What Are API Security Risks?

APIs, or application programming interfaces, are a crucial component of modern software development. They allow different systems to communicate with one another and share data and functionality. However, as with any aspect of computing, API security is a critical concern. API security is the process of protecting APIs from attacks.

API security is a critical concern for businesses and organizations that rely on APIs to provide access to their services and data. APIs can be vulnerable to a wide range of security risks, which can lead to data breaches, unauthorized access, and other forms of abuse. 

Why hackers love APIs: Hackers love APIs because they often hold the keys to a lot of valuable information. If not properly secured, APIs can potentially expose sensitive data.

Exploiting security oversights: Hackers look for APIs built and deployed without sufficient security measures, which offer an easy point of entry. Legacy APIs, if not regularly updated, also become targets for threat actors because there are often multiple entry points overlooked or forgotten about.

Exploiting complexity: APIs facilitate a large amount of interaction types, especially in microservices and distributed architectures. The intricate interactions of APIs can challenge organizations’ ability to keep their API security standards ahead of threat actors. Hackers know this, and use complexity to exploit the API.

Exponential effects of API attacks: APIs are also attractive to hackers because of their potential use in larger data loss. By targeting API endpoints in a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, a hacker could significantly disrupt a system’s operations.

Types of API security threats: APIs face numerous security threats, ranging from deliberate attacks to inadvertent data leaks. Unauthorized users may exploit vulnerabilities in an API to gain access to sensitive data, disrupt services, or hijack the system for their use. Some common threats include injection attacks, machine-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, and DDoS attacks aimed at overwhelming an API with traffic.

The need for API security measures: The increasing dependence on APIs underscores the necessity for API security. Protecting APIs can be a challenging task that goes beyond access restrictions. It involves rigorous authentication protocols, authorization controls, data encryption, and regular security audits. The goal is to create a security envelope around APIs that can resist attempts at intrusion or misuse.

Implementing best practices in API security: Implementing best practices in API security can significantly reduce the risks. Access restriction (or least privilege) ensures that a user is given the minimum levels of access necessary to perform their job functions. 

Another security measure is the Zero Trust model, which operates on the assumption that no request should be trusted by default, regardless of where it originates.

API security as a business imperative: Organizations need to invest time, resources, and ongoing strategy to protect their APIs against the many security risks faced. Protection against data breaches, compliance with regulatory requirements, preservation of brand reputation, and the trust of customers and partners who interact with your APIs are results of an effective API security strategy.

Here are the top 10 API security risks that businesses and organizations should protect against.

1. Injection attacks: Injection attacks occur when malicious code or data is injected into an API request. This can include SQL injection, where an attacker injects SQL code into an API request to gain unauthorized access to a database, and cross-site scripting (XSS), where an attacker injects malicious code into a web page that is accessed through an API.
2. Broken authentication and session management: APIs that lack proper authentication and session management can be vulnerable to attacks where an attacker can gain unauthorized access to the API. This can include guessing or cracking passwords, stealing session cookies, and other forms of identity theft.
3. Insecure communication: APIs that transmit data over unencrypted connections can be vulnerable to attacks where an attacker intercepts the data and reads or alters it. This can include MITM attacks, where an attacker intercepts the data and reads or alters it, and eavesdropping attacks, where an attacker listens in on the communication between the API and the client.
4. DDoS attacks: APIs can be vulnerable to DDoS attacks, where an attacker floods the API with a large number of requests in order to overwhelm the server and make the API unavailable.
5. Misuse of API keys: API keys are unique, secret strings that are provided to authorized users and systems. If these keys are compromised, they can be used to gain unauthorized access to the API.
6. Lack of input validation: APIs that do not properly validate the data that is sent in requests can be vulnerable to attacks where an attacker sends malicious data in the request.
7. Unvalidated redirects and forwards: APIs that allow unvalidated redirects and forwards can be vulnerable to attacks where an attacker redirects the user to a malicious website or API.
8. Unvalidated forward input: APIs that do not properly validate the data that is sent in requests can be vulnerable to attacks where an attacker sends malicious data in the request.
9. Lack of access control: APIs that do not properly control access to their resources can be vulnerable to attacks where an attacker gains unauthorized access to the API.
10. Lack of monitoring and logging: APIs that do not monitor and log API requests and responses can be vulnerable to attacks where an attacker uses the API for malicious purposes without being detected.

In order to protect your APIs, you have to be able to see all of them and know what they’re doing. Akamai helps provide robust API security by providing complete visibility into the entire API estate. 

Then, with an industry-leading WAAP, App & API Protector, and a powerful detection and response solution, API Security, organizations can protect their APIs from known incoming threats and from unusual API behavior. 

This can include implementing robust authentication and authorization, using encryption to protect data transmitted over the API, implementing rate limiting to prevent DDoS attacks, and logging and monitoring API requests and responses. As threats are identified, App & API Protector can stop them in-line. 

By taking these steps, businesses can protect their APIs from abuse and ensure that they are used in a safe way.

APIs process sensitive information, a security compromise can lead to significant data breaches. Confidential business or customer data could be exposed to unauthorized parties. 

Operational disruptions: Insecure APIs are gateways for cyber attacks. Attackers can launch numerous types of API attacks, including denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, targeting APIs to consume system resources. These actions cause system slowdowns or outages, adversely affecting the user experience, and cause loss of revenue.

Financial risks: Responding to API security breaches can be costly, including correcting security flaws, managing public relations, and potential legal costs following a data breach. 

The need for robust API security: API security risks can threaten your business’s data integrity, operational continuity, and financial stability. Putting in place strong API security strategies, including stringent authentication and rate limiting, is critical to safeguard your assets and operations.

Static and dynamic analysis: The solution performs static analysis, examining the source code of the application for security vulnerabilities, and dynamic analysis, monitoring the application while it’s running to detect anomalous or malicious behaviors.

Intrusion detection systems (IDS): An IDS detects suspicious activity or violations of security policies and sends out alerts when potential threats are identified.

Regular updates: Security should be regularly updated to stay aware of the latest OWASP vulnerabilities and other emerging security threats.

Automated alerts: Upon detection of a potential vulnerability, a security system should send out automated alerts to specific recipients, so that any potential issues are quickly brought to the attention of the security team.

Design and implementation: Assessing how the API was built is the first step. The initial design and implementation of an API significantly impact its security. Factors like how data is handled, how errors are managed, the use of secure communication protocols, and the verification of inputs to prevent attacks are all important.

API protection measures: API security depends a lot on the protection measures it has implemented. An API with a set of up-to-date protection measures is more secure.

API security comes from its design, and constant security implementation.

Common examples of API attacks include MITM attacks, where an attacker intercepts and alters the communication between two systems; injection attacks, where malicious data is inserted to exploit a system vulnerability; and DDoS attacks, where an overwhelming amount of traffic is directed toward an API to cause disruption of service.

The five common security risks of APIs are:

1. Data breaches resulting from weak encryption: This typically occurs when weak encryption methods are used for sensitive data. Without strong encryption, data can be intercepted, deciphered, and exploited by malicious actors. 
2. Unauthorized access due to weak authentication measures: If an API does not effectively verify the identities of those who access it, unauthorized users may gain access.
3. Poor access controls leading to excessive permissions: Poor access controls can lead to excessive permissions, granting users more access than necessary. If a user’s credentials are compromised, the hacker has the same permissions, allowing them to cause significant damage.
4. Lack of encryption during data transit: As data moves between systems or over networks, it can be intercepted by unauthorized parties. Without encryption during transit, sensitive data can be captured and misused, leading to data breaches.
5. Insufficient endpoint protection leading to system vulnerabilities: Each API endpoint is an entry point into a system, and can be exploited to gain unauthorized access or disrupt service. Proper endpoint protection requires limiting exposure, implementing effective authentication, and continuous monitoring.

Making APIs more secure involves several strategies:

1. Implement strong authentication and authorization protocols.
2. Use encryption to protect data during transit.
3. Limit API endpoint exposure to reduce potential attack vectors.
4. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
5. Follow a Zero Trust model, not trusting any request by default.

Protecting sensitive information: A solid API security structure is a barrier against data breaches, creating safety for both business and customer information. Data is a valuable commodity, so maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of this information is important. 

Strong API security minimizes the risk of unauthorized access and data leakage.

Reducing service disruption: Strong API security is important for stopping service disruption for customers and allows for consistent service delivery.

Compliance with data protection regulations: A strong API security framework aids in achieving regulatory compliance and shows a proactive approach to data protection. This shows regulators, customers, and partners that data security is a top priority.

Trust and confidence: APIs known for strong security promote trust with customers and partners who interact with the APIs.

API security requires setting up strong authentication and authorization mechanisms and ensuring only wanted users have access to the APIs. To further secure the data, encryption should be employed both when the data is at rest and during its transit between systems.

The number of API endpoints should be carefully managed and minimized where possible to limit the potential attack surfaces. 

An additional layer of protection can be provided by following a Zero Trust model. This model operates on the premise of not trusting any request by default, regardless of where it comes from, offering more comprehensive protection against threats.

Start by auditing its authentication and authorization capabilities. Ideally, robust solutions such as OAuth or OpenID Connect would be in place.

Audit the data encryption standards of the API. It should use strong encryption for both at-rest data and data as it moves to and from the API. Secure communication protocols, like Transport Layer Security (TLS), should be implemented for all data exchanges.

Rate limiting should be in the API, controlling the number of requests a client or an IP address can make within a set time. This defends against brute-force attacks and stops system overload.

Check whether the API has a Zero Trust model, an approach that treats all requests as potential threats, irrespective of their origin. A Zero Trust architecture means constant verification, but may be a significant undertaking if a business has not had this in place before.

A secure API is one that is consistently monitored, updated, and adapted in response to evolving security threats.

User personal information: This could include names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, social security numbers, or passport details.

Financial data: Credit card information, bank account details, and transaction histories could be at risk.

Authentication credentials: Usernames, passwords, and other forms of authentication data, like API keys or tokens, are main targets in an API attack, because they can provide broader access to systems and data.

Health information: Personal medical records, health histories, insurance details, and other sensitive health-related data are at risk in an API attack.

Proprietary business information and IP: Depending on the nature of the API, hackers can gain access to proprietary business data, like intellectual property, business strategies, or private correspondence.

User activity data: Information about a user’s activities or behaviors, such as browsing history, social media behavior, purchase history, or location data, are also vulnerable to an API attack.