Top API Threats That Every Web Developer Should Know

API Threats
Nowadays, API threats have become a common issue in the cyber world. Like other vulnerabilities, API threats are also becoming the cause of data stolen. The most important impact of the API threats is that it is providing direct access to the huge amount of data. Another issue of the API threats is that we can’t stop these threats by using typical methods like captchas and browser fingerprinting. While developing the websites, the developers should keep in mind these API threats. Its reason is that the developers can easily overcome these API threats. Here, we will discuss top API threats that every web developer should know;

Accidental Key Exposure:

The developers are using the API key to protect the APIs. This API key provides a natural way for the developers to track and protect the API. As a result, the developers can easily detect the abnormal API behaviour in the websites. Now, hackers are also using this technique smartly to get access to the website. For this reason, they work just like a web hacker. It means that they can create a huge amount of API keys from a large number of users. By using this technique, hackers can easily get access to the private information on your website. As a developer, you should know how to protect your website from accidental key exposure. The best methods to protect your website from the accidental key exposure are to use Captcha or two-factor authentication.

DDos Attacks:

APIs are also providing an essential model to the users. By using this model, the customers can get access to your API platform. This thing is also creating some problems for DDoS protection. Its reason is that the most important benefit of DDoS protection is that it rejects the requests from the bad actors. Anyhow, it gives access to good actors. Now, the problem is that if your website is not getting traffic from the browser, the traffic looks like bot traffic.

Its reason is that on the browsers, cookies are present. On the other hand, if you are getting traffic from other resources, you will not get control of the cookies. To stop the DDoS attacks, you can use lots of algorithms. The best algorithms are leaky bucket and fixed window counters etc. By using these algorithms, you can easily reject the unauthenticated requests and you can also accept the authenticated keys. If a request has an API key, you can give access to it. On the other hand, if a request doesn’t have an API key, you can reject it.

Incorrect Server Security:

To protect the websites from the hackers, we have to install an SSL certificate on a website. The developers should be very careful while installing the SSL certificate on their websites. Its reason is that if they misconfigure it, it will become the cause of the leakage of data on your website. While installing the SSL certificate, if you have permitted the non-HTTPS requests, this thing can also become a cause of the exposure of the API key. To save your website from this kind of problem, you will have to ensure proper SSL certificate on your website. For this reason, after installing the SSL certificate on your website, you will have to test it on the Qualys SSL Test. You should also try to block all the non-HTTPS requests on your website.

Incorrect Caching Headers:

Another important benefit of the APIs is that they are giving access to the dynamic data on your website. If you have implemented cache in your website, you can prevent your website from the cross-pollutions. Studies by a dissertation help firm show that most of hackers hack website due to insecure cache or cookies. While developing the website, the developers should try to implement a proper cache on the website. If you don’t use proper cache in the infrastructure of the website, you are exposing holes for the hackers. The hackers can easily get access to cross-pollinated data by using the proxy servers. The best way to save your website from this kind of security risk is to properly configure the cache control in your website. You should also use the standard authorization instead of the custom header.

Insufficient Logging and Monitoring:

While developing the website, the developers have to create proper logging and monitoring. They should know that due to insufficient logging and monitoring, they will give access to hackers. It means that this thing can become a cause of vulnerabilities in their websites. As a developer, if you want to save your website from this kind of vulnerability, you should ensure sufficient logging and monitoring.

With the help of sufficient logging and monitoring, you can track the API requests. You can also use it for the analysis of user behaviour. After analyzing this data, you can also store it at least for one year. Sufficient logging and monitoring also ensure that your data will not be accidentally deleted. For this reason, you can use some tools. For this reason, Moesif API Security is the best tool for you. This tool is providing the complete suite for the users to monitor and analyze the API products.

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Authorization Problems:

To solve the authorization issues is also the responsibility of the developers. Authorization means that you have set limitations on your website. These limitations are relevant to users. You will have to set limitations that who can get access to your website and who can’t. You can easily do it by using the API scopes. Now, the problem is that most of the developers forget this step while developing the website. As a result, this kind of problem will give access to hackers on your website.

The best technique to solve this problem is to give access to authenticated users only. It means that only authenticated users can get access to the required resources. For this reason, it will generate an API response. Your website can check the users against the user id or access control list. While developing the website, the developers should also use coding carefully. Its reason is that if you don’t use coding carefully, this thing can also give access to the hackers on your website.
Albert Barkley

Hello, my name is Albert Barkley. I am working as education consultant with a UK based firm after completion of my PhD. I like to write on different social, tech and education trends.

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