The Role of SAST and DAST Tools in API Security

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are sets of rules and protocols that allow different software applications to communicate and interact with each other and have become incredibly important in speeding up development processes. 

APIs allow developers to integrate external services and features into their software without building them from scratch. This speeds up development and enables software to leverage existing, often specialized, functionalities—such as payment processing, social media integration, or data analytics—by simply connecting to these external APIs. This modular approach enhances flexibility, scalability, and innovation.

And because APIs allow different software applications to communicate and share data, making sure they are secure is of the utmost importance. 

What is API Security?

API security is the practice of protecting APIs from attacks, unauthorized access, and misuse. It involves implementing controls and measures to safeguard the data and functionality that APIs expose.

Securing APIs is crucial because they often serve as gateways to sensitive data and critical services. If compromised, attackers can exploit them to gain unauthorized access, manipulate data, or disrupt services, leading to significant security breaches.

Some critical components of API security include:

• Authentication: Verifying user and application identities
• Authorization: Controlling access to API resources
• Encryption: Protecting data during transmission and storage
• Input validation: Checking and cleaning data sent to APIs
• Rate limiting: Restricting the number of API requests
• Monitoring: Tracking API usage and detecting unusual patterns
• Versioning: Managing API changes safely over time

API security aims to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of API-mediated systems and data. 

Why is API security important? 

The 2023 State of API Security report by Traceable AI reveals a stark reality: APIs, while integral to digital ecosystems, are increasingly becoming prime targets for cyberattacks. The report, which surveyed 1,629 cybersecurity experts across the globe, uncovers some alarming statistics:

• 74% of organizations reported experiencing at least three API-related breaches in the past two years. This statistic alone is enough to give you a better sense of the relentless nature of threats. 
  
  
• Only 38% of organizations accurately understand the unique context of API activity, user behaviors, and data flows. This gap in understanding, coupled with the fact that 57% of respondents doubt the effectiveness of traditional security solutions like Web Application Firewalls in addressing API-specific threats, leaves these organizations open to risks.
  
  
• 48% of organizations struggle to keep an accurate inventory of their APIs. With an average of 127 third-party API connections, only 33% of organizations feel confident managing these external threats. This lack of confidence is compounded by uncertainties regarding the volume of data transmitted through APIs. 

API security is not just a technical issue—it’s a critical component of an organization's overall cybersecurity strategy. 

What are API Security Tools? 

API security tools are like the locks and alarms you use to keep your home safe. Just as you wouldn’t leave your front door unlocked, you shouldn’t leave your APIs unprotected. These tools are designed to protect your APIs from potential threats so that they remain secure and function as intended.

These security tools keep your APIs safe by: 

1. Identifying vulnerabilities: These tools scan your APIs to find weak points. By spotting these vulnerabilities early, you can fix them before they become a problem.
   
   
2. Preventing attacks: API security tools actively monitor for threats, blocking suspicious activity before it can cause harm. 
   
   
3. Managing access: Monitoring and securing API calls is essential to prevent unauthorized access. They manage permissions and authentication to keep unwanted visitors out.

How Do API Security Tools Work?

API security tools generally operate in two main ways:

• Static Analysis: This method involves looking at the API’s code and configuration without actually running it, similar to reading the blueprints of a building to spot structural weaknesses.
  
  
• Dynamic Analysis: This approach tests the API in action, simulating real-world attacks to see how it holds up. It’s like having a security expert try to break into your home to find any vulnerabilities you might have missed.

Some advanced tools also use behavioral analysis, learning from how your API is used over time to identify unusual or potentially harmful activities.

Types of API Security Tools

API security tools come in different forms, each serving a specific purpose:

• API gateways act as a control point for managing and securing the traffic that flows through your APIs. They handle tasks like routing, authentication, and monitoring.
  
  
• Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) protect your APIs from common web-based attacks by filtering and monitoring incoming traffic, much like a security checkpoint.
  
  
• API management platforms provide a comprehensive suite of tools to manage your APIs throughout their lifecycle, including security features like access control and threat detection.
  
  
• SAST tools analyze your API’s code to find vulnerabilities before the API is even deployed, providing an early warning system during development.
  
  
• DAST tools test your API in real time, simulating attacks to uncover vulnerabilities that static analysis might miss.
  
  

Here are a few open-source tools that are widely used for API security:

• OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy): A dynamic testing tool (that we’ve integrated with Codacy) that simulates attacks on your API to find vulnerabilities. 
  
  
• Kong Gateway: An API gateway that provides security features such as authentication and rate limiting. It’s customizable and scalable, making it suitable for various needs.
  
  
• Tyk: Another API gateway that offers security features alongside management capabilities. Tyk is designed to be lightweight and easy to use.
  
  
• Grype: A static analysis tool that scans your API’s dependencies for vulnerabilities, helping you catch issues in third-party libraries that might be overlooked.
  
  
• Cherrybomb: A CLI (command line interface) tool that helps you avoid undefined user behavior by auditing your API specifications, validating them, and running API security tests. 

The Role of SAST in API Security

Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools identify vulnerabilities in your API’s code before deployment. These tools analyze an API's source code, bytecode, or binaries without executing it, allowing you to catch security flaws early.

SAST tools can seamlessly integrate with Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) and Continuous Integration (CI) pipelines, providing rapid feedback by flagging issues in real-time as you code or during the build process.

This approach makes SAST tools ideal for every development phase, from the initial stages to release, aligning perfectly with shift-left security testing principles and enabling the following: 

• Code review and analysis: SAST tools thoroughly examine the codebase, scanning for known vulnerabilities such as insecure data handling, improper input validation, and potential injection points. This thorough review helps identify issues that might not be immediately obvious to developers.
  
  
• Compliance checks: SAST tools check the code against predefined security guidelines and best practices, helping you maintain compliance with frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS. This proactive approach strengthens your API’s security and minimizes the risk of costly compliance violations.
  
  
• Early detection: Identifying and addressing issues before the API is deployed reduces the likelihood of security breaches, saving time and resources in the long run. Early detection also creates a more secure development process, making managing and mitigating risks easier. 

The Role of DAST in API Security

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) tools take a different approach to securing APIs by testing them in a runtime environment. DAST simulates real-world attacks on API endpoints, mimicking malicious traffic to uncover vulnerabilities attackers could exploit on the public internet. 

This method helps identify security issues in the running code that might not be evident through static analysis alone. However, since APIs are frequently updated, it's crucial to regularly rerun these tests to detect any new vulnerabilities introduced by recent changes.

DAST tools engage with the API in its live environment, testing its responses to various inputs and conditions. This real-time testing allows DAST tools to uncover vulnerabilities related to the API's behavior under specific circumstances, such as handling unexpected input or managing high traffic loads.

APIs often expose multiple endpoints, each of which can be a potential target for attackers. DAST tools focus on these endpoints, testing their security by exploiting common vulnerabilities such as injection attacks, cross-site scripting (XSS), or misconfigurations. By identifying weaknesses at these critical points, DAST tools help ensure your API remains secure against various attack vectors.

DAST tools can also detect anomalies in the API’s responses, such as unexpected data leaks or performance issues, which might indicate deeper security flaws. This behavioral analysis helps you address issues that static testing might miss.

Integrate SAST and DAST for Comprehensive API Security

Relying on a single testing method leaves gaps in your API security. By combining SAST and DAST tools, you cover vulnerabilities across the development and runtime phases, creating a more comprehensive security strategy. 

During development, SAST tools identify security issues within the code itself. Catching vulnerabilities early prevents them from becoming more significant problems, saving time and resources. 

After deployment, DAST tools test the API in a live environment. They simulate real-world attacks to uncover vulnerabilities that static analysis might miss, ensuring your API remains secure even under pressure.

Integrating SAST and DAST allows for ongoing security checks throughout the API’s lifecycle. Regularly using both tools ensures that your API is protected from development through deployment, and as new threats emerge, you can address them quickly.

Codacy’s security solutions make this integration seamless. With our tools, you can catch vulnerabilities early with SAST and validate your security in production with DAST. 

Ready to strengthen your API security? Start a free trial to see how Codacy can help you protect your most critical assets.