Shadow API
A shadow API is an Application Programming Interface (API) that operates without the knowledge or approval of an organization's IT and security teams. These APIs often lack proper documentation, security measures, and governance oversight, making them a significant cybersecurity risk.
Key characteristics of shadow APIs:
Undocumented: They are not officially registered or tracked by the organization, making them difficult to discover and manage.
Unauthorized: Their existence and usage are not sanctioned by the IT department, often created by developers for various reasons like faster development or bypassing bureaucratic processes.
Unmonitored: They bypass traditional security monitoring solutions, leaving any malicious activity undetected until significant damage occurs.
Vulnerable: They often lack proper authentication and access controls, making them susceptible to unauthorized access and data breaches.
Cybersecurity risks associated with shadow APIs:
Data breaches: Attackers can exploit shadow APIs to access sensitive data, leading to significant financial losses and reputational damage.
Malware distribution: Shadow APIs can be used to spread malware within an organization's network, compromising systems and data.
Compliance failures: The use of shadow APIs can lead to non-compliance with data privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA, resulting in hefty fines and legal repercussions.
System outages: Attacks targeting shadow APIs can disrupt business operations, causing downtime and impacting productivity.
Examples of how shadow APIs can arise:
Legacy systems: Older applications may have undocumented APIs that are still in use, posing security risks.
Third-party integrations: Integrating with external services can introduce shadow APIs if not properly vetted and secured.
Agile development: Rapid development cycles may lead to developers creating APIs without proper documentation and security measures.
Mitigating the risks of shadow APIs:
API discovery and inventory: Implement tools and processes to identify and catalog all APIs within the organization, including shadow APIs.
API security testing: Regularly test APIs for vulnerabilities and ensure proper authentication and authorization mechanisms are in place.
Security awareness training: Educate developers and other employees about the risks of shadow APIs and the importance of following secure coding practices.
API gateway implementation: Use API gateways to enforce security policies and monitor API traffic for suspicious activity.
Organizations can significantly reduce their attack surface and protect their valuable data by understanding the risks and taking proactive measures to detect and manage shadow APIs.
ThreatNG, with its comprehensive suite of features, offers a robust approach to managing Shadow APIs. Here's how it helps:
1. Discovery and Identification:
Domain Intelligence: ThreatNG excels at uncovering hidden assets and potential entry points. Its DNS Intelligence identifies vendors and technologies, while Subdomain Intelligence maps the organization's online presence. This helps discover undocumented subdomains hosting Shadow APIs.
Exposed API Discovery: This module identifies exposed APIs, even if they're not officially documented. This is crucial for bringing Shadow APIs to light.
Sensitive Code Exposure: By scanning code repositories, ThreatNG can identify API keys, access tokens, and other sensitive information that might be inadvertently exposed within Shadow APIs.
Cloud and SaaS Exposure: Uncovers shadow APIs hidden within cloud services and SaaS applications, often overlooked in traditional security assessments.
2. Assessment and Risk Scoring:
Cyber Risk Exposure: ThreatNG evaluates factors like exposed sensitive ports, known vulnerabilities, and code secret exposure to assess the risk posed by Shadow APIs.
Web Application Hijack Susceptibility: This score helps prioritize Shadow APIs that might be vulnerable to hijacking, allowing for focused mitigation efforts.
Data Leak Susceptibility: Identifies Shadow APIs that could be exploited for data breaches by considering factors like Dark Web presence and exposed cloud services.
Supply Chain & Third Party Exposure: Assesses the risk of Shadow APIs introduced through third-party integrations and supply chain dependencies.
ThreatNG continuously monitors the external attack surface, including any newly discovered Shadow APIs, ensuring ongoing visibility and risk assessment. This helps detect changes in API behavior or new vulnerabilities that might arise.
4. Reporting and Collaboration:
Detailed reports provide insights into Shadow API risks, including their location, potential vulnerabilities, and associated threats.
Collaboration features facilitate communication between security teams and developers to remediate Shadow APIs effectively.
Prioritized reporting helps focus on the most critical Shadow APIs based on their risk scores.
5. Complementary Solutions:
ThreatNG can integrate with other security tools to enhance Shadow API management. For example:
API Gateways: ThreatNG can feed discovered Shadow API information into API gateways, enabling them to enforce security policies and monitor traffic.
Vulnerability Scanners: Integrate with vulnerability scanners to perform deeper security testing on identified Shadow APIs.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Systems: Forward Shadow API security events to SIEM systems for centralized monitoring and incident response.
Examples:
Scenario: A company uses ThreatNG and discovers an undocumented API endpoint on a forgotten subdomain through the Exposed API Discovery module. The Cyber Risk Exposure score flags it as high risk due to missing authentication.
Action: The security team uses ThreatNG's reporting and collaboration tools to inform developers, who then secure the API with proper authentication and incorporate it into the official API documentation.
Scenario: ThreatNG's Sensitive Code Exposure module identifies an AWS access key within a public code repository. This key grants access to a cloud-hosted Shadow API.
Action: The security team immediately revokes the exposed key and implements stricter access controls to prevent similar exposures in the future.
By combining its powerful discovery, assessment, and monitoring capabilities, ThreatNG empowers organizations to proactively manage Shadow APIs, reducing their attack surface and mitigating potential security risks.
