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 now covers this checklist through multiple live checks. Active-gated probes test auth endpoint rate limiting, CORS, CSRF, SQL injection, auth-flow weaknesses, and other API-facing issues only after verification. Passive checks inspect security headers, public API documentation and OpenAPI exposure, and secrets in client bundles. Repo scans add code-level risk review for unsafe CORS, raw SQL interpolation, weak JWT secrets, decode-only JWT usage, webhook signature gaps, and dependency issues.