Impact
Compromised APIs allow attackers to bypass user interfaces and interact directly with backend databases and services [S1]. This can lead to unauthorized data exfiltration, account takeovers via brute-force, or service unavailability due to resource exhaustion [S3][S5].
Root Cause
The primary root cause is the exposure of internal logic through endpoints that lack sufficient validation and protection [S1]. Developers often assume that if a feature isn't visible in the UI, it is secure, leading to broken access controls [S2] and permissive CORS policies that trust too many origins [S4].
Essential API Security Checklist
- Enforce Strict Access Control: Every endpoint must verify that the requester has the appropriate permissions for the specific resource being accessed [S2].
- Implement Rate Limiting: Protect against automated abuse and DoS attacks by limiting the number of requests a client can make within a specific timeframe [S3].
- Configure CORS Correctly: Avoid using wildcard origins (
*) for authenticated endpoints. Explicitly define allowed origins to prevent cross-site data leakage [S4]. - Audit Endpoint Visibility: Regularly scan for "hidden" or undocumented endpoints that might expose sensitive functionality [S1].
How FixVibe tests for it
FixVibe covers this checklist across scan types: passive scans flag missing security headers, exposed API documentation and secrets in client bundles; verified active scans test rate limiting, CORS, CSRF and injection on domains you own; and GitHub repo scans flag unsafe CORS, raw SQL, weak JWT handling, missing webhook signature checks and vulnerable dependencies.