Specialized Testing: API Testing from Pluralsight

In the age of APIs, ensuring their bullet-proof security is paramount. This course will teach you how to probe APIs for different injection vulnerabilities, gather pentesting information, and use it to potentially exploit such vulnerabilities in APIs

Many APIs today are not subject to sufficient security pentesting. The main reason usually centers around lack of knowledge for conducting pentesting specifically targeted at APIs. In this course, Specialized Testing: API Testing, you’ll learn to pentest APIs for injection vulnerabilities. First, you’ll explore gathering potential vulnerability information from response payloads of your API. Next, you’ll discover how to interpret this data to glean valuable pentesting information. Finally, you’ll learn how to use that information to pentest the API's vulnerable endpoints. When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge of performing pentesting for different injection types needed to protect your APIs by mitigating or completely eliminating its injection vulnerabilities.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Gathering API Pentesting Intelligence

Analyzing API Response Data

Crafting Requests to Exploit Vulnerabilities

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops skills in identifying types of injection vulnerabilities and ways to exploit them

Provides learners with specific methods for conducting pentesting on APIs to detect vulnerabilities

Helps students build skills in gathering data for vulnerability analysis in API testing

Focuses on a specific aspect of API testing

Can be taken alone or as part of a series

Assumes students have a basic understanding of APIs

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Specialized Testing: API Testing with these activities:

Review programming fundamentals

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Refreshes your foundational knowledge of programming to prepare for the course

Browse courses on API Development

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Review variables, data types, and control flow.
Review the basic syntax and semantics of Python.
Practice writing and running simple Python programs.

Python Scripting Refresher

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Prior to taking this course, it's beneficial to brush up on your Python scripting skills. This refresher will ensure you have a solid foundation for the hands-on pentesting activities.

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Review Python syntax and data structures
Practice writing simple Python scripts

Read RESTful Web APIs

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Provides a solid foundation in RESTful APIs and their principles

View RESTful Web APIs: Services for a Changing World on Amazon

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Read chapters 1-3 to understand the basics of REST APIs.
Review chapters 4-6 to learn about designing and developing RESTful APIs.

Eight other activities

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Peer Pentesting Workshop

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In a peer pentesting workshop, you'll benefit from collaborating with fellow learners to assess the security of a mock API. This hands-on experience will sharpen your ability to identify vulnerabilities and develop effective mitigation strategies.

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Form a peer group
Select a mock API for pentesting
Conduct the pentesting as a team
Discuss the findings and recommendations

Complete the Pluralsight course on API Security Testing

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Provides hands-on experience in API security testing and pentesting techniques

Browse courses on API Security

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Enroll in the Pluralsight course on API Security Testing.
Watch the video lectures and complete the hands-on labs.
Practice the techniques learned in the course on your own APIs.

SQL Injection Practice Drills

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Practice drills are an effective approach to cementing your grasp of SQL Injection and pentesting methodologies, making you more proficient in identifying and mitigating these vulnerabilities.

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Use an online SQL injection practice tool
Review common SQL injection patterns
Set up a local environment for SQL injection practice
Practice SQL injection on real-world applications

Attend an API security workshop or conference

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Provides opportunities to learn from experts and network with other API security professionals

Browse courses on API Security

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Research upcoming API security workshops or conferences.
Register for a workshop or conference that aligns with your interests.
Attend the workshop or conference and actively participate in the sessions.
Network with other API security professionals and learn from their experiences.

Write a blog post about API security best practices

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Reinforces your learning by summarizing and explaining the key principles of API security

Browse courses on API Security

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Research API security best practices from reputable sources.
Organize your findings into a coherent outline.
Write a draft of your blog post, ensuring it is well-structured and easy to understand.
Edit and proofread your blog post to ensure it is error-free.
Publish your blog post on a platform where it will reach your target audience.

API Pentesting Report

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By putting together an API pentesting report, you will consolidate your understanding of the vulnerabilities discovered and the steps required to mitigate them,solidifying your grasp of the API pentesting process.

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Gather information about the target API
Perform API pentesting
Analyze the results of your pentesting
Write up your pentesting report

Solve the API security challenges on HackerOne

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Provides real-world experience in finding and exploiting API vulnerabilities

Browse courses on API Security

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Create an account on HackerOne.
Join the API security challenges.
Analyze the APIs and identify potential vulnerabilities.
Exploit the vulnerabilities and submit your findings.
Review the feedback from the API owners and learn from your mistakes.

Mentor a junior API developer or tester

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Strengthens your understanding of API development and testing concepts by teaching them to others

Browse courses on API Development

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Identify a junior API developer or tester who is interested in learning more.
Set up a regular meeting schedule to provide guidance and support.
Review their code and provide feedback on their API development and testing practices.
Answer their questions and help them troubleshoot any issues they encounter.
Provide encouragement and support to help them grow in their career.

Career center

Learners who complete Specialized Testing: API Testing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Penetration Tester

A Penetration Tester, also known as a Pen Tester, is responsible for identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in computer systems. This course is an excellent fit for a career as a Pen Tester as it will teach you how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. You will also learn how to interpret API response data to identify potential risks, which will help you become a more effective Pen Tester.

See salaries and explore the career path for Penetration Tester

Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst works to protect and improve an organization's information security. This course fits well into an Information Security Analyst career because it provides a deep dive into how to test APIs for injection vulnerabilities. This knowledge will help you keep your organization's systems secure. The course can also help you prepare for the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification, which is highly valued in this field.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

A Quality Assurance Analyst is tasked with testing and evaluating software before it's released to the general public. This course will help you build a foundation for this career as it teaches how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. You will learn how to interpret API response data to identify potential risks. This will provide you with the necessary foundation for a career as a Quality Assurance Analyst.

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Cybersecurity Engineer

A Cybersecurity Engineer is responsible for protecting an organization's computer systems from cyber threats. This course will help you build a foundation for this career by teaching you how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. You will also learn how to interpret API response data to identify potential risks, which will help you keep your organization's systems secure.

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Security Engineer

A Security Engineer is responsible for the security of an organization's computer systems and networks. This course will help you build a foundation for this career by teaching you how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. You will also learn how to interpret API response data to identify potential risks, which will help you keep your organization's systems secure.

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Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software systems. This course will help you build a foundation for a career as a Software Engineer by teaching you how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. This knowledge will help you ensure that the software you develop is secure and free of vulnerabilities.

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Network Engineer

A Network Engineer is responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of computer networks. This course may be useful for a Network Engineer as it will teach you how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. This knowledge will help you ensure that the networks you design are secure and free of vulnerabilities.

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Mobile Developer

A Mobile Developer is responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of mobile applications. This course may be useful for a Mobile Developer as it will teach you how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. This knowledge will help you ensure that the mobile applications you develop are secure and free of vulnerabilities.

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System Administrator

A System Administrator is responsible for the maintenance and security of computer systems. This course may be useful for a System Administrator as it will teach you how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. This knowledge will help you ensure that the systems you administer are secure and free of vulnerabilities.

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Cloud Engineer

A Cloud Engineer is responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of cloud computing systems. This course may be useful for a Cloud Engineer as it will teach you how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. This knowledge will help you ensure that the cloud systems you design are secure and free of vulnerabilities.

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Database Administrator

A Database Administrator is responsible for the maintenance and security of databases. This course may be useful for a Database Administrator as it will teach you how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. This knowledge will help you ensure that the databases you manage are secure and free of vulnerabilities.

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Web Developer

A Web Developer is responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of websites. This course may be useful for a Web Developer as it will teach you how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. This knowledge will help you ensure that the websites you develop are secure and free of vulnerabilities.

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Game Developer

A Game Developer is responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of video games. This course may be useful for a Game Developer as it will teach you how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. This knowledge will help you ensure that the video games you develop are secure and free of vulnerabilities.

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DevOps Engineer

A DevOps Engineer is responsible for the development and operation of software systems. This course may be useful for a DevOps Engineer as it will teach you how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. This knowledge will help you ensure that the software systems you develop and operate are secure and free of vulnerabilities.

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Data Scientist

A Data Scientist is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. This course may be useful for a Data Scientist as it will teach you how to test APIs for vulnerabilities. This knowledge will help you ensure that the data you collect and analyze is secure and free of vulnerabilities.

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