We protect what matters most: your data, your reputation and your business.
In modern microservices architecture, APIs are the nervous system of the enterprise. However, this hyperconnectivity comes at a price: according to the latest security reports, misconfigured APIs are responsible for more than 40% of serious data breaches. Integrating an API is no longer just a matter of reading documentation and getting a token.
The OWASP API Security Top 10 has become the bible for conscious developers. The most common error is not complex code, but failed simple logic, such as BOLA (Broken Object Level Authorization), where an authenticated user can manipulate an ID in the URL and access data that does not belong to them.
A frequent conceptual error in development is confusing entry with permission. That a user has a key to enter the building (Authentication/Valid JWT) does not mean they have permission to open the CEO's safe (Authorization). Implementing object-level access controls is mandatory, not optional.
Another critical risk is "Excessive Data Exposure". Many backend developers send the full JSON object from the database to the frontend, trusting that the client will only display what is necessary. This is a gift for attackers, who can intercept the response and view private data hidden in the payload.
“An API without Rate Limiting is not a feature, it's a denial of service attack waiting to happen.”
Zenith Privacy
At Primitive, we apply a "Defense in Depth" approach for integrations. This includes strict schema validation (never trust user input), rate limiting, and active anomaly monitoring. If your API responds the same to 1 request as to 10,000 per second, you have a problem.
Implementing rate limits not only prevents DDoS attacks, but protects against brute force attacks on logins. Below, we show a basic but effective implementation using middleware in a Node.js/Express environment.
Standard security configuration for Express.js against brute force:
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const rateLimit = require('express-rate-limit');
const apiLimiter = rateLimit({
windowMs: 15 * 60 * 1000, // 15 minutes
max: 100, // Limit of 100 requests per IP per window
standardHeaders: true, // Return info in headers `RateLimit-*`
legacyHeaders: false, // Disable headers `X-RateLimit-*`
message: "Too many requests from this IP, please try again later.",
});
// Apply to all routes starting with /api/
app.use('/api/', apiLimiter);
API security must shift left (Shift Left). Integrating security testing (DAST/SAST) into the CI/CD pipeline is the only way to scale development without scaling risks.
