Corporate APIs: A Prime Target for Cybercriminals
APIs have become an attractive target for cybercriminals, as many companies lack effective monitoring of malicious activities or third-party API integrations.
As online business traffic surges in the lead-up to Christmas, attacks on APIs are expected to spike significantly. Under the guise of high user traffic, cybercriminals can carry out their attacks with minimal detection. Security Operations Centers (SOCs) often struggle to defend against these threats when they lack the necessary resources, internal support, or suitable solutions. The longer an attack goes unnoticed, the greater its chances of succeeding, posing significant risks to companies.
Cequence warns about four key methods used by API attackers:
Business Logic Abuse
Many SOC teams rely on anomaly-based solutions to identify web security threats, such as unusual IP addresses or requests from unexpected locations. However, this approach falls short when it comes to detecting business logic abuse. Attackers exploit flaws or vulnerabilities in the logic that governs the rules and functionality of API applications. As a result, these attacks can appear legitimate, bypassing security measures and infiltrating IT systems undetected. To uncover these vulnerabilities, companies must conduct thorough application and API testing.
Modular Combinations
The OWASP API Security Top 10 list is an essential tool for SOC teams to stay informed about current API threats. It includes prominent attack vectors such as compromised authentication or server-side request forgery (SSRF). However, defending against modular combinations of different attack methods tailored to a company’s specific software stack is increasingly challenging. Each attack attempt helps cybercriminals gather data to refine and enhance future efforts. This shrinking window for defense necessitates early detection through software-supported monitoring and automated responses.
Shadow API Threats
In many organizations, third-party APIs and shadow APIs—those implemented during development but not managed by the SOC team—pose significant security risks. Attackers use shadow API reconnaissance to target these unmonitored and unpatched interfaces. If access is gained, they can often obtain sensitive data without being detected. Comprehensive API monitoring is essential for SOC teams to gain visibility over these shadow APIs.
AI Automation
Generative AI and large language models have become essential tools for API attackers, enabling them to automate and enhance their attacks. These technologies allow attackers to learn from their attempts and decipher patterns in API responses. By analyzing this information, they can craft personalized attack strategies. A fortified security architecture, including AI-driven threat recognition, is crucial for companies to improve their defensive capabilities.
