hunt-api-misconfig

Testing an API for mass assignment vulnerabilities involves injecting privileged fields like is_admin=true into profile update requests to check if the server applies them without proper authorization validation. This detects unauthorized privilege escalation paths.

A JWT algorithm confusion attack exploits misconfigured JSON Web Token validation by manipulating the algorithm header, such as using none, RS256/HS256 confusion, or kid path traversal. This technique bypasses authentication controls to gain unauthorized API access.

You can bypass WAF blacklists on OData APIs using specific $filter query manipulations. This technique allows penetration testers to extract sensitive data like password hashes by circumventing input filtering rules on Microsoft Dynamics 365 and similar platforms.

Exposed OpenAPI or Swagger specifications map hidden administrative endpoints and undocumented attack surfaces. Red teamers analyze these specs to discover shadow APIs, enabling mass IDOR attacks and revealing routes missed by standard automated scanners.

This API security testing covers prototype pollution and HTTP verb tampering alongside mass assignment and JWT attacks. It detects logic-based misconfigurations that enable privilege escalation and unauthorized data access across REST, GraphQL, and ASP.NET Core APIs.

Manual API misconfig hunts are necessary when automated scanners fail to detect logic-based, non-signature vulnerabilities like mass assignment or JWT algorithm confusion. These techniques require field-validated heuristics to uncover severe privilege escalation and data exfiltration flaws.