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Glossary Term

API Exposure

The unintended or excessive exposure of application programming interfaces (APIs) to unauthorized users or the public internet.

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What it is

API exposure occurs when APIs are publicly accessible without proper authentication, authorization, or scope restrictions, or when internal APIs are unintentionally reachable from external networks. This can happen due to misconfigurations, overly permissive access controls, or lack of visibility into deployed endpoints.

Why it matters

APIs often provide direct access to sensitive data and core business logic. When exposed, attackers can exploit them to extract data, manipulate records, or automate abuse at scale. Many modern breaches originate from exposed APIs because they are machine-friendly and easy to enumerate.

How to reduce risk

  • Enforce strong authentication and authorization on all APIs.
  • Restrict API access by network, role, and scope.
  • Monitor API traffic for abnormal usage patterns.
  • Regularly audit exposed endpoints from an external perspective.