It’s essential to ensure your APIs are secure and current with the latest security measures. But how do you know if your APIs are safe? The answer is simple — by using an API vulnerability scanner. Vulnerability scanners can detect potential security risks in your APIs and help you take the necessary steps to prevent any malicious attacks from hackers.

API vulnerabilities can have serious consequences, from data breaches to financial loss and damage to a company’s reputation. That’s why it’s crucial to regularly assess the security of your APIs and address any vulnerabilities promptly.

Below, we’ve reviewed some helpful API vulnerability scanners. Some are free tools for rating the security of an API schema, and others are fully-fledged products. We’ll discuss the features of each one, so you can choose the best one for your API security needs.

OpenAPI Security

OpenAPI Security is a vulnerability scanner developed by Escape that takes an OpenAPI schema and scans for vulnerabilities. The web app allows you to upload an OpenAPI schema or pass the URL of the schema for scanning.

The tool has a very user-friendly UI where you can check out the results of each scan. Some metrics it captures are API coverage, API health, issues, security leaks, compliance, and average and median response time. Once the report is generated, you can also export it to PDF or Postman.

API Insights

API Insights lets you get instant API insights. Like the above scanner, API Insights lets you pass the URL or upload the JSON or YAML file of your OpenAPI definition. Once an OpenAPI specification is scanned, it rates the API based on a grading system, scoring its design, performance, and security. It also explains all the issues related to those three sections.

After generating the report, you can export it in PDF form and even directly share it to multiple platforms like Linkedin, X (formerly Twitter), email, and Linkedin. Last but not least, you can also download their Mac application.

RateMyOpenAPI

RateMyOpenAPI, developed by Zuplo, is an open-source tool that also allows you to upload an OpenAPI file to get a quality score. The tool provides feedback on areas such as documentation, completeness, SDK generation, and security.

RateMyOpenAPI highlights specific errors that go against best practices and also pinpoints precisely where these occurrences arise in the specification. For instance, check out this sample scan of a Zapier API for an idea of what the quality scores look like and what the scanner can expose.

APIsec

APIsec offers full coverage of API scanning and automated testing, making it a good option for organizations looking to strengthen their API security. APIsec provides an AI-based solution that writes tests for users, allowing them to automate the API security testing process.

One of the standout features of APIsec is its ability to identify loopholes regardless of the size and complexity of the API. It can detect even the most elusive vulnerabilities, including business logic flaws.

APIsec offers a range of features to enhance your API security, including API penetration testing and detection of business logic flaws. And if you’re not quite ready to commit, APIsec offers a free API assessment that tests your endpoints and provides a detailed report of the findings.

AppKnox

AppKnox is a helpful platform that offers comprehensive security features, including API vulnerability scanning. It starts with a scan to locate all APIs in your system, and then users can select which APIs they want to submit for further testing. This allows for a targeted approach and ensures that all critical APIs are thoroughly analyzed.

When it comes to testing, AppKnox covers all the bases. It tests for common web API vulnerabilities, such as command injection vulnerabilities, cross-site tracing, and SQL injection vulnerabilities. Additionally, AppKnox goes beyond just API scanning and also analyzes web servers, databases, and all components on the server that interact with the API. This comprehensive analysis provides a holistic view of your API security posture.

Astra

Astra Pentest is another option for scanning REST APIs for potential flaws. Keeping REST APIs secure over time can be challenging, as they can become vulnerable to various types of attacks. This is where penetration testing can help.

Astra focuses on integrating seamlessly into your continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline, ensuring that your APIs are regularly checked for common vulnerabilities. By automating security checks throughout the development process, Astra helps you maintain the security of your APIs over time.

What sets it apart is its ability to detect vulnerabilities specific to REST APIs, such as authentication issues, input validation weaknesses, and access control flaws. It offers a range of powerful features, including comprehensive security scanning, API schema validation, and security testing in both staging and production environments.

The Need for API Vulnerability Scanners

APIs may be vulnerable to attacks such as API scraping, where attackers attempt to extract valuable data from the API, or API abuse, where the API is overloaded with excessive requests, causing it to become unresponsive. In this climate, API vulnerability scanners are essential tools for ensuring the security of your APIs.

The scanners mentioned above play a crucial role in automating the detection and identification of potential security risks in your APIs. These scanners use a variety of techniques to simulate attacks and analyze the responses of your APIs, looking for vulnerabilities such as improper authentication, injection attacks, or API abuse.

Furthermore, API vulnerability scanners help you stay updated with the latest security measures. As new vulnerabilities and attack techniques emerge, these scanners are updated to detect and mitigate these threats, ensuring your APIs remain protected against the latest attacks. Furthermore, with a vulnerability scanner, you can identify weaknesses and security flaws in your APIs that may not be easily detectable through manual testing.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the best API vulnerability scanner for you will depend on your organization’s specific requirements and priorities. Consider factors such as ease of use, scanning capabilities, cost, and customer support when making your decision. Whichever scanner you choose, investing in API vulnerability scanning is a proactive step toward securing your APIs and protecting your organization from potential attacks.