Understanding and Protecting Against API7: Server-Side Request Forgery

Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) is a significant web application vulnerability that allows attackers to manipulate an application to make unauthorized requests, potentially leading to data leaks, unauthorized access, and remote code execution. It involves exploiting application features that fetch data from external sources, allowing attackers to trick the application into accessing restricted resources. SSRF attacks can occur in various forms, including basic SSRF, blind SSRF, and SSRF with authentication bypass, each posing unique risks. Common attack vectors include image processing libraries, file upload functionality, web proxies, and APIs. Prevention requires a multi-layered approach, including input validation, network segmentation, and using Web Application Firewalls (WAFs). StackHawk offers a developer-first dynamic application security testing (DAST) tool, HawkScan, that integrates security testing into CI/CD pipelines, helping developers detect and fix SSRF vulnerabilities with actionable insights. By incorporating tools like StackHawk, organizations can better protect against SSRF attacks by empowering developers to embed security into the development lifecycle and reduce the risk of API threats.