Testing · 6 min read

API Security Testing Guide

APIs expose business logic directly, which makes authorisation flaws — not injection — the leading risk. Scanners miss most of them.

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1. The top API risks

Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA).
Broken authentication and function-level authorization.
Unrestricted resource consumption.
Server-Side Request Forgery and misconfiguration.

2. Why scanners fall short

Authorisation flaws depend on business context — whether user A should reach user B’s object. That requires manual testing with real understanding of the API.

3. Testing approach

Enumerate all endpoints (including undocumented/shadow APIs).
Test authorisation on every object and function.
Check rate limiting, input validation and error handling.

How CyberSigma helps

We test your APIs against the OWASP API Security Top 10 with a focus on the authorisation flaws automated tools miss.

This guide is educational and not legal advice. Requirements evolve — validate specifics against the current standard or regulation for your situation.

Turn this guide into a plan

Our CERT-In empanelled auditors can take you from reading about it to certified — with a scoped, guided programme.

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