I'm kicking off a series of articles on API Security ๐ to help usโdevelopers ๐จ๐ป๐ฉ๐ปโbetter understand and implement secure coding in our software design. ๐ก๏ธ
Here is the second one: Broken Authentication
APIs are the backbone of modern applications, but weak authentication mechanisms can expose sensitive data and lead to account takeovers. Broken Authentication ranks #2 in the OWASP API Security Top 10 (API2:2023).
โ ๏ธ What is Broken Authentication?
It occurs when an API fails to properly authenticate users, allowing attackers to:
- Bypass login mechanisms ๐
- Exploit weak passwords or credentials ๐
- Abuse session tokens ๐
- Perform brute-force attacks ๐ดโ ๏ธ
๐ฏ How Does It Happen?
- ๐ซ Insecure token handling: Attackers steal or reuse expired tokens.
- ๐ซ Lack of rate limiting: APIs allow unlimited login attempts.
- ๐ซ Weak password policies: Easily guessable passwords.
- ๐ซ Flawed session management: Tokens remain valid after logout.
๐ Real-World Examples:
โ Uber (2022): A hacker accessed an employee's credentials and internal systems.
โ PayPal (2023): Credential-stuffing attack exposed thousands of accounts.
๐ก๏ธ How to Prevent Broken Authentication?
๐ธ Use strong authentication mechanisms (OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect).
๐ธ Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for added security.
๐ธ Enforce strong password policies (complexity, expiration).
๐ธ Limit login attempts & detect anomalies with rate limiting & monitoring.
๐ธ Secure session management (invalidate tokens after logout, use short-lived JWTs).
๐ APIs must be both powerful and secure!
Have you encountered authentication flaws in your projects? Letโs discuss this in the comments! ๐
#APISecurity #OWASP #CyberSecurity #Authentication #SecureCoding