About API Security Scan Tools Software
As APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) become the backbone of modern applications, ensuring their security is paramount. The awesome-api-security repository is a curated collection of exceptional API Security tools and resources, with a particular emphasis on open-source solutions that benefit the entire community. This guide, brought to you by vcdstool.com, focuses on Api Scan Tools Software, a critical component of any robust API security strategy. We aim to provide an enhanced, SEO-optimized resource for English-speaking users seeking to understand and implement effective API security scanning practices.
API Keys: Find and Validate with Scan Tools
API keys are essential for authentication, but their misuse or leakage can lead to severe security breaches. API scan tools software plays a crucial role in identifying and validating API keys.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| API Guesser | A straightforward web tool to predict API Keys and OAuth Tokens. Useful in initial security assessments. |
| API Key Leaks: Tools and exploits | Resources and techniques for finding leaked API keys, a vital part of API security scanning. |
| Key-Checker | Go-based scripts designed to automate the process of verifying API key and access token validity during security scans. |
| Keyhacks | A repository showcasing quick methods to validate API keys discovered in bug bounty programs, valuable for penetration testing. |
| Private key usage verification | A tool to check if a private key is used for TLS or GitHub SSH, enhancing key management security scans. |
| Mantra | Specifically designed to locate API key leaks within JavaScript files and web pages, an essential feature for web API scanning. |
Books: Deep Dive into API Security and Scanning
For a comprehensive understanding of API security and the role of scan tools, these books offer in-depth knowledge:
| Author | Publisher | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colin Domoney | Packt Publishing | Defending APIs | Focuses on secure API development practices, crucial context for understanding API scanning needs. |
| Confidence Staveley | Packt Publishing | API Security for White Hat Hackers | Explores offensive and defensive strategies in API security, including penetration testing with scan tools. |
| Corey Ball | No Starch Press | Hacking APIs | A guide to breaking Web Application Programming Interfaces, highlighting vulnerabilities scan tools can detect. |
| Dolev Farhi and Nick Aleks | No Starch Press | Black Hat GraphQL | Specifically on GraphQL API security, covering vulnerabilities and scanning techniques for this API type. |
| Emily Freeman | Data Theorem Special Edition | API Security for dummies | An introductory book to API security concepts and DevSecOps, setting the stage for using API scan tools software. |
| Justing Richer and Antonio Sanso | Manning | Understanding API Security | Provides real-world context for API security, enhancing the understanding of scan tool applications. |
| Neil Madden | Manning | API Security in Action | Teaches how to build secure APIs, informing the user about what vulnerabilities API scan tools should look for. |
Cheatsheets: Quick References for API Security Scanning
Cheatsheets offer concise summaries of key API security concepts, useful for quick reference during API scanning and testing.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| GraphQL Cheat Sheet | OWASP cheat sheet for GraphQL security, essential for scanning GraphQL APIs effectively. |
| JSON Web Token Security Cheat Sheet | PentesterLab’s JWT security cheat sheet, important for understanding token-based authentication vulnerabilities that scanners detect. |
| Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet | OWASP’s guide to prevent injection attacks, a major category of vulnerabilities API scan tools are designed to find. |
| Microservices Security Cheat Sheet | OWASP microservices security cheat sheet, relevant for scanning APIs in microservice architectures. |
| OWASP API Security Top 10 | 42Crunch’s cheat sheet on OWASP API Security Top 10, the benchmark for API vulnerability scanning. |
| REST Assessment Cheat Sheet | OWASP REST API assessment cheat sheet, guiding manual and automated scanning of REST APIs. |
| REST Security Cheat Sheet | OWASP REST API security cheat sheet, outlining security best practices and vulnerabilities to scan for. |
Checklists: Ensuring Comprehensive API Security Scans
Checklists are vital for systematic API security testing, ensuring no critical security aspects are missed during scans.
| Author | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| HolyBugx | another API Security checklist | A practical API security checklist for developers and security testers. |
| APIOps Cycles | API audit checklist | An API audit checklist to ensure security, usability, and design compliance during API scans. |
| Shieldfy | API-Security-Checklist | A comprehensive checklist of security countermeasures for designing, testing, and releasing secure APIs, guiding scan tool usage. |
| API Mike, @api_sec | API penetration testing checklist | Steps for API penetration testing, valuable for structuring manual and automated security scans. |
| Latish Danawale | API Testing Checklist | A general API testing checklist, including security considerations for API scan software users. |
| Inon Shkedy | 31 days of API Security Tips | Daily API security tips, enhancing awareness of security aspects to consider during API scanning. |
| Binary Brotherhood | OAuth2: Security checklist | OAuth 2.0 security checklist, crucial for scanning APIs using OAuth 2.0 authentication. |
| Apollo | GraphQL API — GraphQL Security Checklist | GraphQL API security checklist, specific to securing and scanning GraphQL APIs. |
| LeapGraph | GraphQL API – The Complete Vulnerability Checklist | A complete GraphQL vulnerability checklist, informing comprehensive GraphQL API security scans. |
| Lokesh Gupta | REST API Security Essentials | REST API security essentials, providing context for security scanning of RESTful APIs. |
Conferences: Staying Updated on API Security and Scan Tools
API security conferences are excellent venues to learn about the latest trends, vulnerabilities, and advancements in API scan tools software.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| APIsecure | The premier conference dedicated to API threat management and security, featuring insights into API scan tools and techniques. |
Deliberately Vulnerable APIs: Practice Your Scan Tools
Deliberately vulnerable APIs are invaluable for practicing and honing your skills with API scan tools software in a safe environment.
| Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|
| APISandbox | APISecurity Community | Docker-Compose based environments with multiple pre-built vulnerable API scenarios for practicing security scanning. |
| Bookstore | sidchn | A TryHackMe room with a beginner-level box for practicing web enumeration and REST API fuzzing, good for initial scan tool practice. |
| crAPI | OWASP | OWASP’s “completely ridiculous API” (crAPI) designed for learning API security vulnerabilities and practicing scanning. |
| Damn Vulnerable GraphQL Application | dolevf | Intentionally vulnerable GraphQL API to learn and practice GraphQL security scanning techniques. |
| Damn Vulnerable Micro Services | ne0z | Vulnerable microservice examples in multiple languages to demonstrate OWASP API Top Security Risks for scanning practice. |
| Damn Vulnerable RESTaurant API Game | theowni | A vulnerable REST API game for learning and training purposes, ideal for practicing API security scanning. |
| Damn Vulnerable Web Services | snoopysecurity | A vulnerable web service/API application for learning web services/API vulnerabilities and scanning techniques. |
| Generic-University | InsiderPhD | Vulnerable API built with Laravel App, suitable for practicing API security scans in a realistic environment. |
| node-api-goat | layro01 | A simple Express.JS REST API application with code vulnerabilities, excellent for testing API scan tools. |
| Pixi | DevSlop | A MEAN Stack web app with insecure APIs, providing a practical target for API vulnerability scanning. |
| poc-graphql | righettod | A research project on GraphQL from an AppSec perspective, useful for understanding GraphQL security scanning challenges. |
| REST API Goat | optiv | A “Goat” project for getting familiar with REST API testing and security scanning. |
| VAmPI | erev0s | Vulnerable REST API with OWASP top 10 vulnerabilities for APIs, designed for practicing vulnerability scanning. |
| vAPI | roottusk | vAPI is a self-hostable vulnerable API mimicking OWASP API Top 10 scenarios through exercises, perfect for scan tool training. |
| vulnapi | tkisason | Intentionally very vulnerable API with bonus bad coding practices, ideal for comprehensive API scanning practice. |
| vulnerable-graphql-api | CarveSystems | A highly vulnerable implementation of a GraphQL API, excellent for advanced GraphQL security scanning practice. |
| Websheep | marmicode | Websheep is based on willingly vulnerable ReSTful APIs, providing a realistic environment for API scanning practice. |
| VulnerableApp4APISecurity | Erdemstar | .NET 7.0 API based on OWASP 2019 API Security Top 10 findings, useful for scanning modern API frameworks. |
Design, Architecture, Development: Building APIs with Scan-Friendly Security
Understanding API design and architecture is crucial for developing APIs that are secure and easily scannable by API scan tools software.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| The API Specification Toolbox | A resource mapping different API specifications, services, and tooling, crucial for choosing the right scan tools. |
| Understanding gRPC, OpenAPI and REST | Comparison of gRPC, OpenAPI, and REST, helping to select appropriate scan tools for different API architectures. |
| API security design best practices | Best practices for API security design in enterprise and cloud, informing the requirements for effective API scanning. |
| REST API Design Guide | Design guide with best practices for REST APIs, promoting scan-friendly and secure API development. |
| How to design a REST API | A comprehensive guide to REST API design covering security, pagination, filtering, versioning, and CORS, all relevant to API scanning. |
| Awesome REST | A curated list of resources on RESTful API architecture, development, testing, and performance, including aspects related to security scanning. |
| Collect API Requirements | Methods for collecting API requirements with APIOps Cycles, ensuring security considerations are included early in the API lifecycle and are scannable. |
| API Audit | API audit methods to ensure APIs match design guidelines and are compatible with security scans, usability, and API management platforms. |
Encyclopedias, Projects, Wikis and GitBooks: In-depth API Security Scan Knowledge
These resources provide encyclopedic knowledge and community-driven information on API security and scanning methodologies.
| Author | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| @six2dez | APIs Pentest Book | A pentesting book focused on APIs, covering enumeration, vulnerability analysis, and scanning techniques. |
| @csbygb | API Pentest tips | API pentesting tips, including guidance on using API scan tools and manual testing methods. |
| cyprosecurity | API Security Empire | A project presenting unique attack and defense methods in API security, enhancing knowledge for effective API scanning. |
| @APIsecurity.io | API Security Encyclopedia | A comprehensive encyclopedia on API security, covering concepts, vulnerabilities, and scanning solutions. |
| @carlospolop | Web API Pentesting | HackTricks’ section on Web API pentesting, including methodologies and tool usage for API security scans. |
| @carlospolop | GraphQL | HackTricks’ guide on GraphQL security, relevant for understanding GraphQL API vulnerabilities and scanning approaches. |
Enumeration, Scanning and Exploration Steps for APIs
Effective API security scanning begins with proper enumeration and exploration. These resources guide you through the process.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Burp API enumeration | Using Burp Suite for REST API enumeration, a crucial first step before in-depth security scanning. |
| ZAP scanning | Scanning APIs with OWASP ZAP, a popular open-source security scanner for web applications and APIs. |
| ZAP exploring | Exploring APIs with ZAP, detailing how to use ZAP for API discovery and understanding API structure before scanning. |
| w3af scanning | Scanning REST APIs with w3af, another open-source web application security scanner with API scanning capabilities. |
Firewalls: Complementing API Scan Tools for Robust Security
API firewalls provide runtime protection and complement API scan tools software by preventing attacks in real-time.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Wallarm Free API Firewall | A fast and lightweight API proxy firewall for request and response validation using OpenAPI specifications, enhancing security beyond scanning. |
Fuzzing, SecLists, Wordlists: Enhancing API Scan Depth
Fuzzing, SecLists, and Wordlists are crucial for in-depth API scanning, helping to discover hidden vulnerabilities and edge cases.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| API names wordlist | A wordlist of API names for web application assessments, useful for API discovery and targeted scanning. |
| API HTTP requests methods | HTTP request methods wordlist, essential for fuzzing APIs and testing different request types during scans. |
| API Routes Wordlists | Automated API routes wordlists provided by Assetnote, valuable for discovering API endpoints during scanning. |
| Common API endpoints | Wordlist of common API endpoints, useful for quickly identifying potential API entry points for scanning. |
| Filenames by fuzz.txt | A list of potentially dangerous filenames, relevant for API security scanning to identify exposed sensitive files. |
| Fuzzing APIs | A chapter from “The Fuzzing Book” on fuzzing APIs, providing theoretical and practical knowledge for API fuzzing with scan tools. |
| GraphQL SecList | A GraphQL wordlist for security assessments, crucial for scanning GraphQL APIs and discovering vulnerabilities. |
| Hacking-APIs | Wordlists and API paths by @hapi_hacker, specifically for API security testing and scanning. |
| Kiterunner Wordlists | Kiterunner wordlists from Assetnote, useful for content discovery and API endpoint enumeration during scans. |
| List of API endpoints & objects | A list of common API endpoints and objects for fuzzing, enhancing the effectiveness of API security scans. |
| List of Swagger endpoints | Swagger endpoints wordlist, helpful for finding Swagger/OpenAPI documentation for APIs, aiding in targeted scanning. |
| SecLists for API’s web-content discovery | SecLists collection for API web-content discovery, used to find API-related resources during security scans. |
| GraphQL wordlist | A comprehensive GraphQL wordlist for operations, field names, and type names, essential for thorough GraphQL API scanning. |
HTTP 101: Foundational Knowledge for API Scanning
A strong understanding of HTTP is fundamental for effective API security scanning and interpreting scan results.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Know your HTTP Headers! | A simplified table of HTTP headers, important for understanding API communication during security scans. |
| Know your HTTP Methods! | A simplified table of HTTP methods, crucial for understanding API interactions and scan tool functionality. |
| Know your HTTP Status codes! | A simplified table of HTTP status codes, essential for interpreting API responses and scan results. |
| HTTP Status Codes | A database of HTTP status codes with definitions and code references, helpful for analyzing API scan outputs. |
| Know your HTTP * Well | A summary of HTTP headers, media-types, methods, relations, and status codes, providing comprehensive HTTP knowledge for API security scanning. |
Mind Maps: Visualizing API Security Scanning Strategies
Mind maps are useful for visually organizing API security scanning approaches and methodologies.
| Author | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Abhay Bhargav | REST API defenses | Mind map of REST API defenses, providing a visual guide to security measures and scanning targets. |
| Cypro AB | API Pentesting – ATTACK | Mind map focusing on API pentesting attack strategies, useful for planning comprehensive security scans. |
| Cypro AB | API Pentesting – Recon | Mind map for API pentesting reconnaissance, guiding the initial stages of API security scanning and information gathering. |
| Cypro AB | GraphQL Attacking | Mind map specifically for GraphQL attacking techniques, relevant for focused GraphQL API security scanning. |
| David Sopas | MindAPI | Tool for organizing API security assessments using mind maps, aiding in structured scanning approaches. |
| Harsh Bothra | XML attacks | Mind map of XML attacks, relevant for scanning APIs that handle XML data and are vulnerable to XML-related attacks. |
| Mosaad Sallam) | GraphQL Security Testing | Mind map for GraphQL security testing, providing a visual guide to GraphQL API scanning methodologies. |
| Mosaad Sallam) | OWASP API Top10 | Mind map of OWASP API Top 10 vulnerabilities, essential for understanding the most critical API security risks to scan for. |
| Mufaddal Masalawala | IDOR Techniques | Mind map of IDOR (Insecure Direct Object Reference) techniques, important for scanning for access control vulnerabilities in APIs. |
Newsletters: Staying Informed on API Scan Tools Software Updates
Newsletters are a great way to keep up-to-date with the rapidly evolving field of API security and the latest in API scan tools software.
| Author | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 42Crunch | api security articles | Newsletter with the latest API security news, vulnerabilities, and best practices, including updates on scan tools. |
| Dana Epp | api hacker’s inner circle | API Hacker’s Inner Circle Newsletter, providing insights into API security trends and tool discussions. |
Other Resources: Expanding Your API Security Scan Knowledge
A collection of other valuable resources to deepen your understanding of API security scanning and related topics.
| Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|
| API Hacking Articles | Dana Epp | Articles covering API hacking fundamentals, tools, techniques, and mindset, enhancing API scanning expertise. |
| API Security best practices guide | Expedited Security | A comprehensive guide to API security best practices, informing effective API scanning strategies. |
| API Security: The Complete Guide | Bright Security | A complete guide to API security, covering various aspects including vulnerability scanning and tool selection. |
| API Penetration Testing | SecureLayer7 | API penetration testing guide using OWASP 2017 test cases, relevant for structuring comprehensive API security scans. |
| API Penetration Testing Report | UnderDefense | Anonymized API penetration testing report sample, showing real-world findings and scan methodologies. |
| API Pentesting with Swagger Files | RhinoSecurityLabs | Simplifying API pentesting using Swagger files, leveraging API specifications for efficient scanning. |
| API security path resources | MindAPI | Resources for the API security path, including talks, videos, writeups, and practice entries relevant to API scanning. |
| API Security Testing | Spherical Defence | Principles of API security testing and how to perform security tests on APIs, guiding effective scanning practices. |
| Finding and Exploiting Web App APIs | Bend Theory | Finding and exploiting unintended functionality in web app APIs, highlighting vulnerabilities scan tools aim to uncover. |
| How to Hack an API and Get Away with It | SmartBear | A guide on how to hack an API, providing insights into attack vectors that API scan tools should detect. |
| How to Hack APIs in 2021 | Detectify | Methods to hack APIs in 2021, showcasing current API vulnerabilities and scanning needs. |
| How to Hack API in 60 minutes with Open Source Tools | Wallarm | Hacking APIs in 60 minutes using open-source tools, demonstrating practical API security scanning techniques. |
| GraphQL penetration testing | YesWeHAck | GraphQL penetration testing techniques, covering introspection, queries, mutations, and tools for GraphQL API scanning. |
| Fixing the 13 most common GraphQL Vulnerabilities | WunderGraph | GraphQL security guide, fixing common vulnerabilities to make APIs production-ready, relevant for understanding scan tool targets. |
| Hacking APIs – Notes from Bug Bounty Bootcamp | Aakash Choudhary | Notes on hacking APIs from a bug bounty bootcamp, providing practical insights into API vulnerability scanning. |
| SOAP Security Vulnerabilities and Prevention | NeuraLegion | SOAP security vulnerabilities and prevention, relevant for scanning SOAP-based APIs for security flaws. |
| API and microservice security | PortSwigger | What are API and microservice security, providing context for security challenges in modern API architectures and scanning needs. |
| Strengthening Your API Security Posture | 42Crunch | Strengthening API security posture, emphasizing proactive security measures and the role of API scanning. |
| The Fault in Our Stars | Tenchi Security | Security implications of AWS API Gateway Lambda Authorizers and IAM Wildcard Expansion, highlighting specific cloud API security concerns and scanning considerations. |
Playlists: Video Resources on API Hacking and Scanning
Video playlists offer visual and auditory learning experiences for API hacking and security scanning techniques.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Everything API Hacking | A video collection on API hacking knowledge, covering various aspects including vulnerability scanning and exploitation. |
| API hacking | API hacking videos from @theXSSrat, providing practical demonstrations and insights into API security scanning. |
Podcasts: Audio Insights into API Security and Scan Tools
Podcasts offer audio-based learning and discussions on API security, often featuring experts and covering the latest trends in API scan tools software.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Hacking APIs | The Hacker Mind Podcast episode on hacking APIs, discussing vulnerabilities and security scanning approaches. |
| Hack Your API-Security Testing | Test Guild podcast featuring Troy Hunt on hacking API security testing, emphasizing the importance of robust scanning. |
| The OWASP API Security Project | Security Journey podcast with Erez Yalon discussing the OWASP API Security Project and related scanning guidelines. |
| Episode 38 API Security Best Practices | We Hack Purple Podcast episode on API security best practices, including discussions on security scanning and tool usage. |
Presentations, Videos: Visual Learning on API Security Scanning
Presentations and videos provide structured visual learning experiences on API security scanning methodologies and tool demonstrations.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| pentesting-rest-apis | Presentation on pentesting REST APIs by Gaurang Bhatnagar, covering scanning techniques and tool application. |
| Securing your APIs | Presentation on securing APIs, covering OWASP API Top 10 2019, case studies, and demos related to security scanning. |
| api-security-testing-for-hackers | Webinar on API security testing for hackers, demonstrating practical scanning techniques and tool usage. |
| bad-api-hapi-hackers | Webinar titled “Bad API, hAPI Hackers!”, likely covering API vulnerabilities and exploitation methods, relevant to scanning. |
| disclosing-information-via-your-apis | Webinar on disclosing information via APIs, highlighting vulnerabilities that API scan tools can detect. |
| rest-in-peace-abusing-graphql | Webinar on abusing GraphQL to attack underlying infrastructure, relevant to advanced GraphQL API security scanning. |
Projects: Key API Security Initiatives
Important projects driving advancements in API security and providing resources for API scan tools software development and usage.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| owasp api security project | OWASP API Security Project, responsible for the API Security Top 10 and other resources, guiding API security scanning standards. |
Security APIs: Enhancing Scan Tools with External Security Data
Security APIs can augment API scan tools software by providing external security intelligence and data enrichment.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| awesome-security-apis | A curated list of public JSON APIs for use in security applications, potentially enhancing API scan tools with external data. |
Specifications: Standards for API Development and Scanning
API specifications define standards for API design and documentation, crucial for enabling effective API security scanning and tool integration.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| API Blueprint | API Blueprint Specification, a format for describing APIs, facilitating automated security scanning and tool development. |
| AscyncAPI | AsyncAPI Specification for event-driven APIs, relevant for scanning asynchronous API security aspects. |
| OpenAPI | OpenAPI Specification (Swagger), a widely adopted standard for describing REST APIs, enabling automated security scanning and tool interoperability. |
| JSON API | JSON API Specification, a standard for building APIs with JSON, influencing API security scanning approaches for JSON-based APIs. |
| GraphQL | GraphQL Specification, defining the query language for APIs, requiring specific scanning tools and techniques for GraphQL APIs. |
| RAML | RAML Specification, another API description language, supporting API security scanning tool integration and automation. |
Tools: API Scan Tools Software for Various Needs
This section highlights specific API scan tools software categorized by API type and functionality.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| GraphQL | |
| BatchQL | GraphQL security auditing script focused on batch queries and mutations, enhancing GraphQL API scanning depth. |
| clairvoyance | Tool to obtain GraphQL API schema even with introspection disabled, crucial for comprehensive GraphQL scanning. |
| InQL | Burp Extension for GraphQL Security Testing, integrating GraphQL scanning capabilities into Burp Suite. |
| graphinder | Fast GraphQL endpoint finder using subdomain enumeration, scripts analysis, and brute force, aiding in initial GraphQL API discovery for scanning. |
| graphql-cop | Security Auditor Utility for GraphQL APIs, providing automated security assessments for GraphQL endpoints. |
| GraphQLmap | Scripting engine to interact with GraphQL endpoints for pentesting, enabling customized GraphQL security scanning. |
| graphql-path-enum | Tool to list ways to reach a given type in a GraphQL schema, useful for understanding GraphQL structure for targeted scanning. |
| graphql-playground | GraphQL IDE for development workflows, including interactive docs, useful for manually exploring and understanding APIs before scanning. |
| graphql-threat-matrix | GraphQL threat framework for security professionals, researching security gaps in GraphQL implementations and informing scanning strategies. |
| graphw00f | GraphQL Server Engine Fingerprinting utility, identifying the technology behind GraphQL endpoints for tailored scanning approaches. |
| goctopus | Fast GraphQL discovery and fingerprinting toolbox, aiding in efficient identification of GraphQL APIs for scanning. |
| graphql-armor | GraphQL security layer for Apollo GraphQL and Yoga/Envelop servers, providing runtime protection and complementing scanning efforts. |
| REST APIs | |
| Akto | API discovery, automated business logic testing, and runtime detection, offering comprehensive API security scanning and monitoring. |
| APICheck | DevSecOps toolset for REST APIs, including security scanning and testing capabilities for RESTful services. |
| APIClarity | Reconstructs OpenAPI Specifications from real-time workload traffic, aiding in API documentation and security scanning based on observed API behavior. |
| APIFuzzer | Fuzz tests applications using OpenAPI/Swagger API definitions without coding, automating API fuzzing for vulnerability discovery. |
| APIKit | APIKit: Discovery, Scan, and Audit APIs Toolkit All In One, a comprehensive toolkit for API security assessments and scanning. |
| Arjun | HTTP parameter discovery suite, useful for identifying API parameters for targeted security scanning and fuzzing. |
| Astra | Automated Security Testing For REST APIs, providing automated vulnerability scanning for RESTful APIs. |
| Automatic API Attack Tool | Imperva’s customizable API attack tool, taking API specifications as input to generate and run security attacks for testing. |
| CATS | CATS is a REST API Fuzzer and negative testing tool for OpenAPI endpoints, specializing in API fuzzing and negative testing. |
| Cherrybomb | Validates API specifications to avoid undefined user behavior, ensuring API specifications are secure and scan-friendly. |
| ffuf | Fast web fuzzer written in Go, versatile for fuzzing APIs and discovering vulnerabilities through various techniques. |
| fuzzapi | Fuzzapi tool for REST API pentesting, using the API_Fuzzer gem for automated API fuzzing. |
| gotestwaf | Open-source project to test Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) detection logic and bypasses, relevant for testing API security in conjunction with WAFs. |
| kiterunner | Contextual Content Discovery Tool, useful for discovering API endpoints and resources for security scanning. |
| Metlo | Open-source API security tool for discovery, inventory, testing, and protection, offering a range of API security functionalities including scanning. |
| mitmproxy2swagger | Automagically reverse-engineers REST APIs by capturing traffic, aiding in API documentation and security scanning of undocumented APIs. |
| Optic | Verifies OpenAPI 3.x spec accuracy using real traffic and automatically applies patches, ensuring API specifications are up-to-date for accurate scanning. |
| OFFAT | OWASP OFFAT tool autonomously assesses APIs for prevalent vulnerabilities, an evolving API security scanning tool. |
| REST-Attacker | Proof-of-concept for testing generic real-world REST implementations, a framework for REST API security research and scanning. |
| RESTler | Stateful REST API fuzzing tool for automatically testing cloud services, finding security and reliability bugs through API fuzzing. |
| Swagger-EZ | Tool geared towards pentesting APIs using OpenAPI definitions, streamlining API security testing with Swagger specifications. |
| TnT-Fuzzer | OpenAPI 2.0 (Swagger) fuzzer in Python, specifically designed for fuzzing APIs defined by Swagger/OpenAPI 2.0. |
| wadl-dumper | Dumps all available paths and endpoints from WADL files, useful for API discovery and scanning of WADL-defined APIs. |
| fuzz-lightyear | DAST framework inspired by pytest, identifying vulnerabilities in micro-service ecosystems through chaos engineering and stateful Swagger fuzzing. |
| SOAP | |
| Wsdler | WSDL Parser extension for Burp Suite, enabling parsing and analysis of WSDL files for SOAP API security testing. |
| wsdl-wizard | Burp Suite plugin to detect and discover WSDL files, aiding in SOAP API security scanning and vulnerability analysis. |
| Others | |
| dredd | Language-agnostic HTTP API Testing Tool, versatile for testing various HTTP APIs, including REST and others. |
| getallurls (gau) | Fetches known URLs from AlienVault’s OTX, Wayback Machine, and Common Crawl, useful for API discovery and identifying potential API endpoints for scanning. |
| SoapUI | Free and open-source cross-platform functional testing solution for APIs and web services, supporting SOAP and REST API testing, including security aspects. |
| Step CI | Open-source framework for API Quality Assurance, testing REST, GraphQL, and gRPC APIs from Open API specs, including security testing. |
| unfurl | Pulls out bits of URLs provided on stdin, useful for URL analysis and identifying API endpoints within URLs for scanning. |
| noir | Attack surface detector from source code, helping identify potential API endpoints and security risks from code analysis for targeted scanning. |
Training, Workshops, Labs: Hands-on API Security Scan Practice
Practical training and workshops are essential for mastering API security scanning techniques and effectively using API scan tools software.
| Author | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| APIsec | API Security University | APIsec University provides training courses for application security professionals, including API security scanning and tool usage. |
| Corey Ball | Hacking APIs | Hacking APIs workshop, offering hands-on training in API security testing and scanning techniques. |
| Escape | API Security Academy | API Security Academy by Escape, providing training and resources on various aspects of API security, including scanning. |
| Grant Ongers | API top 10 walkthrough | OWASP API Top 10 CTF walk-through, practical exercises to understand and exploit API vulnerabilities, relevant for scanning practice. |
| Hacker101 | GraphQL challenges | GraphQL Week on Hacker101 Capture the Flag Challenges, providing hands-on GraphQL security scanning practice. |
| Karel Husa | BankGround API | Banking-like REST and GraphQL API for training/learning purposes, a realistic environment for practicing API security scanning. |
| Kontra | OWASP Top 10 for API | Free interactive application security training modules on OWASP Top 10 API vulnerabilities, teaching developers how to mitigate risks and use scan tools effectively. |
| OWASP-SKF | GraphQL Labs | GraphQL Labs on OWASP Security Knowledge Framework, providing practical exercises for GraphQL API security scanning. |
| Pentester Academy | API security, REST Labs | Pentester Academy’s attack & defense labs on API security and REST APIs, offering hands-on scanning practice in a controlled environment. |
| Semgrep Academy | API Security Mini Course | A short and fun mini-course to learn API security basics, including introductory concepts for API scanning. |
| ShipFast | Practical API Security Walkthrough | Practical Mobile and API security walkthrough, covering API protection techniques and security scanning considerations. |
| Wesley Thijs | Let’s build an API to hack | API Hacking Exercises by @TheXSSrat, providing hands-on exercises for learning API hacking and security scanning. |
Twitter: Follow API Security Experts
Stay connected with leading API security experts and get real-time updates on API scan tools software and security trends by following these Twitter accounts.
| Author | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 42Crunch | @apisecurityio | Tweets API security news, standards, vulnerabilities, and tool updates. |
| Corey J. Ball | @hAPI_hacker | Cybersecurity consulting manager sharing insights on API security and scanning. |
| Dana Epp | @ddǝɐuɐp | Microsoft Security MVP tweeting about API security and related topics. |
| David Sopas | @dsopas | Security Researcher sharing insights and tools related to API security and scanning. |
| Katie Paxton-Fear | @InsiderPhD | Lecturer and hacker, sharing knowledge and resources on API security and hacking. |
| Wesley Thijs | @theXSSrat | Ethical hacker tweeting about API security, hacking, and scanning techniques. |
Conclusion: Choosing the Right API Scan Tools Software
Selecting the appropriate API scan tools software is crucial for maintaining robust API security. This guide, brought to you by vcdstool.com, has provided a comprehensive overview of resources, tools, and knowledge to empower you in securing your APIs. From understanding API vulnerabilities to utilizing specialized scan tools for REST, GraphQL, and SOAP APIs, continuous security scanning is an indispensable practice in today’s API-driven world. Stay informed, practice regularly with vulnerable APIs, and leverage the power of API scan tools software to protect your valuable assets.
