Executive Summary
Web APIs (REST, GraphQL, SOAP) have become a primary attack surface as they expose business logic and data directly, often bypassing traditional browser-based security controls. Attackers are moving away from traditional web exploits toward systematic API reconnaissance and exploitation of broken authorization and authentication mechanisms. The shift from OWASP 2019 to 2023 reflects a critical focus on Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) and Improper Inventory Management as significant threats to modern cloud-integrated architectures.
Technical analysis reveals that attackers utilize intercepting proxies and specialized discovery tools to map predictable endpoints and documentation (Swagger/OpenAPI). Key vectors include Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA), weak JWT implementations (such as 'alg:none' or weak secrets), and Server-Side Template Injection (SSTI) which can escalate to Remote Code Execution (RCE). High-impact campaigns often target cloud metadata services via SSRF to exfiltrate environment credentials.
This trend represents a high risk to business continuity and data privacy, as API flaws often allow direct access to backend databases and internal networks. Organizations must shift security logic from the client to the server, implementing robust object-level authorization, strict input validation, and comprehensive API inventory management to mitigate these evolving threats.
Key Details
Threat Name
OWASP API Security Top 10 Exploitation
Affects
Spring Framework
Adversary
—
MITRE Techniques
—
Malware/Tools
Slowloris, SlowHTTPTest, jwt_tool, SSRFmap, Kiterunner