Rogue API
In cybersecurity, a Rogue API refers to an Application Programming Interface (API) present within an organization's systems but not properly managed, secured, or documented.
Here's a breakdown of what that means:
Unmanaged: The API might have been created by a developer without proper authorization or oversight from the security team. This means it may not adhere to the organization's security policies.
Unsecured: Rogue APIs often lack appropriate authentication, authorization, and encryption mechanisms, which can make them vulnerable to unauthorized access and data breaches.
Undocumented: Because they are not officially recognized, rogue APIs typically lack proper documentation. This makes it difficult for security teams to understand their purpose, functionality, and potential risks.
Why Rogue APIs Are a Security Risk
Rogue APIs pose a significant security risk because they can:
Provide unauthorized access to sensitive data: If a rogue API accesses internal systems, it could expose customer data, financial information, or intellectual property.
Create backdoors into systems: Attackers can exploit rogue APIs to bypass traditional security measures and gain persistent access to an organization's network.
Facilitate data breaches: The lack of security and monitoring makes rogue APIs attractive targets for attackers looking to steal or manipulate data.
Increase the attack surface: Rogue APIs expand the number of potential entry points attackers can exploit to compromise a system.
Rogue APIs represent a blind spot in an organization's security posture, creating vulnerabilities that can be easily exploited.
ThreatNG is well-equipped to help organizations discover, assess, and manage the risks of rogue APIs. Here's how its capabilities contribute to addressing this cybersecurity challenge:
ThreatNG's external discovery is crucial for identifying APIs outside the organization's direct awareness or control.
By performing unauthenticated discovery, ThreatNG can map the organization's external attack surface, revealing publicly accessible APIs that may not be adequately secured or documented.
ThreatNG's assessment capabilities provide valuable insights into the security posture of an organization's APIs:
Web Application Hijack Susceptibility: ThreatNG analyzes web applications to identify potential entry points for attackers. This analysis can uncover vulnerabilities in APIs that could be exploited to hijack the application.
Cyber Risk Exposure: ThreatNG's assessment considers various factors, including vulnerabilities, to determine cyber risk. This includes identifying API vulnerabilities that could increase the organization's exposure to attacks.
API Identification: ThreatNG's Subdomain Intelligence feature identifies APIs as part of its content identification process. This helps discover both known and potentially rogue APIs.
3. Reporting
ThreatNG's reporting capabilities can highlight the presence of APIs and associated risks.
Security teams can use these reports to gain visibility into the organization's API landscape and prioritize remediation efforts.
ThreatNG's continuous monitoring ensures that APIs are constantly assessed for new vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.
This helps organizations avoid potential threats and maintain a strong security posture.
ThreatNG's investigation modules provide in-depth analysis capabilities to help security teams understand and address API-related risks:
Subdomain Intelligence: This module identifies APIs as part of its content identification, enabling security teams to investigate their purpose, functionality, and security measures.
Search Engine Exploitation: ThreatNG can identify potential sensitive information exposed via search engines, including API keys or documentation, that attackers could exploit.
Archived Web Pages: ThreatNG analyzes archived web pages, which can reveal older versions of APIs or documentation that may contain vulnerabilities.
ThreatNG's intelligence repositories can provide context for API-related findings.
For example, the repository of compromised credentials can help identify if API keys or credentials have been exposed in data breaches.
7. Working with Complementary Solutions
ThreatNG's API-related findings can be integrated with other security tools to enhance overall security:
API Gateways: ThreatNG can complement API gateways by providing external visibility into API security posture, helping to identify APIs not being managed by the gateway.
Web Application Firewalls (WAFs): ThreatNG's identification of API vulnerabilities can inform WAF rules to provide better protection against API-based attacks.
SIEM Systems: ThreatNG's API security findings can be fed into SIEM systems to correlate with other security events and provide a more comprehensive view of security risks.
ThreatNG offers comprehensive capabilities to help organizations effectively discover, assess, and manage the risks associated with rogue APIs. By providing external visibility, continuous monitoring, and in-depth analysis, ThreatNG empowers security teams to mitigate API-related threats and improve their overall security posture.
