API PEN TEST
Verify Your Security With a Penetration Test
OVERVIEW
What Is An API?
APIs’ (Application User Interface) are a software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other. Each time you use an app like Facebook, send an instant message, or check the weather on your phone, you’re using an API.
An API enables companies to open up their applications’ data and functionality to external third-party developers, business partners, and internal departments within their companies.
The Importance Of API Security Testing
Modern web applications and mobile applications deal with the exchange of high volumes of important data, e.g., medical records, personal identification, bank records, and these can attract the attention of hackers. Insecure APIs are easy to access for hackers, so a secured and tested API should be used to avoid sensitive information being exposed. CSG qualified testers have in-depth experience in testing API
VULNERABILITIES
Top Security Issues In API Configurations
To create more awareness of the APIs security threats affecting digital organisations, the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) highlights the top threats affecting APIs, some of which includes:
Excessive Data Exposure
Website programmers and developers tend to expose objects without considering individual security. This results in excessive data exposure, which can lead to API abuse.
Security Misconfiguration
Insecure APIs, insecure default configuration, open cloud storage, error messages showing sensitive information, incomplete ad-hoc configurations, misconfigured HTTP headers, and other security issues all result from security misconfiguration.
Broken Function Authorization
Access control policies with complicated hierarchy, groups, and unclear separation of administrative and regular roles can lead to authorization errors. Web hackers can gain access to these administrative functions and exploit their uses.
Improper Asset Management
APIs are structured in a way that more endpoints are exposed, making them require structured updates. Outdated API versions and exposed endpoints increase web attacks. You can create a detailed list of deployed API versions and configure hosts.
Injection
SQL injection, command injection, and NoSQL injection are all types of injection flaws that involve sending data from an unknown source to an interpreter through a query or a command. Hackers and web attackers can disguise and send data to an interpreter requesting they execute dangerous commands. This gives the attacker access to any information without authorization.
Insufficient Logging and Monitoring
Organizations that lack incident response integration and insufficient logging and monitoring can fall victim to attackers as they will gain access to the system, deepen, extract, and destroy data. The importance of constant API monitoring cannot be overemphasized as it will enable you to detect persistent threats and take necessary measures.
METHODOLOGY
CSG’s Comprehensive Testing Methodology
01. Reconnaissance
Conducting reconnaissance activities to locate information leakage, identify the technologies utilised, map application entry and functionality, and related tasks to guide testing.
02. Target Planning
Initial targets are selected based on perceived opportunity and prioritized for first stage attacks.
03. Identity Management Testing
Verification, where appropriate, for account provisioning considerations such as user registration processes or account enumeration.
04. Authentication Testing
Testing for authentication related weaknesses, such as insecure authentication, default credentials, or password weaknesses.
05. Authorisation Testing
Testing to validate the security of authorisation controls such as privilege escalation or bypassing authorisation.
06. Session Management Testing
An evaluation of session-related vulnerabilities such as session fixation, exposed session variables, and cross-site request forgery.
07. POST and PUT Request Testing
Data validation testing including using crafted parameters to POST and PUT requests to find vulnerabilities or parameter bypass.
08. Testing For Error Handling
Testing error handling issues, as they relate to security, such as analysis of Error Codes and Stack Traces.
09. Testing For Weak Cryptography
Testing to evaluate the effectiveness of encryption related protections such as weak SSL ciphers.
10. Business Logic Testing
Testing to determine if the flow or architecture of the application can be manipulated to gain access to
sensitive information through flaws in business logic or application workflows.
DELIVERABLES
Deliverables For Completed Test
The complete penetration testing results are documented in our content rich report which includes the background, summary of findings, detailed findings, scope and methodology, and supplemental content for context and reference. Samples are available upon request.
An introduction of the general purpose, scope, methodology, and timing of the penetration test.
A brief but concise overview summarizing the results at a glance, such as key critical findings requiring priority attention, system or recurring issues, and other general results.
Comprehensive results of each vulnerability, including a description of the vulnerability observed, the impact, recommendations for remediation, evidence where the vulnerability was observed, step by step demonstrations of exploits performed.
A detailed recap of the specific scope of what was tested, the methodologies utilized, and related historical information necessary for audiences such as auditors to understand the specifics of the test approach.
Additional content and guidance, such as recommended post assessment activities, that provides added value to the audience of the report.
Why Choose CSG
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A trusted partner with a personalized service
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A company with a global reach
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An extensive understanding of how threat actors operate
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In-depth threat analysis and advice you can trust
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Latest tools and technology