Leading on from the prev article – An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate and interact with each other. In the context of REST (Representational State Transfer), an API is a specific architectural style for designing networked applications.

REST APIs are designed around a few key principles, the most important of which is the use of standard HTTP methods (such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE) to perform actions on resources, which are represented as URLs. These APIs are stateless, meaning each request from a client to the server must contain all the information necessary to understand and fulfill the request, without relying on any previous interactions. REST APIs use a uniform and consistent structure for the endpoints, making them predictable and easy to use.

Data is typically exchanged in well-defined formats, such as JSON or XML, making it easier for different systems to understand and process the information. RESTful APIs have become a widely adopted standard for web services due to their simplicity, scalability, and ease of integration across a variety of platforms and programming languages.

What tools are available?

There are numerous tools available for testing APIs, catering to various needs and preferences of developers and testers. Here are some popular tools for API testing:

1. Postman: Postman is one of the most widely used tools for API testing. It offers a user-friendly interface for making HTTP requests, managing environments, and automating tests. Postman can handle various HTTP methods, and you can organize and document your tests effectively.
2. Insomnia: Insomnia is another user-friendly API testing tool that provides a clean and intuitive interface for making requests, managing workspaces, and creating complex API tests. It is open source and available for multiple platforms.
3. Swagger (OpenAPI): If you are working with APIs that have an OpenAPI (formerly known as Swagger) specification, you can use tools like Swagger UI or ReDoc for exploring and testing the API interactively. OpenAPI specifications provide clear documentation for the API endpoints.
4. curl: curl is a command-line tool for making HTTP requests. While it may not have a graphical interface, it is incredibly powerful and versatile, making it a go-to choice for developers who prefer working from the command line.
5. HTTPie: HTTPie is another command-line tool with a more user-friendly syntax than curl. It simplifies making HTTP requests and can be a handy choice for testing APIs and examining responses.
6. SoapUI: While Postman and Insomnia are excellent for RESTful APIs, SoapUI is specifically designed for testing SOAP APIs. It offers comprehensive support for creating, executing, and validating SOAP requests.
7. JMeter: Apache JMeter is a versatile tool primarily used for load and performance testing. However, it can also be utilized for functional API testing. JMeter can simulate a large number of users making requests to the API and monitor performance.
8. Paw: Paw is a macOS-specific API testing tool that provides an elegant interface for creating and testing APIs. It includes features like dynamic values, response validation, and code generation.
9. REST Assured: REST Assured is a Java-based library for automating and testing REST APIs. It’s particularly popular among Java developers and can be integrated into test automation frameworks.
10. Karate DSL: Karate is an open-source tool for testing APIs and web services. It is based on the Cucumber framework and allows writing API tests in a more natural, expressive language.
11. Apigee: Apigee is a Google Cloud product that offers API management, but it also includes robust API testing capabilities. It provides features for creating, testing, and documenting APIs.

The choice of API testing tool depends on your specific requirements, preferred workflow, and the nature of the APIs you are working with. Many developers and testers use a combination of these tools to cover various aspects of API testing, including functional, performance, and security testing.

How do you find an API

dev docs, monitoring requests from browsers (burpsuite, etc), subdomain enumeration etc

What would you do once you find an API?

As a penetration tester (pentester), discovering an API during an assessment opens up several potential avenues for further investigation and assessment. Here are the key steps and actions you might take once you find an API:

1. Identify the API Endpoints: Begin by identifying the API endpoints, including the base URL and available paths. Understanding the structure of the API is crucial for effective testing.
2. Document API Information: Document all available information about the API, such as HTTP methods supported (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE), authentication mechanisms, request parameters, and response formats (JSON, XML, etc.).
3. Exploration and Enumeration: Use API testing tools like Postman, Insomnia, or command-line tools like curl to interact with the API. Test various endpoints, send different types of requests, and examine responses for vulnerabilities and anomalies.
4. Authentication and Authorization Testing: Verify how the API handles authentication (e.g., API keys, OAuth tokens, or session tokens) and test authorization controls to ensure that users can only access their own data.
5. Fuzzing and Input Validation: Employ fuzzing techniques to test the API’s resilience to unexpected inputs and malicious payloads. This helps uncover vulnerabilities like injection attacks or input validation issues.
6. Rate Limiting and Throttling Testing: Test the API’s rate-limiting mechanisms to see if they can be circumvented. Identify any potential brute-force or denial-of-service vulnerabilities.
7. Session Management: If the API manages sessions, assess how sessions are created, managed, and destroyed. Check for session fixation and session hijacking vulnerabilities.
8. Error Handling: Analyze how the API handles error conditions. Ensure that it does not leak sensitive information or stack traces to attackers.
9. Sensitive Data Exposure: Examine responses for any potential leakage of sensitive data, such as passwords, API keys, or personally identifiable information.
10. Security Headers and Headers Testing: Check for the presence of security headers like Content Security Policy (CSP), Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS), and HTTP security headers. Ensure they are properly configured.
11. API Rate Limit Testing: Assess how the API enforces rate limits and try to discover bypasses or overflows that could lead to abuse.
12. API Security Standards Compliance: Ensure that the API complies with relevant security standards, such as OWASP API Security Top Ten or industry-specific standards (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR).
13. Reporting and Documentation: Document your findings, including vulnerabilities, potential risks, and recommendations for mitigation. Provide a clear and concise report to the client.
14. Exploitation (With Client Consent): If vulnerabilities are discovered, work with the client to safely exploit them for proof of concept, with their full consent and in a controlled environment. This step should be conducted carefully to avoid any damage to the target system.
15. Re-Testing: After any identified issues are resolved, perform re-testing to confirm that the reported vulnerabilities have been effectively remediated.

Throughout the process, effective communication with the client is vital. This includes sharing findings, collaborating on remediation strategies, and ensuring that all testing is conducted within the agreed scope and under legal and ethical guidelines.