REST API Penetration Testing
Expose and fix vulnerabilities across your REST API endpoints.
What this assessment covers.
REST APIs are the most common integration pattern in modern applications, connecting services and exchanging data across systems. DERISK’s REST API Penetration Testing service provides a thorough assessment of your REST API security posture, identifying vulnerabilities that could expose sensitive data or enable unauthorised access to backend services.
Our testing covers authentication and authorisation controls, access management, input validation, business logic flaws, endpoint analysis, and security configuration reviews. We test REST endpoints across HTTP methods, ensuring comprehensive coverage with findings validated by experts and delivered through the DERISK PTaaS platform.
How we test.
A structured, expert-led methodology from initial reconnaissance through to real-time reporting and remediation guidance.
- 01
REST API Discovery & Enumeration
We map every REST endpoint, parameter, HTTP method, and resource your application exposes — including undocumented or hidden endpoints — to establish the full scope of testing.
- 02
Authentication & Authorisation Assessment
We test token-based authentication, API keys, OAuth flows, and access control to ensure users can’t bypass permissions or access another user’s data through REST endpoints.
- 03
Business Logic & Input Validation Testing
We probe input validation, rate limiting, and application-specific logic to uncover flaws like mass assignment, parameter tampering, and race conditions in REST endpoints.
- 04
Attack Simulation across REST endpoints
We simulate real-world attacks — injection, broken object-level authorisation, and excessive data exposure — across all REST endpoints and HTTP methods.
- 05
Real-time findings published to the DERISK PTaaS portal
Confirmed vulnerabilities appear on the PTaaS portal as they are discovered, with proof-of-concept and remediation guidance for fast action.
- 06
Reporting & Remediation guidance
You receive a comprehensive report with risk-rated findings, CVSS scores, and REST API-specific remediation steps aligned with OWASP API Security Top 10.
Why teams choose us.
Expert-led, manually validated, and delivered through the DERISK PTaaS platform for continuous visibility and rapid remediation.
Outstanding Features
- ✓Assessment aligned with the latest OWASP API Security Top 10
- ✓Real-time visibility into discovered REST API vulnerabilities and remediation progress through the DERISK PTaaS platform
- ✓Testing across all HTTP methods and REST endpoint patterns
- ✓Business logic and access control testing beyond automated scanning
Why Choose Our Service?
- ▸Preventive detection: Discover REST API weaknesses before they become entry points for attackers
- ▸Realistic simulation: Validate security using attack scenarios targeting exposed REST services
- ▸Continuous visibility: Track findings, remediation, and retesting through a centralised PTaaS portal
- ▸Proactive fortification: Strengthen REST API security with practical recommendations tailored to your development lifecycle
Frameworks & standards.
Testing is aligned with industry-recognised frameworks and standards to ensure comprehensive, repeatable coverage.
What you receive.
Everything you need to understand, prioritise, and remediate findings — delivered through the platform with ongoing validation.
REST API Pentest questions.
What does REST API testing focus on?
Authorisation above all — broken object-level and function-level access control are the dominant REST findings. Alongside that: authentication and token handling, excessive data exposure, mass assignment, injection, and rate limiting.
Do you need an OpenAPI specification?
It helps considerably and improves coverage, but it is not required. Undocumented endpoints are enumerated during reconnaissance — and are often where the most interesting findings are.
Do you test every endpoint?
Every endpoint in scope is enumerated and assessed, with manual depth concentrated where the risk is: anything handling authentication, authorisation, payments or personal data.
How are findings delivered?
Every engagement runs through the DERISK PTaaS platform, so findings appear live rather than in a PDF weeks later. You get real-time results, collaborative remediation, on-demand retesting, remediation tracking and native Jira and Slack integration.
Often scoped together.
API Pentest
Expose and fix vulnerabilities across your API endpoints.
GraphQL API Pentest
Expose and fix vulnerabilities across your GraphQL API endpoints.
SOAP API Pentest
Expose and fix vulnerabilities across your SOAP API services.
Web App Pentest
Identify vulnerabilities in your web applications before attackers do.
Ready to secure your assets with REST API Pentest?
Get in touch with DERISK to schedule an assessment or learn more about how our expert-led testing can strengthen your security posture.
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