Top Threat #3 - API-ocalypse: Securing the Insecure Interfaces

Written by CSA’s Top Threats Working Group.

In this blog series, we cover the key security challenges from CSA's Top Threats to Cloud Computing 2024. Drawing from the insights of over 500 experts, we'll discuss the 11 top cybersecurity threats, their business impact, and how to tackle them. Whether you're a professional or a beginner, this series offers a clear guide to the evolving cloud security landscape.

Today’s post covers the #3 top threat: Insecure Interfaces & APIs.

What is API and UI Vulnerability in Cloud Services?

Cloud Service Providers (CSPs), enterprise vendors, and developers frequently offer APIs and UIs for system controls, but initial designs often fail to meet long-term requirements. Changes in leadership, shifts in strategy, or the introduction of third-party access can result in rushed deployments, compounded by legacy support, undocumented assumptions, and poor design choices that complicate cloud transitions.

APIs and UIs are particularly vulnerable to threats such as weak authentication, lack of encryption, improper session management, insufficient input validation, outdated software, and overly permissive access controls.

Consequences & Business Impact

The effects of insecure interfaces in cloud systems can be significant, depending on the nature of the system and the security measures in place:

Technical Impact

• System Access: Weak authentication results in the exploitation of backend systems.
• Data Disclosure: Outside parties can access business data due to communication weaknesses, system access, or credential reuse.

Operational Impact

• System Outage: Cloud service shutdowns disrupt business operations and workflows.
• Feature Delay: Remediation of software exploits delays updates and new feature rollouts.

Financial Impact

• Lost Revenue: Service disruptions lead to revenue loss, costs for service restoration, customer dissatisfaction, or legal actions.
• Non-Compliance: Failure to comply with regulatory standards results in penalties and fines.

Reputational Impact

• Company Reputation: Public image and brand value suffer.
• Customer Reputation: Customers may experience data breaches or service interruptions, negatively impacting their own reputations.

Mitigation Strategies

1. Monitor and Secure APIs: Ensure APIs are secured in line with best practices to minimize the attack surface.
2. Implement Rate Limiting and Throttling: Protect against Denial of Service (DoS) attacks and credential stuffing by using rate limiting and throttling measures.
3. Update Security Controls: Adapt traditional security approaches and change management policies to keep up with the growth of cloud-based APIs. Consider shorter-duration credentials with automatic time-based rotation and implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for user interfaces.
4. Ensure Product Parity: When transitioning to the cloud, verify that the vendor’s on-premise interface solutions function consistently in SaaS configurations or across different cloud providers.
5. Automate Credential Management: Explore credential lifecycle automation and continuous monitoring technologies for detecting anomalous API traffic. Use intelligence feeds to enhance detection and address issues in near real-time.

To learn more about the top threats and explore strategies for mitigating these risks, download the full Top Threats to Cloud Computing 2024 here.