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    API8:2023 - Security Misconfiguration

    Insecure defaults and weak hardening create avoidable attack paths in production APIs.

    Why This Category Exists

    Modern APIs depend on gateways, frameworks, containers, cloud services, and CI/CD. Small misconfigurations across any layer can expose sensitive data, debug interfaces, or privileged management endpoints.

    Common Impact

    • Leaked data via verbose errors and debug mode.
    • Unauthorized access through exposed admin interfaces.
    • Weak TLS/CORS/header settings increasing exploitability.

    Prevention Checklist

    • Harden defaults for every environment, especially production.
    • Disable debug endpoints and remove unnecessary services.
    • Enforce secure headers, TLS policy, and strict CORS.
    • Continuously scan infrastructure and API configs for drift.