Web API
In cybersecurity, a Web API (Application Programming Interface) allows different software systems to communicate and exchange data over the Internet. It's a crucial component of modern web applications, but also introduces specific security concerns.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
API Function: An API defines a set of rules and protocols that allow different applications to "talk" to each other without knowing the underlying implementation details. Web APIs specifically use HTTP (the web protocol) to enable this communication.
Data Exchange: Web APIs commonly structure the data they exchange using standard data formats like JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) or XML (Extensible Markup Language). This makes it easier for different systems to understand and process the information, even those written in other programming languages.
Web Services: Web APIs are often used to build web services, which provide specific functionalities or data to other applications. For example, a mapping service might provide a Web API that allows other websites to embed maps or get location data.
Why are Web APIs essential for cybersecurity?
Increased Attack Surface: Web APIs expose application logic and data to a broader audience, including potential attackers. If not properly secured, they can become a vulnerable attack entry point.
Authentication and Authorization: Securing Web APIs requires robust authentication (verifying the user's or application's identity) and authorization (determining what actions they are allowed to perform). Weaknesses in these areas can lead to unauthorized access.
Data Exposure: Web APIs often handle sensitive data. Vulnerabilities can lead to data breaches, exposing customer information, financial data, or other confidential information.
Injection Attacks: Like web applications, Web APIs are susceptible to injection attacks, where attackers insert malicious code to manipulate the API and gain unauthorized access or control.
Denial-of-Service Attacks: APIs can be targeted by denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, which overwhelm the API with requests and make it unavailable to legitimate users.
ThreatNG and Web API Cybersecurity
ThreatNG's features can contribute to identifying and mitigating risks associated with Web APIs.
ThreatNG’s Capability: ThreatNG performs external, unauthenticated discovery. This is crucial for identifying an organization's externally facing assets, including Web APIs.
Example: ThreatNG discovers all subdomains and web applications, which can reveal the presence of publicly accessible APIs. For instance, it might find an API endpoint at "https://www.google.com/search?q=api.example.com" that provides access to customer data.
Synergy with Complementary Solutions:
API Discovery Tools: ThreatNG's discovery can usefully combine with specialized API discovery tools to provide more detailed information about the purpose and functionality of discovered APIs.
ThreatNG's external assessment capabilities provide insights into potential API vulnerabilities:
Subdomain Intelligence: ThreatNG's Subdomain Intelligence feature can identify API endpoints.
Example: ThreatNG's Subdomain Intelligence can identify related SwaggerHub instances, which include API documentation and specifications. This enables users to understand and potentially test the API's functionality and structure.
Web Application Hijack Susceptibility: ThreatNG assesses web application vulnerabilities, which can include vulnerabilities in the web application's APIs.
Example: ThreatNG can analyze the parts of a web application accessible from the outside world to identify potential entry points for attackers. This would include API endpoints that handle authentication or data processing.
Code Secret Exposure: ThreatNG discovers code repositories and their exposure level and investigates the contents for the presence of sensitive data. This is critical because APIs often use keys or tokens for authentication, and exposure of these credentials can lead to unauthorized access.
Example: ThreatNG discovers public code repositories uncovering digital risks that include API Keys: Stripe API key, Google OAuth Key, Google Cloud API Key, etc.
Synergy with Complementary Solutions:
API Testing Tools: ThreatNG's discovery of API endpoints can be used with API testing tools to perform security testing, such as fuzzing or penetration testing, to identify vulnerabilities in the APIs.
3. Reporting
ThreatNG’s Capability: ThreatNG provides reports that can highlight API-related security risks.
Example: ThreatNG's reports can include findings related to exposed API keys or potential vulnerabilities in API endpoints, allowing security teams to prioritize remediation efforts.
Synergy with Complementary Solutions:
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Systems: ThreatNG's reporting data on API vulnerabilities can usefully feed into SIEM systems to provide context for security events and improve threat detection.
ThreatNG’s Capability: ThreatNG continuously monitors the external attack surface. This is essential for detecting new or changed APIs and emerging vulnerabilities.
Example: ThreatNG's continuous monitoring can alert security teams to the discovery of new API endpoints or changes in API authentication methods, which might introduce new security risks.
Synergy with Complementary Solutions:
API Gateway Management Tools: ThreatNG's monitoring can usefully combine with API gateway management tools to enforce security policies and monitor API traffic for suspicious activity.
ThreatNG's investigation modules provide detailed information that helps in understanding API-related security issues:
Domain Intelligence: This module provides information about an organization's domains and subdomains, which is crucial for identifying and understanding the context of APIs.
Example: The Domain Overview (Digital Presence Word Cloud, Microsoft Entra Identification and Domain Enumeration, Bug Bounty Programs, and related SwaggerHub instances, which include API documentation and specifications, enabling users to understand and potentially test the API's functionality and structure)
Sensitive Code Exposure: This module helps discover exposed API keys and sensitive information in code repositories.
Example: Code Repository Exposure discovers public code repositories, uncovering digital risks that include Access Credentials (API Keys)
Synergy with Complementary Solutions:
API Security Testing Tools: ThreatNG's investigation data can be used with API security testing tools to perform more targeted and in-depth analysis of identified API vulnerabilities.
6. Intelligence Repositories (DarCache)
ThreatNG’s Capability: ThreatNG's intelligence repositories (DarCache) can provide context for API-related threats.
Example: The Dark Web (DarCache Dark Web) repository might contain information about discussions of attacks targeting specific types of APIs or the sale of stolen API keys.
Synergy with Complementary Solutions:
Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIPs): DarCache data can usefully enrich TIPs, providing valuable context for understanding API-related threats and improving threat detection.
ThreatNG offers a range of capabilities that can help organizations improve the cybersecurity of their Web APIs. By providing discovery, assessment, monitoring, investigation, and intelligence, ThreatNG enables a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating API-related risks. The potential synergies with complementary solutions further enhance its value in a comprehensive security strategy.
