<!-- Copyright (c) 2026 defconxt. All rights reserved. -->
<!-- Licensed under AGPL-3.0 — see LICENSE file for details. -->
---
name: hardening-api-implementations
description: >-
  Secure API implementations with rate limiting, input validation, auth, and response filtering.
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: secure-coding
tags:
  - api-hardening
  - rate-limiting
  - api-security
  - secure-coding
version: "1.0"
author: defconxt
license: AGPL-3.0
metadata:
  mitre-attack: ["T1190"]
---

# Hardening API Implementations

## Overview

Secure API implementations with rate limiting, input validation, auth, and response filtering.

## Prerequisites

| Requirement | Install |
|---|---|
| API framework | FastAPI, Flask |
| Rate limiter | Redis-based |
| Python 3.10+ | For agent tooling |

## Key Concepts

API hardening covers rate limiting, input validation, auth,
authorization, response filtering, CORS, and versioning.
Defense in depth at every layer.

## Quick Reference

```bash
node agent.js audit --file api.py --checks rate-limit,auth,cors
node agent.js scan --directory src/api/ --rules api-security
node agent.js generate --component rate-limiter --backend redis
node agent.js report --directory src/api/
```

## Workflow

1. Auth on all endpoints
2. Role-based authorization
3. Rate limiting
4. Input validation
5. Filter responses
6. Configure CORS
7. Monitor access

## Detection

```yaml
title: Hardening Api Implementations Detection
id: 86b09e24-a462-4410-bdc3-00bd4c4604a4
status: experimental
description: Detects suspicious activity related to hardening api implementations techniques in secure coding context
logsource:
  category: application
  product: webserver
detection:
  selection:
    EventType: error
  condition: selection
level: medium
tags:
  - attack.t1190
  - attack.initial_access
falsepositives:
  - Static analysis tools scanning source code repositories
```

## Verification

- All endpoints auth'd
- Rate limiting works
- Input validation
- Responses filtered
- CORS restrictive

## References

- OWASP Testing Guide — https://owasp.org/www-project-web-security-testing-guide/
- MITRE ATT&CK — https://attack.mitre.org/
- NIST SP 800-53 — https://csf.tools/reference/nist-sp-800-53/
