API testing should examine more than transport security. Authorization, object-level access, rate controls, schema handling and business workflows often determine the real impact of an API weakness.
Core review areas
Authentication
Review token handling, expiry, refresh flows, authentication boundaries and credential exposure.
Authorization
Test object-level and function-level access with controlled identities and predictable resource identifiers.
Input validation
Test schema enforcement, type confusion, unexpected parameters, injection and unsafe file or URL handling.
Abuse controls
Assess rate limiting, pagination, resource exhaustion and workflow abuse where relevant.
Evidence to capture
- Endpoint and method under test.
- Authentication and authorization context.
- Request and response evidence with sensitive values redacted.
- Security impact and affected business function.
- Clear remediation and retest criteria.
Preparing for an assessment
Share an endpoint inventory or API specification, authentication approach, roles, integration boundaries and test-environment details. Agree representative objects and test identities without sharing production secrets through this site.
Keep scope, access assumptions and exclusions explicit. Use redacted evidence and representative test data. Report what was verified, what remains uncertain and which checks could not be completed.
Further reading
Related resources
Guides
OWASP Top 10 for Modern Applications
Use OWASP guidance to structure web testing around authentication, authorization and business workflows.
Read articleChecklists
Mobile Application Security Checklist
Prepare an Android or iOS review covering the client, platform and supporting APIs.
Read checklist