Application Programming Interface plays an important role in allowing organizations to create new and innovative services. Since APIs have become an integral part of our modern digital world, ensuring their security is also important for the sustainability of all our connected innovations. In fact, Application Programming Interface security testing is the most effective method to ensure the technical robustness of our APIs against attacks and exposure to vulnerabilities. This blog comprehensively aims to explain what is API Security Testing, which are the best API security testing tools you can use, and also their importance.

Top 7 Best API Security Testing Tools

Security testing is not an easy process to carry out. Therefore automating and improving its efficiency with popular security scanning tools and methods. are important. In fact, there are many tools that can improve the efficiency of your testing job. Some of the best API Security testing tools which can help to detect API Security Risks are as follows :

OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)

OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) is a comprehensive and highly-regarded open-source web application security scanner that offers a wealth of features to help secure your APIs. Its robust capabilities include API scanning, manual testing, thorough security assessments, advanced attack simulation, replay functionality, and fuzz testing.

Burp Suite

It is a comprehensive software platform that facilitates application programming interface testing by allowing proxying, manual testing, scanning, and development of custom plugins for security testing and also helps in generating detailed API test reports. It is one of the best API security testing tools available.

Jmeter

JMeter is an open-source tool that can test security and monitor the performance of APIs by helping with Load testing, Parameterized Testing, Authentication Testing Custom Scripting, and reporting API security test.

Postman

Postman is a popular tool for testing and documenting APIs. It tests for common vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, Cross-site scripting XSS, and Cross-site request forgery CSRF. It can also test the proper implementation of authentication and authorization mechanisms.

 

SoapUI

SoapUI is an open-source tool for functional testing, security testing, and load testing of SOAP and REST APIs. It is a very user-friendly tool that helps with creating, executing, and analyzing API tests. It is a popular tool for testing for many organizations-big and small who are dependent on API in many ways.

Fiddler

Fiddler is a free, open-source web debugging proxy that helps to test the security of APIs and other web-based applications. The Fiddler tool helps you debug web applications by capturing network traffic between the Internet and test computers. The tool enables you to inspect incoming and outgoing data to monitor and modify requests and responses before the browser receives them.

AppScan

AppScan is a security testing tool developed by IBM to track vulnerabilities in APIs. The tool checks for threats in underlying web applications and API code. And also identifies threats in API design and configuration. Moreover, APIScan integrates with other DevOps and security products and helps to implement better security testing measures for APIs.

These are just a few examples of many of the best  API security testing tools available. Depending on the specific needs of your organization, you may find that one tool or another is better suited to your use case.

Also read, API Gateway Security Best Practices in 2023

What is API Security Testing?

API security testing involves testing API for any potential vulnerabilities that can compromise the functioning of the API which includes the exposure of sensitive data in it. It is mostly done by sending requests or inputs to an API and examining its response to identify unusual behaviors or weaknesses in technical efficiency.

How to do API Security Testing?

API testing can be manual or automated!

Automated security testing tools send various requests and inputs to the API and analyze the output or responses.
It also examines authentication, encryption, access controls, and other characteristics of the API.

Manual security testing involves checking the security and technical robustness of code configurations, tools, process, and procedures that makes the API.

This also includes reviewing the documentation, analyzing the request and response structures, and more.

In summary, API security testing is not a once-in-a-cycle process but an ongoing process.

Download the Free E-book-Handy Guide on API Security

API Security Testing Checklist

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are rapidly becoming an essential part of modern web and mobile applications. However, the widespread use of APIs also presents significant security challenges. Organizations must take proactive measures to assess and mitigate the risks associated with API usage. API security testing should be an essential part of the API development process.

We will outline a comprehensive API security testing checklist that organizations can use to improve their API security posture.

Step 1: Define the API Security Requirements

The first step is to define the security requirements for the API. This includes identifying the types of data the API will process, the types of users who will access the API, and the potential threats that the API may face.

Step 2: Map the API Attack Surface

The next step is to map the API’s attack surface. This includes identifying all endpoints, methods, and parameters that the API exposes. This step is crucial in determining the scope of the API security testing.

Step 3: Perform Security Testing

The core of the API security testing checklist is the security testing itself. Security testing should include a combination of automated and manual testing techniques. Some common security tests that should be performed include:

• Injection Testing: Testing for Injection vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, NoSQL injection, and command injection.
• Authentication Testing: Testing for authentication vulnerabilities such as brute-force attacks, session hijacking, or stolen credentials.
• Authorization Testing: Testing for authorization vulnerabilities such as broken access controls, privilege escalation, and path traversal.
• Cryptography Testing: Testing for cryptography vulnerabilities such as weak key management, poor encryption algorithms, and inadequate entropy.
• Input Validation Testing: Testing for input validation vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting (XSS), malicious file uploads or format string attacks.
• Denial of Service (DoS) Testing: Testing for DoS vulnerabilities such as making excessive requests, slow or partial response, or resource exhaustion.

Step 4: Analyze Test Results

After the security testing is completed, the next step is to analyze the test results. The analysis should identify any vulnerabilities found by the testing and estimate their impact and likelihood.

Step 5: Fix Identified Vulnerabilities

The final step is to remediate any vulnerabilities identified in the previous step. An effective remediation plan should ensure that the vulnerabilities are correctly documented, prioritized, and addressed within an appropriate time frame.

API Security Testing Examples

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are an essential component of modern web and mobile applications. They enable different systems to communicate with each other and share data. However, the widespread use of APIs also presents significant security challenges. Organizations must take proactive measures to assess and mitigate the risks associated with API usage.

API security testing is an essential part of the API development process. It involves a systematic approach to identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities in APIs. We will explore some real-world examples of API security testing.

Example #1: Injection Attacks

Injection attacks are one of the most common and dangerous threats to API security. These attacks involve injecting malicious code into input fields or parameters to trick the application into executing unintended commands. SQL injection and command injection are two common types of injection attacks.

To test for injection vulnerabilities in an API, security testers can use tools such as SQLMap, Havij, or ZAP. These tools simulate different types of injection attacks and generate reports that highlight vulnerabilities and recommended remediation measures.

Example #2: Authentication Bypass

Authentication is another critical area of API security. Attackers can attempt to bypass authentication measures to access sensitive data or execute unauthorized actions. This can be achieved through various means, such as brute-force attacks, session hijacking, or stolen credentials.

To test for authentication vulnerabilities in an API, security testers can use tools such as Burp Suite or Postman. These tools allow the tester to simulate different types of authentication scenarios and identify any weaknesses in the authentication process.

Example #3: Broken Access Controls

Access controls determine who can access what data and perform what actions within an application. In APIs, access controls can be implemented through methods such as API keys, OAuth, or JWT tokens. Broken access controls can lead to unauthorized access to data or functionality.

To test for access control vulnerabilities in an API, security testers can use tools such as OWASP ZAP or Postwoman. These tools can help simulate different types of access control scenarios and identify any weaknesses in the access control logic.

Example #4: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks involve injecting malicious code into a web page viewed by other users. This can result in the attacker gaining access to sensitive data or executing unauthorized actions on the user’s behalf. XSS vulnerabilities can be present in APIs that generate or serve HTML content.

To test for XSS vulnerabilities in an API, security testers can use tools such as OWASP ZAP or Netsparker. These tools can help simulate different types of XSS attacks and identify any weaknesses in the API’s injection sanitization or encoding process.

Example #5: Denial of Service (DoS)

Denial of Service (DoS) attacks can compromise the availability of an API by overloading its resources or slowing it down. A successful DoS attack can lead to service disruption or even complete downtime.

To test for DoS vulnerabilities in an API, security testers can use tools such as LoadImpact or Apache JMeter. These tools can help simulate different types of DoS attacks and identify any weaknesses in the API’s ability to handle high traffic or load.

Read this to get a Comprehensive Guide on API Security and its Best Practices

Conclusion

API security testing is a process that is used to check the security of an API and identify any vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It is very much useful to ensure security for applications that are using API.  The idea behind API testing is to imitate a model of a bug and mimic attacks to check the efficiency of the API in terms of its technical feasibility and security against attacks. Some of the best API security testing tools are OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy), Burp Suite, Jmeter, Postman, SoapUI, Fiddler, and Appscan.

Interested in API Security? Why don’t you enroll for API Security professional course?

The Practical DevSecOps’s Certified API Security Professional (CASP)  course is an industry-recognized certification to specialize in API security.

 

This certification provides hands-on training through browser-based labs, 24/7 instructor support, and the best learning resources.