Understanding Common Vulnerabilities will help you when you identify weaknesses when you’re testing APIs

We’ll cover most of the vulnerabilities included in the OWASP API Security Top 10 and other useful weakness : information disclosure and business logic flaws, and techniques to exploit

Information Disclosure

APIs are used to facilitate communication and data exchange between different software systems, and they play a crucial role in modern application development and Sometimes developer mistakenly disclose sensitive information here.

Information disclosure can be disclosed in various ways, depending on the specific vulnerability or weakness in the system. Here are some common areas where information disclosure can occur →

  1. Error messages: Inadequate error handling can result in detailed error messages being returned to users or attackers. These messages may contain sensitive information such as database names, table names, or internal system paths.
  2. API responses: APIs may unintentionally include sensitive data in their responses. This can happen if the API does not properly filter or redact sensitive information before sending the response.
  3. Log files: Improper logging practices can lead to sensitive information being stored in log files. If log files are not properly secured or monitored, they may become a target for attackers looking to extract valuable information.
  4. Configuration files: If configuration files are not adequately protected, they may contain sensitive information such as database credentials, API keys, or encryption keys.
  5. Source code comments: Developers sometimes leave comments in the source code that unintentionally reveal sensitive information. These comments may be overlooked during code reviews and can be accessible to anyone with access to the source code.
  6. Directory listings: If directory listings are enabled on web servers, attackers may be able to browse directories and access sensitive files or directories that should not be publicly accessible.
  7. HTTP headers: Improperly configured HTTP headers can reveal sensitive information about the server or application, such as server versions or internal IP addresses.
  8. Metadata and file properties: Documents, images, or other files may contain metadata or properties that reveal sensitive information, such as author names, locations, or revision history.
  9. Backup files and archives: Sometimes, backup files or archived versions of websites or applications are not properly secured and may contain sensitive information that was not intended to be exposed.