OWASP Secure API Gateway Blueprint

Overview: The rise of API-driven architectures, microservices, and cloud-native applications has increased the importance of securing API gateways. While there are guidelines for securing APIs, there is no comprehensive blueprint that focuses on the unique challenges and security features needed for API gateways, which are critical chokepoints in distributed systems.

The OWASP Secure API Gateway Blueprint project would aim to create a framework, set of best practices, and reference implementations to guide developers, architects, and security professionals in designing and deploying secure API gateways.

Road Map

Key Objectives:

Comprehensive Security Guidelines:

Develop actionable security guidelines specific to API gateways, including authentication, authorization, rate limiting, logging, encryption, and threat detection. Address challenges like API sprawl, over-permissioned APIs, and token management.

Blueprint for Implementation:

Provide a detailed, vendor-agnostic blueprint for setting up secure API gateways in different environments (e.g., on-premises, cloud, hybrid). Include secure configurations for popular API gateway solutions (e.g., Kong, AWS API Gateway, Apigee, or Envoy).

Threat Modeling:

Create a catalog of common threats targeting API gateways, such as injection attacks, token theft, and DDoS attacks. Provide threat modeling templates and mitigation strategies.

Reference Implementations:

Develop open-source reference implementations for secure API gateway configurations in multiple platforms and frameworks. Include CI/CD pipelines that integrate automated security checks for gateway deployments.

API Gateway Security Testing Suite:

Build and maintain a set of tools or a testing suite to help assess the security posture of API gateways. Include automated tools to test for vulnerabilities like misconfigurations, exposed sensitive APIs, and inadequate rate limiting.

Developer and Security Awareness:

Create developer-friendly resources such as checklists, guides, and e-learning modules. Publish case studies and real-world scenarios demonstrating secure API gateway deployments and lessons learned from failures.