Introduction to OWASP API Security Top 10 2024
OWASP is a non-profit foundation focused on web application security. It offers freely accessible resources like forums, tools, videos, and documentation on their website. Their notable projects include the OWASP Top 10. It highlights web app security concerns. The OWASP API Security Top 10 identifies prevalent API security risks.
An Overview of Top 10 2024 OWASP API Security Risks
- 1) BOLA
Broken Object Level Authorization represents a critical vulnerability that comes from the failure to validate permissions of a user to execute a specific action on an object. It can potentially result in the unauthorized access, modification, or deletion of data.
According to OWASP this API security threat is widespread and exploitable. It is moderate in its business aspect and can be detected as well.
- - It is essential to implement a robust authorization mechanism to mitigate this vulnerability.
- - Developers should conduct thorough checks to validate actions of a user on individual records.
They should also perform comprehensive security tests prior to implementing any changes in a production environment. Organizations can significantly reduce the risk of BOLA vulnerabilities and safeguard sensitive data from unauthorized access and manipulation by following to these precautions.
- 2) Broken Authorization
This API security risk represents a significant security vulnerability that arises when an application's authentication endpoints are unable to identify attackers who are posing as someone else and subsequently grant them partial or complete access to the account.
It is crucial to have visibility and understanding of all potential authentication API endpoints to mitigate this vulnerability.
Additionally, re-authentication should be carried out for any sensitive modifications. Developers should consider the implementation of multi-factor authentication and captcha-challenges.
The application of robust security measures is also necessary to detect and counter credential stuffing. It will also help you detect and mitigate dictionary and brute force attacks effectively.
- 3) Broken Object Property Level Authorization
Excessive data exposure and mass assignment pose a significant security threat. Excessive Data Exposure occurs when object properties are shared with a user who should not have access to them. Mass Assignment involves the ability to change, add, and/or delete the value of a sensitive object's property, even if the object level has appropriate authentication.
Developers can implement the following best practices to mitigate the risks associated with excessive data exposure and mass assignment:
- - Limiting access of users to object properties
- - Restricting the data that the API returns
- - Implementing countermeasures to provide both a static risk posture and an effective dynamic response to active threats
- - Assessing enterprise performance against threats and adjusting countermeasures as necessary
- 4) Uncontrolled Use of Resources
This vulnerability stems from APIs that inadequately implement or fail to implement restrictions on resource usage. This makes them highly vulnerable to brute-force attacks.
Developers should take into account the implementation of rate limiting and throttling. It will help them to prevent an API from using excessive resources at any time.
- 5) Broken Function Level Authorization
This API security threat occurs when an API endpoint allow a normal user to execute administrative actions.
This vulnerability can lead to severe consequences, such as:
- - Information leakage
- - Unauthorized actions
- - Even full account takeover
It is crucial to implement access control policies and administrative authorization checks based on the user's group/roles. Additionally, writing tests to evaluate the vulnerability of the authorization mechanism is crucial.
- 6) Unrestricted Sensitive Business Flows Access
Well, APIs play a crucial role in defining the BLL and restricting database usage. However, excessive access to business flows can lead to exposure of sensitive data and unauthorized manipulation of data management processes.
Developers must pinpoint potentially harmful business flows to safeguard the organization. They should implement protective measures such as device fingerprinting, CAPTCHAs, bot detection tools, and IP blocking.
- 7) SSRF
Server-Side Request Forgery occurs when a user-controlled URL is passed through an API and processed by the back-end server. This poses a security risk if the server attempts to connect to the user-supplied URL, potentially leading to SSRF vulnerabilities.
Developers need to separate resource retrieval mechanisms and clearly specify approved remote resources in allow lists.
- 8) Security Misconfiguration
APIs frequently possess insecure default settings or intricate security configurations that malicious actors can leverage. Attackers commonly seek out unpatched vulnerabilities, unprotected files and directories or commonly used endpoints.
Developers must make sure that the API life cycle encompasses repetitive hardening procedures, configuration monitoring, and automated processes for evaluating the security efficacy of configurations.
- 9) Improper Inventory Management
Inadequate management of inventory within organizations can lead to a lack of insight into the quantity of APIs, API endpoints, and API data storage and sharing. It will result in two distinct "blindspots" including data flow blindspots and documentation blindspots.
Developers are encouraged to document all API hosts and integrated services using automation to integrate documentation seamlessly into the CI/CD pipeline.
- 10) Unsafe APIs Consumption
This security risk occurs when developers fail to adequately sanitize the data received from third-party APIs. It leads to potential security risks.
Developers should prioritize API security by using secure communication channels, maintaining an allow list, and validating and sanitizing data.
Final Thoughts
We use APIs to connect modern applications of present. Understanding different API security risks can help you take preventive measures and improve your applications’ security effectively.