#REST APIs

[multidimensionalsock]

REST APIs

REST (Representational State Transfer) is a type of API where all the information needed to perform an action is passed to the API at the time the request needs fulfilling. The server does not need previous knowledge of the clients session in order to fulfill their request.

The alternative to this is that the client having a 'session' with the server, where the server keeps information on the client while it's active, which can take up a lot of server processing power and memory. For large services handling possible hundreds of thousands of clients at a time, keeping a 'connection' can take up a lot of server processing and memory.

REST speeds up processing time for both the server and client. With sessions, they can end up split over multiple servers, meaning servers have to communicate to get data which can slow down response time. Because the server needs no prior knowledge of a client, any client can handle any client's request easily, which also makes load balancing easier, a request can be sent to any server that can handle it which is currently the least busy.

All REST APIs use HTTP methods. A client sends a request via HTTP to a specific endpoint (location on the web), along with all of the information needed to complete that request. The server will then process it and send back a response.

Core features of REST:

Client-Server Architecture - a client that sends requests to a server, or set of servers via HTTP methods.

Stateless - client information is not stored between requests and each request is handled as separate and unconnected.

Cacheability - data that is expected to be accessed often can be cached (saved for a set amount of time) on the client or server side to make client and server interactions quicker.

Uniform interface - no matter where an endpoint is accessed from, its requests have a standard format. Information returned to a client should have enough information and self description that the client knows how to process it.

Layered system architecture - calls and responses can go through multiple intermediate layers, but both the client and server will assume they're communicating directly.

Code on demand (optional) - the server can send executable code to the client when requested to extend client functionality.

[redactedconcepts]

REST API

REST API is a software architectural style for Backend.

REST = “REpresentational State Transfer”. API = Application Programming Interface

Its purpose is to induce performance, scalability, simplicity, modifiability, visibility, portability, and reliability.

REST API is Resource-based, a resource is an object and can be access by a URI. An object is “displayed”/transferred via a representation (typically JSON). HTTP methods will be actions on a resource.

Example:

Resource: Person (John)

Service: contact information (GET)

Representation:

first_name, last_name, date_of_birth

JSON format

There are 6 constraints:

1. Uniform Interface

Define the interface between client-server

Simple and can be split in small parts

HTTP verbs

GET:

Read representation of a resource or a list of resources

POST:

Create a new resource

PUT:

Update an existing resource

DELETE:

Remove an existing resource

URIs - resource name

A resource representation is accessible by a URI:

GET /users: path for listing all user resources

GET /users/12: path for the user id = 12

GET /users/12/addresses: path for listing all addresses of the user id = 12

POST /users: path for creating a user resource

PUT /users/12: path for updating the user id = 12

DELETE /users/12/addresses/2: path for deleting the address id = 2 of the user id = 12

HTTP Response

In the HTTP Response, the client should verify the information of two things:

status code: result of the action

body: JSON or XML representation of resources

Some important status code:

200: OK

201: created => after a POST request

204: no content => can be return after a DELETE request

400: bad request => the server doesn’t understand the request

401: unauthorized => client user can’t be identified

403: forbidden => client user is identified but not allowed to access a resource

404: not found => resource doesn’t exist

500: internal server error

2. Stateless

The server is independent of the client. The server doesn’t store user client information/state. Each request contains enough context to process it (HTTP Headers, etc.)

Some authentication systems like OAuth have to store information on the server side but they do it with REST API design.

3. Cacheable

All server responses (resource representation) are cacheable:

Explicit

Implicit

Negotiated

Caches are here to improve performances. In a REST API, clients don’t care about the caching strategy, if the resource representation comes from a cache or from a database…

4. Client-Server

REST API is designed to separate Client from the Server. The server doesn’t know who is talking to it. Clients are not concerned with data storage => the portability of client code is improved. Servers are not concerned with the user interface or user state so that servers can be simpler and more scalable

5. Layered System

Client can’t assume direct connection to server. Intermediary servers may improve system scalability by enabling load-balancing and by providing shared caches. Layers may also enforce security policies.

6. Code on Demand (optional)

Server can temporarily:

Transfer logic to client

Allow client to execute logic

Example: JavaScript

[some-programming-pearls]

Best Practices in Designing an Effective API

Designing well-established Interfaces There is no software system in isolation. Software systems communicate with each other to request or response to some data. This is also called interoperability. Interoperability is the degree to which two or more systems can usefully exchange meaningful information via interfaces in a particular context. Software systems can exchange this information in…

[mohammad-nour-al-awad]

Introducing Hotelizer: Revolutionizing Hotel Management with ASP.NET Core

We invite you to explore Hotelizer on my GitHub.

In the fast-paced world of hospitality, efficiency, and innovation are key to providing exceptional guest experiences. Today, we’re excited to introduce Hotelizer, a cutting-edge hotel management system designed to streamline operations and elevate guest services. Built on ASP.NET Core MVC and leveraging a SQL Server Database, Hotelizer is not just another management tool; it’s a comprehensive…

[pentesttestingcorp]

SQL Injection in RESTful APIs: Identify and Prevent Vulnerabilities

SQL Injection (SQLi) in RESTful APIs: What You Need to Know

RESTful APIs are crucial for modern applications, enabling seamless communication between systems. However, this convenience comes with risks, one of the most common being SQL Injection (SQLi). In this blog, we’ll explore what SQLi is, its impact on APIs, and how to prevent it, complete with a practical coding example to bolster your understanding.

What Is SQL Injection?

SQL Injection is a cyberattack where an attacker injects malicious SQL statements into input fields, exploiting vulnerabilities in an application's database query execution. When it comes to RESTful APIs, SQLi typically targets endpoints that interact with databases.

How Does SQL Injection Affect RESTful APIs?

RESTful APIs are often exposed to public networks, making them prime targets. Attackers exploit insecure endpoints to:

Access or manipulate sensitive data.

Delete or corrupt databases.

Bypass authentication mechanisms.

Example of a Vulnerable API Endpoint

Consider an API endpoint for retrieving user details based on their ID:

from flask import Flask, request import sqlite3

app = Flask(name)

@app.route('/user', methods=['GET']) def get_user(): user_id = request.args.get('id') conn = sqlite3.connect('database.db') cursor = conn.cursor() query = f"SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = {user_id}" # Vulnerable to SQLi cursor.execute(query) result = cursor.fetchone() return {'user': result}, 200

if name == 'main': app.run(debug=True)

Here, the endpoint directly embeds user input (user_id) into the SQL query without validation, making it vulnerable to SQL Injection.

Secure API Endpoint Against SQLi

To prevent SQLi, always use parameterized queries:

@app.route('/user', methods=['GET']) def get_user(): user_id = request.args.get('id') conn = sqlite3.connect('database.db') cursor = conn.cursor() query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?" cursor.execute(query, (user_id,)) result = cursor.fetchone() return {'user': result}, 200

In this approach, the user input is sanitized, eliminating the risk of malicious SQL execution.

How Our Free Tool Can Help

Our free Website Security Checker your web application for vulnerabilities, including SQL Injection risks. Below is a screenshot of the tool's homepage:

Upload your website details to receive a comprehensive vulnerability assessment report, as shown below:

These tools help identify potential weaknesses in your APIs and provide actionable insights to secure your system.

Preventing SQLi in RESTful APIs

Here are some tips to secure your APIs:

Use Prepared Statements: Always parameterize your queries.

Implement Input Validation: Sanitize and validate user input.

Regularly Test Your APIs: Use tools like ours to detect vulnerabilities.

Least Privilege Principle: Restrict database permissions to minimize potential damage.

Final Thoughts

SQL Injection is a pervasive threat, especially in RESTful APIs. By understanding the vulnerabilities and implementing best practices, you can significantly reduce the risks. Leverage tools like our free Website Security Checker to stay ahead of potential threats and secure your systems effectively.

Explore our tool now for a quick Website Security Check.

[silverserpent]

I'm going to explode. I had to wake up at six and now I absolutely cannot code. Hlep

[anthyies]

computer that hates you call that HATEOAS

[mrtakenbyknowledge]

Call my fist an HTTP Post request, the way it delivers a message of pain directly to the endpoint of your face.

[risingsunresistance]

just found out that skycrypt is backed up occasionally on the wayback machine, so of course i went to go check techno's stuff. neat little thing i found, by april 9th 2021 he hadnt made it past thorn in dungeons. so he was cutting it CLOSE cramming in catacombs exp for the resistance fight jhdkjfj (turned out to be useless anyways)

also, judging by his exp gained, seems like he was only running with one other person. i was under the impression he had a full party the entire time bc of his video but that must've just been for later floors or maybe even JUST floor 7

and also. before the resistance fight. his highest crit damage was a WHOPPING... 82k

[rizzlegukgak]

my biggest pet peeve is when i get into a video game fandom and discover that the entire fandom is made up of people who have never touched a video game before this one

[sfdchira]

What is Monolithic Architecture?

Monolithic architecture is an approach to software development in which an application is built as a single, self-contained unit. In this architecture, all application components are tightly coupled and run within the same process. This means that the entire application is deployed as a single package, and all changes to the application require the application to be rebuilt and redeployed.

In the above example, we can see that all services are created in a single application and they are tightly coupled with each other. Even functionalities created in separate classes, it is integrated into the main class. If the change in one class is done, we have to test all functionality. The bigger issue is that, if any class has an issue then it will impact all functionality. Let us example, the discount service has an issue so it will impact the complete order process.

Check out this post for the Advantages and Disadvantages of Monolithic Architecture?

[wooden-turtle]

Me: gah how dare I not quite get how C header files work in this 90s game I want to help decompile. Can I even consider myself an experienced programmer after this?.. Anyway brb gotta go spend 30min to write a quick script to export someone their playlist off of spotify and send them a CSV.

Them: what’s a CSV?

i beat myself up for not knowing enough about my special interests a lot but then i remember the average person off the street has no idea what the carboniferous is and i feel better

[solutionmindfire]

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are the backbone of modern digital ecosystems. They enable seamless interaction between applications, platforms, and services. However, their exposure makes them a prime attack vector. API security testing identifies vulnerabilities in APIs to ensure data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

[prollcmatchdata]

REST API data automation | Match Data Pro LLC

Streamline your business with REST API data automation from Match Data Pro LLC. We offer seamless integration, efficient workflows, and reliable solutions to connect and manage your data effortlessly. Optimize processes and boost productivity with our expert services today!

REST API data automation

[priyashareindia9]

In the fast-paced world of trading, the integration of REST APIs with trading algorithms has become an essential tool for traders looking to enhance their strategies. REST APIs, or Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interfaces, allow seamless communication between different software applications. When integrated with trading algorithms, REST APIs enable traders to automate processes, access real-time data, and execute trades more efficiently.