API Security Testing Workflow

Overview

Specialized workflow for testing REST and GraphQL API security including authentication, authorization, rate limiting, input validation, and API-specific vulnerabilities.

When to Use This Workflow

Use this workflow when:

• Testing REST API security

• Assessing GraphQL endpoints

• Validating API authentication

• Testing API rate limiting

• Bug bounty API testing

Workflow Phases

Phase 1: API Discovery

#### Skills to Invoke

• api-fuzzing-bug-bounty - API fuzzing

• scanning-tools - API scanning

#### Actions

• Enumerate endpoints

• Document API methods

• Identify parameters

• Map data flows

• Review documentation

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @api-fuzzing-bug-bounty to discover API endpoints

Phase 2: Authentication Testing

#### Skills to Invoke

• broken-authentication - Auth testing

• api-security-best-practices - API auth

#### Actions

• Test API key validation

• Test JWT tokens

• Test OAuth2 flows

• Test token expiration

• Test refresh tokens

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @broken-authentication to test API authentication

Phase 3: Authorization Testing

#### Skills to Invoke

• idor-testing - IDOR testing

#### Actions

• Test object-level authorization

• Test function-level authorization

• Test role-based access

• Test privilege escalation

• Test multi-tenant isolation

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @idor-testing to test API authorization

Phase 4: Input Validation

#### Skills to Invoke

• api-fuzzing-bug-bounty - API fuzzing

• sql-injection-testing - Injection testing

#### Actions

• Test parameter validation

• Test SQL injection

• Test NoSQL injection

• Test command injection

• Test XXE injection

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @api-fuzzing-bug-bounty to fuzz API parameters

Phase 5: Rate Limiting

#### Skills to Invoke

• api-security-best-practices - Rate limiting

#### Actions

• Test rate limit headers

• Test brute force protection

• Test resource exhaustion

• Test bypass techniques

• Document limitations

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @api-security-best-practices to test rate limiting

Phase 6: GraphQL Testing

#### Skills to Invoke

• api-fuzzing-bug-bounty - GraphQL fuzzing

#### Actions

• Test introspection

• Test query depth

• Test query complexity

• Test batch queries

• Test field suggestions

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @api-fuzzing-bug-bounty to test GraphQL security

Phase 7: Error Handling

#### Skills to Invoke

• api-security-best-practices - Error handling

#### Actions

• Test error messages

• Check information disclosure

• Test stack traces

• Verify logging

• Document findings

#### Copy-Paste Prompts

Use @api-security-best-practices to audit API error handling

API Security Checklist

• Authentication working

• Authorization enforced

• Input validated

• Rate limiting active

• Errors sanitized

• Logging enabled

• CORS configured

• HTTPS enforced

Quality Gates

• All endpoints tested

• Vulnerabilities documented

• Remediation provided

• Report generated

Related Workflow Bundles

• security-audit - Security auditing

• web-security-testing - Web security

• api-development - API development

Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.

• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.

• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.