How to Improve Your API Security Posture

 

APIs, more formally known as application programming interfaces, empower apps and microservices to communicate and share data. However, this level of connectivity doesn't come without major risks. Hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in APIs to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or even take control of the entire system. Therefore, it's essential to have a robust API security posture to protect your organization from potential threats.

What is API posture management?#

API posture management refers to the process of monitoring and managing the security posture of your APIs. It involves identifying potential vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that could be exploited by attackers, and taking the necessary steps to remediate them. Posture management also helps organizations classify sensitive data and ensure that it's compliant with the leading data compliance regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

As mentioned above, APIs are a popular target for attackers because they often provide direct access to sensitive data and systems. By implementing an API posture management tool, organizations can proactively identify and remediate potential security issues before they're exploited.

You can download a free copy of the Definitive Guide to API Posture Management to learn more.

How does API posture management work?#

API posture management involves several key steps:

1. Discovery: The first step is to identify all APIs in use within an organization. This can be done using automated tools or through manual inventory.
2. Assessment: Once APIs have been identified, they need to be assessed for potential vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. This can be done using tools that scan APIs for known vulnerabilities or by conducting manual penetration testing.
3. Remediation: Any vulnerabilities or misconfigurations that are identified need to be remediated. This may involve applying patches, reconfiguring APIs, or implementing additional security controls.
4. Monitoring: Finally, APIs need to be continuously monitored to ensure that they remain secure. This may involve implementing intrusion detection systems, log analysis, or other monitoring tools.

How to improve your API security posture#

Here are some best practices that can help improve your API security posture:

1. Use Secure Authentication and Authorization Mechanisms#

Authentication and authorization mechanisms are essential components of API security. They help ensure that only authorized users can access the API and perform specific actions. It is essential to use secure authentication and authorization mechanisms, such as OAuth 2.0 or OpenID Connect, to protect your APIs from unauthorized access.

2. Implement Role-Based Access Control#

Role-based access control (RBAC) is a security model that restricts access to resources based on the user's role. RBAC can help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data by limiting access to only those users who need it to perform their job functions.

3. Use SSL/TLS Encryption#

SSL/TLS encryption is a security protocol that encrypts data transmitted between the client and the server. It helps prevent eavesdropping and ensures that data is transmitted securely. It is essential to use SSL/TLS encryption to protect your APIs from man-in-the-middle attacks.

4. Implement Rate Limiting#

Rate limiting is a technique that restricts the number of API requests that can be made within a specific time frame. It can help prevent API abuse and ensure that the API is available to all users. Implementing rate limiting can also help protect your APIs from denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.

5. Monitor and Log API Activity#

Monitoring and logging API activity can help detect suspicious activity and potential security breaches. It is essential to monitor API activity in real-time and log all API requests and responses. This can help identify security incidents and enable you to take appropriate action.

6. Conduct Regular API Security Audits#

Regular API security audits can help identify vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that may have been missed during the initial implementation. It is essential to conduct regular security audits to ensure that your APIs are secure and compliant with industry standards.

Conclusion#

APIs are a critical component of modern software development. However, with the increasing use of APIs, the risk of security breaches has also increased. Implementing API posture management can help improve your API security posture and protect your organization from potential threats. By following the best practices outlined in this article, you can reduce the risk of security breaches and ensure that your APIs are secure and compliant with industry standards.

This Definitive Guide focuses on the key requirements for API Security Posture Management — click here to download now

WSSAT - Web Service Security Assessment Tool

WSSAT - Web Service Security Assessment Tool

WSSAT is an open source web service security scanning tool which provides a dynamic environment to add, update or delete vulnerabilities by just editing its configuration files. 

This tool accepts WSDL address list as input file and for each service, it performs both static and dynamic tests against the security vulnerabilities.

It also makes information disclosure controls. With this tool, all web services could be analysed at once and the overall security assessment could be seen by the organization.

Objectives of WSSAT are to allow organizations:
Perform their web services security analysis at once
See overall security assessment with reports

Harden their web services

WSSAT’s main capabilities include:

Dynamic Testing:

• Insecure Communication - SSL Not Used
• Unauthenticated Service Method
• Error Based SQL Injection
• Cross Site Scripting
• XML Bomb
• External Entity Attack - XXE
• XPATH Injection
• Verbose SOAP Fault Message

Static Analysis:

• Weak XML Schema: Unbounded Occurrences
• Weak XML Schema: Undefined Namespace
• Weak WS-SecurityPolicy: Insecure Transport
• Weak WS-SecurityPolicy: Insufficient Supporting Token Protection
• Weak WS-SecurityPolicy: Tokens Not Protected

Information Leakage:

• Server or technology information disclosure

WSSAT’s main modules are:

• Parser
• Vulnerabilities Loader
• Analyzer/Attacker
• Logger
• Report Generator

The main difference of WSSAT is to create a dynamic vulnerability management environment instead of embedding the vulnerabilities into the code.

This project has been developed as Term Project at Middle East Technical University (METU), Software Management master program.

Download

A2SV: Auto Scanning Tool To Find SSL Vulnerability

A2SV: Auto Scanning Tool To Find SSL Vulnerability

What is A2SV?
Its an Auto Scanning tool to find SSL Vulnerability and its featured with HeartBleed, CCS Injection, SSLv3 POODLE, FREAK... etc

A. Support Vulnerability

[CVE-2014-0160] CCS Injection
[CVE-2014-0224] HeartBleed
[CVE-2014-3566] SSLv3 POODLE
[CVE-2015-0204] FREAK Attack
[CVE-2015-4000] LOGJAM Attack
[CVE-2016-0703] SSLv2 DROWN
B. Dev Plan

[PLAN] SSL ACCF

2. How to Install?

A. Download(clone) & Unpack A2SV

git clone https://github.com/hahwul/a2sv.git
cd a2sv
B. Install Python Package / OpenSSL

pip install argparse
pip install netaddr

apt-get install openssl
C. Run A2SV

python a2sv.py -h

3. How to Use?

usage: a2sv.py [-h] [-t TARGET] [-p PORT] [-m MODULE] [-v]

Optional arguments:
-h, --help            show this help message and exit
-t TARGET, --target TARGET
                      Target URL/IP Address
-p PORT, --port PORT  Custom Port / Default: 443
-m MODULE, --module MODULE
                      Check SSL Vuln with one module
                      [h]: HeartBleed
                      [c]: CCS Injection
                      [p]: SSLv3 POODLE
                      [f]: OpenSSL FREAK
                      [l]: OpenSSL LOGJAM
                      [d]: SSLv2 DROWN
-u, --update          Update A2SV (GIT)
-v, --version         Show Version

[Scan SSL Vulnerability]
python a2sv.py -t 127.0.0.1
python a2sv.py -t 127.0.0.1 -m heartbleed
python a2sv.py -t 127.0.0.1 -p 8111

[Update A2SV]
python a2sv.py -u
python a2sv.py --update

Download 

Damn Vulnerable Web Sockets (DVWS): Vulnerable Web Application Which Works On Web Sockets

Damn Vulnerable Web Sockets (DVWS) is a vulnerable web application which works on web sockets for client-server communication. 

The flow of the application is similar to DVWA. You will find more vulnerabilities than the ones listed in the application.

Requirements

In the hosts file of your attacker machine create an entry for dvws.local to point at the IP address hosting the DVWS application.

Location of hosts file:

Windows: C:\windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
Linux: /etc/hosts

 

 

Sample entry for hosts file:

192.168.100.199         dvws.local

The application requires the following:

Apache + PHP + MySQL

PHP with MySQLi support

Ratchet

ReactPHP-MySQL

Setting up DVWS

Set the MySQL hostname, username, password and an existing database name in the includes/connect-db.php file then go to Setup to finish setting up DVWS.

Running DVWS

On the host running this application, run the following command from DVWS directory: php ws-socket.php

 

 

Important Note

DVWS has been developed with limited knowledge of Web Sockets. Feel free to contribute and enhance this project.

Download DVWS 

shARP: An Anti-ARP-Spoofing Application Software

shARP: An Anti-ARP-Spoofing Application Software

shARP is an anti-ARP-spoofing application software and uses active scanning method to detect any ARP-spoofing incidents.

ARP spoofing allows an attacker to intercept data frames on a network, modify the traffic, or stop all traffic. Often the attack is used as an opening for other attacks, such as denial of service, man in the middle, or session hijacking attacks.Our anti- ARP spoofing program, (shARP) detects the presence of a third party in a private network actively. It has 2 mode: defensive and offensive. Defensive mode protects the end user from the spoofer by dissconnecting the user's system from the network and alerts the user by an audio message.

The offensive mode dissconnects the user's system from the network and further kicks out the attacker by sending de-authentication packets to his system, unabling him to reconnect to the network until the program is manually reset. The program creates a log file (/usr/shARP/)containing the details of the attack such as, the attackers mac address, mac vendor time and date of the attack. We can identify the NIC of the attackers system with the help of the obtained mac address. If required the attacker can be permanently banned from the netwrk by feeding his mac address to the block list of the router.

The whole program is designed specially for linux and is writen in Linux s is hell command (bash command). In the offensive mode the program downloads an open-source application from the internet with the permission of the user namely aircrack-ng (if not present in the user's system already ). Since it is written in python language, you must have python installed on your system for it to work. Visit https://www.aircrack-ng.orgfor more info.

If the user wants to secure his network by scanning for any attacker he can run the program. the program offers a simple command line interface which makes it easy for the new users.the user can directly access the defensive or offensive mode by inputing the respective command line arguments along with the execution code just as in any other linux command to operate a software through CLI. In case the user inputs any wrong command line argument, the program prompts the user to use the help option. the help option provides the details about the two modes. when the user runs the program in defensive mode, he recieves the original mac address of the gateway.

If there is no man in the middle attack, the screen stays idle. As soon as the program detects a spoofer in the network, it outputs the mac address of the spoofer and the time of the attack. It then dissconnects the users's system from the network so as to protect the private data being transfered between the system and the server. It also saves a log file about the attacker for further use. when the user runs the program in offensive mode,he recieves the original mac address of the gateway. If there is no man in the middle attack, the screen stays idle.

As soon as the program detects a spoofer in the network, it outputs the mac address of the spoofer and the time of the attack as in the defensive mode. But further, the program puts the user's Network Interface Card to monitor mode with the help of the application 'Airmon-ng'. Then the application 'Aircrack-ng' gets activated and starts sending deauthentication packets to the attacker's system. This process kicks out the attacker from the network. The program also creates a log file about the attack.

How to use ?

bash ./shARP.sh -r [interface] to reset the network card and driver.

bash ./shARP.sh -d [interface] to activate the program in defense mode.

bash ./shARP.sh -o [interface] to activate the program in offense mode.

bash ./shARP.sh -h for help.

Download shARP

LFI Suite A Totally Automatic Tool To Scan And Exploit Local File Inclusion Vulnerabilities

LFI Suite A Totally Automatic LFI Exploiter (+ Reverse Shell) and Scanner.

What is LFI Suite?

LFI Suite is a totally automatic tool able to scan and exploit Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities using many different methods of attack, listed in the section Features.

Features

1. Works with Windows, Linux and OS X
2. Automatic Configuration
3. Automatic Update
4. Provides 8 different Local File Inclusion attack modalities:

• /proc/self/environ
• php://filter
• php://input
• /proc/self/fd
• access log
• phpinfo
• data://
• expect://

Provides a ninth modality, called Auto-Hack, which scans and exploits the target automatically by trying all the attacks one after the other without you having to do anything (except for providing, at the beginning, a list of paths to scan, which if you don't have you can find in this project directory in two versions, small and huge).

Tor proxy support

Reverse Shell for Windows, Linux and OS X

How to use it?

Usage is extremely simple and LFI Suite has an easy-to-use user interface; just run it and let it lead you.

Reverse Shell

When you got a LFI shell by using one of the available attacks, you can easily obtain a reverse shell by entering the command "reverseshell" (obviously you must put your system listening for the reverse connection, for instance using "nc -lvp port").

Dependencies

• Python 2.7.x
• Python extra modules: termcolor, requests
• socks.py

Disclaimer

This tool is only use for Knowledge purpose only.

Download LFI Suite