name: api-security-testing

description: "API security testing workflow for REST and GraphQL APIs covering authentication, authorization, rate limiting, input validation, and security best practices."

category: granular-workflow-bundle

risk: safe

source: personal

date_added: "2026-02-27"

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

1. Enumerate endpoints
2. Document API methods
3. Identify parameters
4. Map data flows
5. 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

1. Test API key validation
2. Test JWT tokens
3. Test OAuth2 flows
4. Test token expiration
5. 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

1. Test object-level authorization
2. Test function-level authorization
3. Test role-based access
4. Test privilege escalation
5. 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

1. Test parameter validation
2. Test SQL injection
3. Test NoSQL injection
4. Test command injection
5. 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

1. Test rate limit headers
2. Test brute force protection
3. Test resource exhaustion
4. Test bypass techniques
5. 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

1. Test introspection
2. Test query depth
3. Test query complexity
4. Test batch queries
5. 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

1. Test error messages
2. Check information disclosure
3. Test stack traces
4. Verify logging
5. 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.