API Penetration Testing Services

Fortify your APIs against exploits with rigorous testing that ensures seamless functionality and ironclad security.

Benefits of API Security Testing

API security testing with Raxis shines a spotlight on those hidden cracks, helping you dodge data breaches, ensure rock solid compliance, and keep everything running like clockwork.

Identifying and Fixing Vulnerabilities

APIs often expose critical backend systems, making them a high-value target for attackers. Our penetration testing identifies vulnerabilities such as insecure authentication mechanisms, improper input validation, and misconfigured endpoints before they can be exploited. By addressing these issues proactively, you can strengthen your API’s resilience and reduce the risk of breaches.

Ensuring Compliance with Industry Standards

Many industries require APIs to meet strict security regulations, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, or GDPR. API penetration testing helps ensure compliance by identifying gaps in security and providing detailed reports that demonstrate adherence to required standards. This not only protects your organization but also builds trust with regulators and stakeholders.

Preventing Financial Losses

A compromised API can lead to significant financial losses through data breaches, service disruptions, or regulatory fines. By identifying vulnerabilities early, penetration testing minimizes the risk of costly incidents and ensures your business operations remain uninterrupted.

Building Trust and Confidence

Securing your APIs demonstrates a commitment to protecting sensitive data and maintaining system integrity. This reassures customers, partners, and stakeholders that your organization prioritizes security, enhancing your reputation in the marketplace.

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Enterprise-Grade API Security Testing Services

APIs serve as the vibrant heartbeat of todays applications, powering effortless connections between systems, services, and users like a well oiled machine. Raxis API penetration testing services step in as your trusty guardians, pinpointing and neutralizing risks through expert API security testing and API vulnerability assessment, all while keeping your APIs robust, reliable, and aligned with top industry standards.

Raxis API penetration testing begins with scoping and reconnaissance, where we map out the full picture of your target API like intrepid explorers charting unknown territory. We identify its core type—be it REST, SOAP, GraphQL, or another variant—while carefully cataloging endpoints and poring over essential documentation such as Swagger specifications, Postman collections, or similar tools. In this vital phase of API security testing, we collect details on the architecture, exposed endpoints, authentication methods, and possible attack surfaces that could invite trouble. We also comb through public sources for hidden gems of risk, including hard coded keys, stray comments in code repositories, or earlier revealed vulnerabilities ripe for exploitation in an API vulnerability assessment.

Picture authentication and authorization as the vigilant bouncers at your API’s exclusive club—essential for keeping out uninvited guests while ensuring everyone plays by the rules. In this phase of API security testing, we scrutinize the strength of authentication methods like API keys, OAuth tokens, or multifactor authentication, hunting for flaws such as weak token creation or sloppy session handling that might let intruders slip in unnoticed. We also dive into authorization controls during our API vulnerability assessment, verifying that users stick to their roles and access only what they should. This means probing for sneaky privilege escalation tricks or ways to sidestep checks via path traversal and parameter tampering, all to fortify your API against unauthorized mischief.

Think of input validation as the savvy gatekeeper of your API, warding off pesky injection attacks while preserving pristine data integrity like a digital fortress. In this phase of API security testing, we probe how your API manages user input by launching controlled injection attempts, including SQL or NoSQL injection and command injection, to spotlight any cracks during our API vulnerability assessment. We scrutinize error messages too, making sure they stay tight lipped and avoid spilling sensitive details that might tip off would be attackers. Plus, we dive into exception handling to confirm that quirky inputs or wild scenarios do not trigger crashes or open doors to unauthorized entry.

Here is where the action heats up in our API penetration testing — Raxis mimics crafty real world attack scenarios to exploit spotted vulnerabilities and showcase their possible fallout, turning “what if” into eye opening demos. Our exploitation playbook covers probing broken authentication setups, sneaking past rate limits, pulling sensitive data from overly chatty responses, or linking vulnerabilities in clever chains to amp up the assault during this key API security testing stage. We craft proof of concept exploits that let your dev team replay the glitches effortlessly for fixes, all while keeping your live systems safe and sound in our API vulnerability assessment.

Envision rate limiting as the savvy traffic cop of your API world, fending off abuse and denial of service attacks to keep everything flowing smoothly without a hitch. In this phase of API security testing, we challenge these safeguards by cleverly trying to slip past restrictions with a bag of tricks, like flooding endpoints with request barrages or tweaking headers to push the system to its limits. We double check that throttling rules hold firm across every corner in our API vulnerability assessment, while gauging performance under pressure to ensure your API stays resilient and ready for anything.

Raxis delivers a comprehensive report that spotlights every discovered vulnerability, complete with their risks and real world consequences to paint a vivid picture of potential threats. Each issue comes with a handy proof of concept exploit and straightforward remediation steps customized for your dev team, making fixes feel like a breeze in our API security testing flow. We sort vulnerabilities by severity — think critical, high, or medium — to guide your priorities during this API vulnerability assessment, ensuring the biggest dangers get tackled first. Plus, our experts stick around to offer hands on support throughout remediation, guaranteeing resolutions that seal up gaps without sparking fresh troubles.

Once your team rolls out those clever fixes from our recommendations, the Raxis team swoops back in for retesting to confirm every vulnerability has vanished. This crucial step in API security testing guarantees your APIs align with top notch standards and stand strong against future threats in our ongoing API vulnerability assessment.

Closeup of young Asian woman API developers using computer to write code sitting at desk with multiple screens work remotely in home at night.

Comprehensive Role-Based Testing

This essential layer of API security testing during an API vulnerability assessment not only bolsters defenses but also fosters trust in your systems reliability.

Cross-Customer Users

Imagine your SaaS platform as a shared neighborhood where every resident should stick to their own yard. Raxis dives into role based access control testing to ensure cross customer users cannot sneak a peek or tamper with others data, fortifying multi tenancy security during our comprehensive API penetration testing and vulnerability assessment.

Restricted User

Picture a restricted user as the cautious guest with limited privileges. Raxis meticulously probes these roles in role based access control testing, verifying they cannot overstep boundaries or access off limits features, all to enhance your API security testing and prevent unintended escalations in our API vulnerability assessment.

Unauthenticated User

Think of an unauthenticated user as a curious passerby outside the gates. Raxis rigorously tests these scenarios in role based access control testing to confirm no sneaky entry points exist, bolstering your defenses against unauthorized probes in our thorough API penetration testing and security assessment.

Administrative User

Envision administrative users as the all powerful wizards of your system. Raxis carefully scrutinizes these elevated roles through role based access control testing, ensuring even superusers operate within safe confines without exposing flaws that could lead to catastrophic breaches in our expert API vulnerability assessment.

We Speak API

Raxis API penetration testing engineers have a deep understanding of web applications, as well as the latest in security technologies, and have the ability to write and read code.

GraphQL

Originally developed by Facebook, GraphQL kicked off in 2012 and hit the open source scene in 2015, revolutionizing how data queries flex and flow. Many public APIs now embrace GraphQL for its efficiency and precision, with adoption soaring higher every day as developers crave smarter, more dynamic interactions. In our API penetration testing, Raxis zeroes in on these GraphQL setups to uncover vulnerabilities through rigorous API security testing and vulnerability assessment, ensuring your queries stay safe from crafty exploits.

REST

Representational State Transfer, or REST, has been in use since around 2000 and is one of the most used APIs among developers. REST is estimated to comprise about 90% of the APIs in use today.

SOAP

Simple Object Access Protocol, known as SOAP, is a highly structured method of implementing application communication endpoints using XML. SOAP was originally made available for use in 1999.

Raxis Hack Stories

Bypassing Data Controls

Our stories are based on real events encountered by Raxis engineers; however, some details have been altered or omitted to protect our customers’ identities.

APIs can be tricky for developers to secure because, by design, they are often meant to be open to requests from many angles. From internal company web and mobile applications to external API calls allowing vendors and customers to view and manipulate data, API penetration tests look to discover any unintended opening.

Knowing this, our pentester mapped out the API for a SaaS product and attempted to utilize the API in unintended ways. He discovered a chat feature meant to allow API users with specific rights to initiate an AI chat that queried the endpoint, which replied with relevant answers automatically.

Discovering that limited user roles could only chat with the API about publicly available information and were not meant to have access to internal data, our pentester got to work looking for a way to bypass that rule and access internal data as a limited user. Manipulating the query request using Burp Repeater, he discovered that modifying the transaction type triggered the endpoint to reply with sensitive internal data even when authenticated as a limited user. Using the proof of concept in the Raxis pentest report, our client was able to update that endpoint to remove the bypass and protect sensitive data.

F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my company need an API penetration test?

Yes, these tests are important tools for your development team. APIs often power organizations’ web and mobile applications. Many organizations also release external APIs so that their customers can access and modify the data from within their own applications. All of these APIs benefit from penetration testing, and, in many cases, our customers’ clients request proof of pentest remediations before agreeing to use an API within their own applications. Our engineers jump in during the testing phase of your dev team’s secure software development lifecycle (SDLC). Instead of looking at your API as a credible user would, they take a hacker’s point of view, attempting to exploit business logic vulnerabilities as well as code and configuration issues. Raxis gives your development team useful, actionable feedback to give them the tools they need to secure your application.

Should API testing be a part of our Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)?

API testing should undoubtedly be integrated into the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). The growing dependence on APIs in software development necessitates thorough testing and protection against potential vulnerabilities and attacks. This not only guarantees the stability and security of your software but also helps to establish confidence with your clients. As the use of APIs continues to expand, proper testing becomes increasingly critical to the overall success and reliability of any software development project. In today’s fast-paced and interconnected digital world, API testing is no longer a luxury, but a crucial component of the SDLC.

Does Raxis use the OWASP Top 10 as a guide for API penetration testing?

In the ever-evolving world of technology, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) have become an essential component for businesses. However, with their increasing popularity, APIs have also become a prime target for cyber attacks. Realizing the need for a comprehensive guideline to secure APIs, OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) created a separate Top Ten list for APIs in 2019. This list focuses on the top ten vulnerabilities found in APIs, such as broken access control, injection attacks, and security misconfigurations. As a leading provider of Penetration Testing, Raxis utilizes the OWASP API Top Ten as a framework for our API testing services. By following these guidelines, we ensure that our clients’ APIs are protected against potential threats and have robust security measures in place.

If I’ve already had a web app test, is an API test needed? Could the tests be performed together?

We suggest performing an API test along with a web application test, especially if your API is utilized by multiple applications, whether they are internal or external. Depending on the scope and budget of your organization, a combined test may be an effective option. APIs are designed to provide data and data updates to applications, but in doing so, they expose organizations to a different area of vulnerability. Raxis API penetration tests approach your API from the perspective of a hacker, focusing on potential openings within the API rather than the needs of the application itself. This thorough examination of your API can uncover potentially damaging vulnerabilities that may go unnoticed by traditional web application tests.

What Does API Penetration Testing Cover?

API Penetration Testing involves a comprehensive evaluation of an application programming interface (API) to identify and address security vulnerabilities. During this process, Raxis security experts simulate attacks on the API, aiming to uncover weaknesses that could be exploited by malicious actors. The key areas covered include examining endpoints and parameters, assessing authentication mechanisms, evaluating access controls, verifying rate limiting, and actively searching for common security issues. Regular API penetration testing helps organizations proactively address vulnerabilities and enhance overall resilience against cyber threats in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

What do I need to do to prepare for an API penetration test?

Before conducting an API penetration test, it is crucial to first define the scope of the test and communicate any possible risks, such as potential outages. Furthermore, it is essential to gather thorough documentation of all API endpoints and authentication methods to ensure comprehensive testing. Another important aspect to consider is having a secure testing environment in place to safeguard the live system from any potential harm. This allows the penetration testing team to effectively and accurately assess the security measures in place without compromising the client’s data or operations.