API – UK

API pen-testing services for the UK

SharkStriker offers comprehensive pen-testing services for improving API’s security posture for businesses in the UK.

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API pen-testing decoded

API serves an important role in software development. It transmits data and logic across systems and applications. Most major data breaches occur as a result of exploitation of API vulnerabilities by cyberattackers looking to steal sensitive information. This is why API pen testing is important. 

We use offensive real-world attack techniques to gain critical insights on vulnerabilities and plausible threats in the API source code, the server side of applications, and back-end application logic. 

We configure the API to be secure against the most potent attackers and deploy some of the highly reliant testing standards such as PTES, OSSTMM, and OWASP with tools such as SOAP (simple object access protocol) and REST (representational state transfer).

What is covered under our API pen testing?

When an organization is undergoing digital transformation, many new devices add up to its network. This leads to increased exposure to vulnerabilities and threats. By conducting an API pen test, you can get greater insights into the different vulnerabilities and threats to your API. It will help you to strengthen security from the core of the API. We use some of the most offensive techniques to test your APIs for vulnerabilities and threats.

What review the following under API pen-testing:

Broken authentication
Excessive Data Exposure
Mass Assignment
Security Misconfigurations
Missing Object Level Access Control
Rate limiting and lack of resources
Improper asset management
Resource Level AccessControl and Missing Function

What are some of the common vulnerabilities found in API?

APIs are some of the primary targets for cybercriminals since they help with the transmission of vital data which can be stolen. API pen-testing allows experts to gain a comprehensive insight into some of the specific vulnerabilities.

Some of the most commonly revealed vulnerabilities found specifically in API pen-testing are as follows:

  • CORS Policies 
  • CSRF
  • API Mass Assignment
  • API Authentication Vulnerabilities
  • XSS (Cross-site Scripting)

Why does your organization need API pen testing?

The threat landscape is widening and along with it, the bad actors are evolving too. Therefore, it is important to get API pen-testing done such that you can mitigate risks associated with security breaches of the APIs of your applications. The following are the benefits of getting API pen-testing done for your organization:

It improves the performance of the API
Helps you gain comprehensive insights into API-specific vulnerabilities
Saves your organization’s reputation through trustworthy API security
Deploys world-class security measures to your API
Uses globally recognized methodologies like ISECOM, OWASP, and PTES
Saves you from remediation costs and application downtime

Our API pen-testing approach

Our team of CREST-certified pen-testers is well-versed in all the common vulnerabilities and the most immediate threats faced specifically by APIs. We use the industry-leading approach for API pen-testing leaving no room for errors. Our robust API pen-testing approach includes the following stages.

  • 01
    Planning
    Our pen-testing experts work with your organization’s key personnel to plan out the scope of testing ie. applications to be covered in the API pen-testing.
  • 02
    Accumulation of Recon and Intel
    We then use our expertise with some of the most offensive techniques to identify the vulnerabilities within the APIs of applications mentioned in the scope.
  • 03
    Identification of vulnerabilities
    At this stage, our team of expert ethical hackers uses the most offensive hacking techniques, knowledge, and experience to hunt for vulnerabilities in the APIs of applications.
  • 04
    Exploitation
    Once all the vulnerabilities, threats, and loopholes are identified, our team deploys non-disruptive techniques to discover the level of seriousness of vulnerabilities, grouping them as per severity.
  • 05
    Analysis and Reporting
    After the test run is complete, our team accumulates all the critical information derived from the test along with some of the key findings and prepares a comprehensive report that includes a thorough guide of remediation as per prioritization of vulnerabilities.

Type of Penetration Test

  • VAPT
  • IoT Penetration Testing
  • Network Penetration testing
  • Web application Pen-testing
  • Mobile application Pen-testing
VAPT
A combination of vulnerability assessment and penetration testing where a certified pen-tester engages in extensive assessment of vulnerabilities within all the endpoints connected to the IT infrastructure. It is done both automatically and manually and then a report is generated with all the measures for remediation…
IoT Penetration Testing
|n this a pen-tester engages in assessing the IoT ecosystem connected with an enterprise’s IT infrastructure for vulnerabilities and suggests measures to strengthen its cyber resilience. Post completion he prepares a detailed report consisting of all the security measures for effective remediation and posture augmentation.
Network Penetration testing
In this, a certified pen-tester engages in rigorous testing of the network to determine prevalent vulnerabilities within the internal and external network along with measures to strengthen a network’s cybersecurity. Once done, a report with categorization of all the vulnerabilities along with remediation steps is made.
Web application Pen-testing
It is a form of penetration testing that is specific to web applications. A pen testers deploys attack techniques to assess the web application’s vulnerabilities and categorizes vulnerabilities as per their severity. Post-completion a report is prepared suggesting measures to improve cybersecurity of the applications.
Mobile application Pen-testing
A pen tester deploys some of the most offensive techniques to assess the prevalent cybersecurity of mobile devices and categorizes the existing vulnerabilities as per their severity. Post completion the expert prepares a report with all the necessary steps to strengthen the mobile application’s security.

Experience 360-degree API security with SharkStriker

Frequently Asked Question

  • What is API pen testing?
  • What are the 5 phases of pen testing?
  • What are the three types of pen tests?
  • Why is API Pen testing important?
  • What are the Top Security Issues in API?
It is a form of penetration testing of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) which play the key role in transmitting data and logic between applications, thereby assisting in speeding up the software development process. Since they are one of the primary targets in most cyber attacks, API pen testing is critical to strengthen their security and fortify them against real-world attackers. In this, the APIs are pen-tested using various methods, and standards such as PTES, OWASP, OSSTMM, and others on different parameters as defined in the scope.
The 5 phases of pen testing include – planning, intel and recon gathering, identification of vulnerabilities, exploitation, analysis, and reporting.
The three main types of pen tests are – White box testing, black box testing, and gray box testing.
For an organization, API testing is important because of the following reasons:It improves the performance of the API, Helps you gain comprehensive insights into API specific vulnerabilities, Saves your organization’s reputation through trustworthy API security, Deploys world-class security measures to your API, Uses globally recognized methodologies like ISECOM, OWASP, and PTES, Saves you from remediation costs and application downtime , It improves the performance of the API
Some of the top vulnerabilities and threats to API are as follows: Incorrect caching headers, Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) Policies, CSRF, API Mass Assignment, API Authentication Vulnerabilities, XSS (Cross-site Scripting), Insecure Pagination and resource limits, Insecure API key generation, DDoS attacks , Unconfigured Server Security , Insufficient Logging and Monitoring, Low security for internal endpoints

API Pen-Testing Resources

API On Demand Webinar API On Demand Webinar
API On Demand
Webinar
Gain enterprise-specific insights dAPIectly from our experts through webinars. Close knowledge gaps on the subject matter of API by simply watching our fully recorded webinar.
API Guide API Guide
API Guide
If you are new to your industry or an established giant, staying informed with the most necessary information is essential. End your quest for answers through our guides.
API Data Sheet API Data Sheet
API Data Sheet
Dive deep into the world of API through our extensive coverage of all the necessary information needed to bridge all awareness gaps for seamless decision-making and deployment.