Remote API
In security and cybersecurity, a remote API (Application Programming Interface) refers to any API accessed over a network, allowing communication between applications or devices not physically located on the same machine. This broad definition encompasses various API types, including:
Web APIs (RESTful, SOAP, GraphQL): These APIs are accessed through the internet using standard protocols like HTTP and HTTPS.
Mobile APIs: These APIs are used by mobile applications to communicate with backend servers.
Internal APIs: These APIs communicate between different internal applications within an organization's network. However, since they are internal, they still require security measures to prevent unauthorized access from within the network.
Security Considerations for Remote APIs:
Increased Attack Surface: Remote APIs expand the attack surface, as they can be accessed from anywhere on the internet. It makes them potential targets for malicious actors.
Data Exposure: Remote APIs often exchange sensitive data (user information, financial details). Inadequate security practices can lead to data breaches.
Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks: Remote APIs are vulnerable to DoS attacks that can overwhelm them with requests and make them unavailable to legitimate users.
Securing Remote APIs:
Authentication and Authorization: Implement robust authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure only authorized applications and users can access specific API functionalities.
Data Encryption: Encrypt data at rest and in transit (HTTPS) to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.
Input Validation: Validate all user input and data passed through the API to prevent attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
API Security Posture Management (ASPM): Use ASPM tools to continuously monitor and assess the security posture of your APIs, identifying potential vulnerabilities.
Rate Limiting: Implement rate limiting to restrict a user or application's requests within a specific timeframe, mitigating DoS attacks.
Benefits of Secure Remote APIs:
Improved Application Functionality: Remote APIs enable many application features and functionalities.
Enhanced Developer Experience: Well-designed and secure APIs simplify development by providing clear interfaces for communication.
Streamlined Business Processes: Remote APIs can automate tasks and workflows between applications and services.
Remote APIs offer significant advantages for application development and business processes. However, security must be a top priority to mitigate the associated risks. Organizations can leverage the benefits of remote APIs while minimizing security risks by adhering to secure coding practices, implementing proper authentication and authorization, and using complementary security solutions.
ThreatNG and Remote API Security: Discovery as the Cornerstone
ThreatNG, with its external attack surface management (EASM) capabilities, is crucial in securing remote APIs by focusing on discovery. Here's how it helps organizations manage and secure these APIs through pure discovery, interacts with complementary solutions, and creates a comprehensive defense:
1. Mapping the Remote API Landscape:
ThreatNG scans the external internet, identifying all exposed remote APIs accessible outside the organization's network.
This discovery is crucial because many security vulnerabilities with remote APIs arise simply because the security team is unaware of them.
2. Handoff to Specialized Solutions:
ThreatNG acts as the initial investigator, uncovering exposed APIs, and then hands off the information to other security solutions for further analysis and protection:
API Security Posture Management (ASPM): ThreatNG shares the discovered remote API inventory with ASPM solutions. ASPM tools analyze the API configurations (applicable to web APIs like RESTful or SOAP), identify vulnerabilities specific to different API types (e.g., weak authentication in mobile APIs), and assign security posture scores.
Web Application Firewall (WAF): ThreatNG can inform WAFs about the discovered remote web APIs (RESTful, SOAP, GraphQL). WAFs can then implement specific rules to filter traffic targeting those APIs and identify potential attacks (e.g., brute-force attacks targeting login endpoints).
3. Example: Securing a Vulnerable Mobile Banking API
Imagine ThreatNG discovers an exposed remote API for a mobile banking application. This API might have weak authentication protocols or need proper data encryption.
ThreatNG to ASPM: ThreatNG shares the API details with the ASPM solution.
ASPM Analysis: The ASPM solution analyzes the API configuration and discovers weak authentication protocols (e.g., basic authentication with no encryption). Additionally, it is possible that the API doesn't use HTTPS for data transmission.
Action: Based on the combined information (discovery and risk score), IT can prioritize immediate action. They can:
Secure the API: Work with the mobile development team to implement stronger authentication (e.g., OAuth) and enforce HTTPS for all communication.
Restrict Access: Limit access to the API only to the mobile banking application and restrict unauthorized attempts.
4. Benefits of Discovery-Driven Approach:
Reduced Attack Surface: ThreatNG exposes hidden remote APIs, allowing organizations to identify and secure them before attackers exploit them.
Prioritized Remediation: ThreatNG helps organizations focus their security efforts on the most critical areas by highlighting newly discovered APIs.
Streamlined Security Management: The handoff to complementary solutions allows for further analysis, vulnerability assessment, and targeted security measures specific to the remote API type.
ThreatNG is the foundation for remote API security, which provides a complete view of all externally accessible APIs. This discovery power allows other security solutions to take informed actions, ultimately creating a layered defense against attacks that target remote APIs.
