In today’s connected world, APIs power nearly everything—from your video calls and banking apps to streaming platforms and digital classrooms. But with convenience comes risk. As APIs become more deeply woven into our software ecosystems, they’ve also become a magnet for cyberattacks.
This is especially true for video APIs. Because they handle real-time communication and sensitive data, they’re a high-value target for bad actors. If you're building or integrating a video API, security isn’t just a nice-to-have—it's essential.
In this guide, we’ll unpack the most common API vulnerabilities, share real-world examples, and walk through practical ways to protect your endpoints. Whether you’re a developer, CTO, or product owner, these insights will help you build safer, smarter systems.
To protect your video APIs, enforce strong authentication (OAuth 2.0, JWT), apply rate limits, validate all input/output, and secure endpoints with gateways and encryption. Public APIs must avoid overexposure. Digital Samba’s SDK makes it easy to stay secure by design.
Table of contents
- The rise of API security threats
- Common API security vulnerabilities
- How to prevent API abuse and protect public endpoints
- Best practices for securing APIs
- Conclusion
- FAQs
The rise of API security threats
APIs were designed to make systems work together more easily. Unfortunately, that same openness can also be exploited if security isn't top of mind.
So why are APIs such an attractive target for attackers?
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They expose sensitive data. Many APIs handle personal information, authentication tokens, and even financial details. If compromised, the fallout can be severe.
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They widen your attack surface. Every exposed endpoint is another possible way in for a malicious actor.
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They’re easy to scan. Tools that automatically probe APIs for weaknesses are freely available and widely used by attackers.
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Security is often an afterthought. In the race to ship features, many teams leave authentication and access control until later—sometimes, too late.
The data backs this up. A 2024 study found that 84% of security professionals had dealt with an API-related incident in the past year. And these aren’t just minor slip-ups. In several high-profile breaches this year alone, millions of user records were exposed through misconfigured or unprotected APIs.
Common API security vulnerabilities
If you think of your API as a front door, then every vulnerability is a broken lock. And just like in real life, one weak point is often enough for someone to force their way in.
Here’s a closer look at the API weaknesses that attackers love to exploit—and what you can do to stop them.
1. Broken Object Level Authorisation (BOLA)
BOLA is one of the most common and dangerous issues in API design. It happens when users can manipulate object identifiers—like user IDs—in a request to access data they shouldn’t see.
Example: Imagine a video conferencing platform where users can access call recordings by URL. If user A changes the ID in the URL to access user B’s recording, and the API doesn’t properly check permissions, that’s BOLA in action.
How to fix it:
- Always check if the requester owns or is authorised to access the object.
- Apply strict object-level permission checks.
- Monitor API activity for unusual access patterns.
2. Weak API authentication
Too many APIs still rely on outdated or insecure authentication methods. And once a token or key leaks, attackers can impersonate users and wreak havoc.
Real-world case: T-Mobile’s 2023 breach exposed data from 37 million customers through a weak API authentication setup.
How to strengthen your API:
- Implement OAuth 2.0 with short-lived JWTs.
- Regularly rotate keys.
- Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for sensitive actions.
3. Excessive data exposure
APIs should follow the principle of least privilege. But many return more data than necessary, either out of convenience or oversight.
Example: Fetching a user’s meeting history shouldn’t also reveal their email address, contact list, or billing info. Yet this happens more often than you’d think.
Best practices:
- Return only the data that’s strictly needed.
- Mask sensitive fields whenever possible.
- Apply response filtering at the code and gateway level.
4. No rate limiting
Without request limits, your API is exposed to abuse, like scraping, credential stuffing, or outright denial-of-service attacks.
Example: In 2021, Instagram’s API was exploited to harvest millions of profiles by bots hammering their endpoints.
Fix it by:
- Setting request quotas per IP or token.
- Using progressive backoff (temporary blocks for repeated abuse).
- Implementing CAPTCHA or bot detection for high-risk endpoints.
5. Injection attacks
Injection vulnerabilities allow attackers to submit malicious commands via an API. If those commands are executed by the backend system, the results can be disastrous—anything from stolen credit card data to complete server takeover.
Example: Tesla once had a vulnerability in its API that allowed attackers to send unauthorised commands to vehicles. Thankfully, it was caught in time.
Mitigation strategies:
- Use parameterised queries.
- Sanitize every input—even if you think it’s safe.
- Run regular penetration tests.
6. Misconfiguration and debug exposure
Sometimes, the most damaging vulnerabilities are the simplest: admin APIs left open, debugging tools exposed, or credentials hard-coded into public code.
Recent case: Twitter accidentally left a debug API exposed in 2023, leaking private user data.
Prevention tips:
- Audit your API deployment regularly.
- Never leave debug tools active in production.
- Use environment variables, not hardcoded secrets.
7. Shadow APIs and forgotten endpoints
Shadow APIs are undocumented or abandoned endpoints that still exist, but nobody’s watching them. They’re a gift to attackers.
Famous example: The 2017 Equifax breach happened because of an outdated, forgotten API endpoint that was still accessible.
How to stay safe:
- Regularly scan your infrastructure for unknown or unused endpoints.
- Deprecate old versions and enforce a versioning policy.
- Monitor all traffic, including to legacy APIs.
How to prevent API abuse and protect public endpoints
APIs are powerful tools, but public-facing ones come with extra risk. If not handled carefully, they can become entry points for abuse, scraping, or unauthorised access.
Here’s how to protect those public endpoints without crippling functionality:
1. Use token-based access: Issue signed tokens with clear expiry times. This ensures every request is tied to an authenticated user or system.
2. Obfuscate sensitive paths: Avoid exposing internal or admin endpoints in documentation or URL patterns.
3. Apply rate limits per IP and user: It’s simple, but incredibly effective at stopping brute-force and scraping attacks.
4. Deploy geo-blocking and IP filtering: Block traffic from regions or IP ranges known for malicious activity, especially if they’re irrelevant to your business.
5. Use device fingerprinting: Link API usage to device traits like OS, browser, and location to detect anomalies, even if tokens are reused.
6. Track usage behaviour: Monitor for unusual access spikes, sudden bursts of requests, or deviations from typical patterns.
7. Separate public and internal APIs: Keep different use cases logically and physically isolated so that abuse on one front doesn’t compromise your internal systems.
In short, securing public APIs is about balance. Make them usable, but never anonymous. Accessible, but never unguarded.
Best practices for securing APIs
API security isn’t just about plugging holes—it’s about building a strong, layered defence. The following best practices can help you protect your platform and user data from the most common threats.
1. Strong authentication and authorisation
Good security starts with knowing who’s making the request—and whether they’re allowed to do what they’re asking.
What to do:
- Use OAuth 2.0 to securely delegate access.
- Transmit credentials via JWTs and validate them server-side.
- Apply Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for critical actions.
- Enforce Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to avoid over-permissioning.
2. Throttle requests and rate limit effectively
APIs without usage controls are like websites with no login walls—anyone can hammer them until something breaks.
Steps to take:
- Set reasonable rate limits per user, app, or IP.
- Use back-off algorithms to deter brute-force attacks.
- Return HTTP 429 responses when limits are exceeded.
- Consider using CAPTCHA on endpoints prone to abuse.
3. Input and output validation
Never trust incoming data. If it's coming from a user, it’s potentially dangerous.
Checklist:
- Enforce strict input formats using schema validation.
- Filter and escape output to prevent data leakage or XSS.
- Reject requests with unexpected fields or data types.
4. Use an API gateway for centralised security
An API gateway helps you control access, monitor usage, and block unwanted traffic—all in one place.
Benefits:
- Manage API keys and tokens centrally.
- Monitor logs for unusual spikes or abuse patterns.
- Add IP whitelisting and automated threat detection.
5. Encrypt everything—at rest and in transit
Encryption isn’t optional. It’s the minimum standard for protecting data.
Make sure to:
- Use TLS 1.2 or above for all endpoints.
- Store data using AES-256 or stronger algorithms.
- Avoid returning or storing sensitive information unless absolutely necessary.
6. Monitor and respond to anomalies
You can’t fix what you don’t see. Logging and monitoring are essential for catching breaches early.
Build your stack with:
- Real-time logging and alerts.
- Behavioural analysis to spot unusual patterns.
- Centralised dashboards to track metrics and performance.
7. Apply Zero Trust principles to API endpoints
Zero Trust means no one gets a free pass—not even internal apps.
How to apply it:
- Authenticate every request, even from trusted sources.
- Issue short-lived tokens and avoid session reuse.
- Restrict access based on device, location, or context.
8. WebRTC API security: a special case
WebRTC is powerful—but also uniquely exposed. Since it enables peer-to-peer video and audio streams, it demands its own set of protections.
Essential protections:
- Implement end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for all media streams.
- Use secure signalling protocols like DTLS and SRTP.
- Require token-based authentication before establishing connections.
- Route traffic through STUN/TURN servers to avoid IP leaks.
9. Secure video SDK for developers
If you’re embedding video functionality via SDKs, security starts with how the SDK is integrated:
- Use pre-signed JWTs: Ensure each SDK instance is tied to a unique, authenticated session.
- Limit permissions: Don’t expose unnecessary API calls via the SDK.
- Update regularly: Patch vulnerabilities by using the latest SDK versions.
Conclusion
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to API security. But by understanding the most common vulnerabilities and applying layered, proactive defences, you’re already ahead of most.
Think of security not as a feature, but as a responsibility—something that grows with your product.
If you're looking to embed video securely and easily, Digital Samba’s API and SDK are built with privacy and protection at their core.
Get in touch with our team today and let us help you keep your users—and your data—safe.
FAQs
1. How can I secure API authentication?
To secure API authentication, use OAuth 2.0 and JWT tokens to verify users and applications. Enforce short-lived tokens, rotate API keys regularly, and enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential theft.
2. What is the best way to prevent API abuse?
Prevent API abuse by implementing strict rate limiting and request thresholds for each IP or token. Use CAPTCHA or behavioural checks to stop automated attacks and monitor for abnormal usage patterns.
3. How do I prevent data leaks in API responses?
Limit API responses to only the required fields and apply data masking for sensitive information. Enforce Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to restrict access and prevent unauthorised data exposure.
4. How can I stop SQL injection and other injection attacks?
Use parameterised queries and validate all user input to block SQL or command injection. Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and filter malicious API traffic.
5. Why is an API gateway important for security?
An API gateway centralises key security functions like authentication, request throttling, and traffic monitoring. It acts as a protective barrier to detect threats, enforce policies, and block unauthorised access.
6. How do I encrypt API data for security?
Encrypt API data in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher and encrypt data at rest with AES-256. Ensure all API endpoints are served over HTTPS to protect sensitive information from interception.
