Modern API attacks often bypass traditional security measures by utilizing legitimate application functionality rather than exploiting code vulnerabilities. Attackers perform actions that appear valid to Web Application Firewalls (WAFs), as these tools typically analyze individual requests for known signatures like SQL injections rather than monitoring overall behavioral patterns.
NGENIX experts categorize these non-exploit threats into three main types: Burst, Shortwave, and Carpet Bombing. Burst attacks involve intense, short-lived traffic spikes targeting resource-intensive API endpoints to overwhelm application performance. These incidents can occur within seconds, making automated response difficult for standard infrastructure.
Shortwave attacks exploit race conditions by sending simultaneous requests to manipulate business logic, such as bypassing promo code limits or double-spending. These attacks remain below rate-limiting thresholds by using intermittent pulses of activity. Carpet Bombing involves distributing requests across hundreds of API methods to conduct reconnaissance without triggering anomaly alerts on any single endpoint.
Effective defense against these scenarios requires moving beyond simple rate limiting. Techniques like sliding windows help manage traffic spikes, but because modern attacks are designed to mimic normal user behavior, security teams must analyze entire interaction scenarios and behavioral sequences rather than isolated API calls.
