# API Security Testing Basics

> Master REST API penetration testing. Discover hidden endpoints, exploit BOLA and Mass Assignment, and bypass API rate limits in modern applications.

Canonical: https://codelivly.com/rooms/api-security-testing-basics
Last updated: 2026-08-23

| | |
|---|---|
| Level | Intermediate |
| Category | Cybersecurity |
| Lessons | 6 |
| Estimated time | 1 h 40 min |
| XP | 600 |

APIs are the backbone of modern web, mobile, and microservice applications, but they introduce unique security challenges that traditional web app testing often misses. This module dives deep into REST and GraphQL API security, teaching you how to map hidden endpoints using OpenAPI and Swagger, exploit the OWASP API Top 10 vulnerabilities like Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA) and Mass Assignment, and test for business logic flaws like rate limiting bypasses. Through hands-on labs, you will intercept and manipulate JSON traffic, chain API vulnerabilities to escalate privileges, and learn how to secure API architectures against automated abuse and excessive data exposure.

## Lessons

1. What Makes API Security Different from Web App Security (30 min)
2. REST API Recon — Swagger/OpenAPI Discovery (30 min)
3. Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA) in APIs (30 min)
4. Mass Assignment & Excessive Data Exposure (30 min)
5. Rate Limiting & API Abuse Testing (30 min)
6. Guided Lab: Full API Penetration Test Walkthrough (30 min)

## Related

- [Learning path: Web Application Security](https://codelivly.com/learning-paths/web-application-security)
- [All rooms](https://codelivly.com/rooms)