential for gaining visibility into the security posture of your APIs. It should provide detailed reports on vulnerabilities, threats, and attacks, along with analytics capabilities to identify usage patterns and potential risks.
Look for customer reviews and feedback to gauge their track record in delivering quality products and providing timely support and updates.
If your industry or organization has specific compliance requirements, ensure that the tool aligns with the necessary security standards and frameworks. It should help you meet regulatory obligations and maintain a robust security posture.
Consider the pricing model, license terms, and overall cost-effectiveness of the tool in relation to its features and capabilities.
Finally, consider the tool's future roadmap. Look for a vendor that demonstrates a commitment to ongoing development and staying updated with the evolving API security landscape. The tool should align with your long-term security strategy and be capable of adapting to emerging threats and technologies.
留言