Introduction
Web application API security testing refers to the process of evaluating and assessing the security of the Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that are used by web applications. APIs facilitate communication and data exchange between different software systems, allowing them to interact with each other.
Here are some key aspects of web application API security testing:
1. Authentication and Authorization
2. Input Validation
3. Data Integrity
4. Error Handling
5. Rate Limiting
6. Session Management
7. Secure Transmission
8. API Permissions and Scope
9. Security Headers
10. Log and Monitoring
API security testing is crucial to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in the API layer, as compromising APIs can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security incidents. Organizations often use specialized tools and methodologies to conduct thorough API security assessments. To assist in gaining some foundational knowledge, below are some resources that can help.
Knowledge (Websites, Videos, Books, etc...)
Postswiggers API Testing Documentation (https://portswigger.net/web-security/api-testing)
CSbyGB API Gitbook Page (https://csbygb.gitbook.io/pentips/web-pentesting/api)
OWASP API Top Ten (https://owasp.org/API-Security/editions/2023/en/0x00-header/)
Sheildfy API Security Checklist (https://github.com/shieldfy/API-Security-Checklist)
Dana Epps Blog - Beginners Guide to API Hacking (https://danaepp.com/beginners-guide-to-api-hacking)
HackTricks - Web API Pentesting (https://book.hacktricks.xyz/network-services-pentesting/pentesting-web/web-api-pentesting)
Awesome APISEC (https://github.com/arainho/awesome-api-security)
APIsec University (https://www.apisecuniversity.com/)
YouTube Videos - Everything API Hacking Playlist (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbyncTkpno5HqX1h2MnV6Qt4wvTb8Mpol)
TCM Security - Practical API Hacking (https://academy.tcm-sec.com/p/hacking-apis)
Corey Ball - Hacking APIs: Breaking Web Application Programming Interfaces - Book
Tools, Labs, and Resources
OWASP API Tools (https://owasp.org/www-community/api_security_tools)
APIsec University Tools and Resources (https://www.apisecuniversity.com/api-tools-and-resources)
Postman (https://www.postman.com/downloads/)
SwaggerUI (https://github.com/swagger-api)
TryHackMe - Bookstore Lab (https://tryhackme.com/room/bookstoreoc)
Conclusion
In conclusion, webapp API security testing is an essential process to evaluate and ensure the security of the Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) used by webapps. The identified key aspects, ranging from authentication and authorization to error handling and secure transmission, highlights the comprehensive nature of API security testing. The potential risks of compromised APIs that can lead to unauthorized access and data breaches does underscore the importance of thorough security assessments. To assist in building a foundational understanding, a curated list of knowledge resources, including documentation, Github pages, and video playlists, along with tools and labs has been provided. By leveraging these resources and doing your own research you can assist organizations in enhancing their API security posture and proactively address vulnerabilities in the ever-evolving landscape of web application security.
In this blog post, I provided a brief explanation of what webapp API security testing is, including a general vulnerabilities affecting webapp APIs gathered from OWASP. I noted some resources that can help anyone interested in webapp API security testing gain some foundational knowledge. This included reading material, webapp API security testing tools, and vulnerable webapps that can be used for testing.
Thank you for taking the time to read the "API Security Assessment/Pentesting Resources". If you find this content informative and you are interested in cybersecurity, please regularly check back on the Cyb3r-S3c website. For more free content, please like and subscribe to the Cyb3r-0verwatch channel. Until next time keep learning, the only way to improve is to keep learning.
/Signing Off,
Pragmat1c_0n3
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