What Is a SOAP API?
SOAP is a standard communication protocol system that allows processes running on various operating systems such as Linux and Windows to communicate using HTTP and its XML. SOAP-based APIs are intended for the creation, recovery, updating, and deletion of records such as accounts, passwords, leads, and custom objects.
SOAP APIs take advantage of web-based protocols such as HTTP and its XML, which are already supported by all operating systems, allowing developers to easily manipulate web services and receive responses without regard for language or platform.
What are the distinctions between SOAP and REST?
The term web API refers to both sides of computer systems communicating over a network: the API services provided by a server and the API provided by the client, such as a web browser.
The server-side portion of the web API, known as the Web Service, is a programmatic interface to a defined request-response message system. There are several web service design models, but the two most popular are SOAP and REST.
When compared to REST, SOAP has the following advantages:
- Independent of language, platform, and mode of transportation (REST requires use of HTTP)
- It is effective in distributed enterprise environments (REST assumes direct point-to-point communication)
- Standardized
- The WS* standards provide significant pre-build extensibility.
- Error handling is built in.
- When used with specific language products, automation
REST is more flexible and easier to use in general. When compared to SOAP, it has the following advantages:
- Uses simple standards such as swagger and OpenAPI Specification 3.0.
- Reduced learning curve
- Effective (SOAP uses XML for all messages, REST mostly uses smaller message formats like JSON)
- Rapid (no extensive processing required)
- In terms of design philosophy, it is more similar to other Web technologies.
According to one REST API tutorial, SOAP is like an envelope and REST is like a postcard.
A postcard is certainly faster and less expensive to send than an envelope, but it could still be wrapped within something else, even an envelope.
A postcard is also easy to read, whereas an envelope requires a few extra steps.
SOAP Data Format
Unlike REST APIs, which support both JSON and XML for requests and responses, SOAP only supports XML for both requests and responses.
SOAP messages, too, have a standardized structure. Why are SOAP API requests and responses regarded as large? Because they are disguised as enveloped messages. Each message is composed of four elements, each of which serves a distinct purpose:
- Envelope: The central component of all messages. It tags start and end messages, effectively enveloping them.
- Header: The header is an excellent element. It specifies additional requirements such as authentication.
- Body: Contains the information required to process the request or provide the appropriate response to the user.
- Fault: Another optional component. Displays information about errors that may occur during API requests and responses.
What Are WS Standard Protocols?
SOAP can be supplemented with WS standard protocols. SOAP provides basic structural elements for messages on its own. However, it does not control what goes into the bodies and headers. The main protocol is supplemented by standard protocols. They specify how you do specific things. The prefix WS- is used to identify these protocols, and WS-Security is one example.
What are WSDL Documents?
The use of WSDL documents is another important SOAP API feature. WSDL documents are XML descriptions of web services used by SOAP APIs and are an abbreviation for web-service-communication guidelines. They define endpoints and describe all processes that exposed applications can perform. This includes data types used in SOAP messages as well as any action available through the web service. WSDL file services function assigned agreements between servers and clients.
SOAP Security And Vulnerabilities
SOAP security strategies and practices include measures to prevent unauthorized access to SOAP messages and user information, tampering with SOAP APIs and disruption of normal operations. Web Standard Security (WS Security) is a critical component of SOAP security.
WS-Security is a set of principles/guidelines for standardizing SOAP messages through the use of authentication and confidentiality processes. Digital signatures, XML encryption, and X.509 certificates are examples of WSS-compliant security methods. When unauthorized users access data, XML encryption prevents them from reading it.
While WS-Security adds enhanced security controls to many SOAP APIs, organizations must still configure these controls correctly and ensure they cannot be circumvented. Input validation and sanitization, access control, and configuring authentication for all API endpoints, as well as SAML-based single sign-on (SSO) systems, are all critical SOAP security practices.
SOAP API Vulnerabilities
The following are the most common SOAP API vulnerabilities:
- Injections
- SQL Injection
- XML Injection
- XAML Injection
- Command Injection
- SOAP Action Spoofing
- SAML Vulnerabilities
- Replay Attacks
- Cross-Site Scripting
- Broken Access and Authorization
- Denial of Service (DoS)
SOAP SQL Injection
SQL injection is a web security flaw that allows an attacker to tamper with database queries generated by an application, injecting malicious code into them. This involves injecting malicious SQL queries into SOAP API calls that use SQL syntax as part of their inputs. Attackers can change the content or behavior of an application and, in some cases, compromise the entire server if your API is vulnerable to SQL injection. ZOFixer.com security scan helps to find this vulnerability in your SOAP, you can easily use it by registering on our website and activating the 30-day trial.
SOAP XML Injection (XXE)
XML external entity injection (XXE) is a web security flaw that allows an attacker to interfere with an application’s XML data processing. It frequently enables an attacker to view files on the application server’s filesystem and interact with any backend or external systems that the application can access.
In some cases, an attacker can use the XXE vulnerability to perform server-side request forgery (SSRF) attacks to compromise the underlying server or other backend infrastructure. ZOFixer.com security scan helps to find this vulnerability in your SOAP, you can easily use it by registering on our website and activating the 30-day trial.
SOAP Command Injection
A command injection attack is one that uses a vulnerable application to execute arbitrary commands on the host operating system. Any SOAP API that accepts user input and performs operating system commands, such as creating directories or accessing files in the file system, is vulnerable to command injection.
When an application sends insecure user-supplied data (forms, cookies, HTTP headers, etc.) to the SOAP API, which then sends the data to the system shell, a command injection attack can occur. In this type of attack, the attacker’s commands are typically executed with the server-side of the SOAP API’s privileges. ZOFixer.com security scan helps to find this vulnerability in your SOAP, you can easily use it by registering on our website and activating the 30-day trial.
SOAP XAML Injections
When untrusted input is used, XAML Injection attacks are possible. XAML is a markup language that is used to represent object execution and instantiation directly. What exactly does that entail? Any element created in XAML can interact with system resources. What happens if a hacker gains access to the XamlReader method call input? They have the ability to run malicious code.
Microsoft enforces a rule in their IDEs to prevent XAML injection, but this rule is not foolproof and can be disabled. ZOFixer.com security scan helps to find this vulnerability in your SOAP, you can easily use it by registering on our website and activating the 30-day trial.
SOAP Action Spoofing
Each web service request includes some sort of operation, which is then carried out by the application logic. This operation can be found in the SOAP Body’s first child element. If HTTP is used to transport the SOAP message, the SOAP standard allows for the use of an additional HTTP header element known as SOAPAction[1]. This header element contains the name of the operation that was performed. It is intended to notify the receiving web service of the operation contained in the SOAP Body without requiring any XML parsing.
An attacker can use this “optimization” to launch an attack because certain web service frameworks determine the operation to be executed solely based on the information contained in the SOAPAction attribute. ZOFixer.com security scan helps to find this vulnerability in your SOAP, you can easily use it by registering on our website and activating the 30-day trial.
SAML Vulnerabilities
SAML is an open standard that allows identity providers (IdPs) to pass authorization credentials to service providers (SP). That jargon means that you can use a single set of credentials to log into multiple websites. It is much easier to manage one login per user than it is to manage separate logins to email, CRM software, Active Directory, and so on.
For standardized communications between the identity provider and service providers, SAML transactions employ Extensible Markup Language (XML). SAML is the link between a user’s identity authentication and service authorization.
SAML provides a secure method for passing user authentications and authorizations between identity providers and service providers. When a user logs into a SAML-enabled application, the service provider asks the appropriate identity provider for authorization. The identity provider authenticates the user’s credentials and then returns the user’s authorization to the service provider, allowing the user to use the application.
The process of verifying the user’s identity and credentials is known as SAML authentication (password, two-factor authentication, etc.). SAML authorization instructs the service provider on what level of access to grant to the authenticated user.
What makes SAML vulnerable? Hackers discovered a way to change the SAML body content without invalidating the cryptographic signature. That’s how you get around the main authentication for any affected SAML service provider. A hacker who gains access to or compromises another account can then add comments to any attribute, for example, obtaining an administrator account. ZOFixer.com security scan helps to find this vulnerability in your SOAP, you can easily use it by registering on our website and activating the 30-day trial.
SOAP Replay Attacks
A replay attack occurs when a cybercriminal listens in on secure network communication, intercepts it, and then fraudulently delays or resends it in order to misdirect the receiver. The added risk of replay attacks is that a hacker does not even need advanced skills to decrypt a message once it has been captured from the network. Simply resending the entire thing could be enough to make the attack successful.
Consider the following real-world attack scenario. A company employee requests a financial transfer by sending an encrypted message to the company’s financial administrator. An attacker intercepts this message, captures it, and now has the ability to resend it. The message is already correctly encrypted and appears legitimate to the financial administrator because it is an authentic message that has simply been resent.
In this case, unless the financial administrator has reason to be suspicious, the financial administrator is likely to respond to the new request. A large sum of money could be sent to the attacker’s bank account as a response.
This attack becomes even more dangerous when combined with malicious code injection in the input parameter. This provides sensitive data to the hacker in the response. ZOFixer.com security scan helps to find this vulnerability in your SOAP, you can easily use it by registering on our website and activating the 30-day trial.
SOAP Cross-Site Scripting
A Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability occurs when a web application transmits stored strings provided by an attacker to a victim’s browser in such a way that the browser executes part of the text as code. The string contains harmful data and is initially saved on the server, most commonly in the application’s database. The application eventually retrieves and inserts the malicious material into a web page. As a result, the attacker’s code is executed by the victim’s browser during a valid user session.
Cross-site scripting flaws typically allow an attacker to impersonate a victim user, perform any actions the user is capable of, and access user data. A successful XSS attack on a SOAP API would allow the attacker to perform user actions that result in API calls that are processed with the same privileges as the legitimate user. ZOFixer.com security scan helps to find this vulnerability in your SOAP, you can easily use it by registering on our website and activating the 30-day trial.
SOAP Broken Access and Authorization
Access control policies are enforced to prevent users from exceeding their expected privileges. Common access control flaws in SOAP APIs include:
- Ability to bypass access control checks by modifying URLs, internal application state, or HTML pages.
- Change the primary key of another user’s record, allowing an attacker to view or edit another user’s account.
- Possibility of escalating privileges, such as logging in as a regular user and receiving administrative privileges.
- Manipulation or tampering with JSON Web Token (JWT) metadata, cookies, or hidden fields affecting user authorization.
- Incorrect configuration of Cross Origin Resource Sharing (CORS), allowing unauthorized API access.
- Unauthenticated users can access authenticated content or operations, while standard users can force the retrieval of privileged content or administrative operations.
- Access to APIs without sufficient control over POST, PUT, and DELETE operations
ZOFixer.com security scan helps to find this vulnerability in your SOAP, you can easily use it by registering on our website and activating the 30-day trial.
SOAP Denial of Service (DoS)
DoS attacks on APIs flood the API endpoint with traffic, disrupting service and denying access to legitimate users. DoS attacks can significantly degrade the quality of service experienced by legitimate API users, resulting in significant response delays and, eventually, downtime.
DoS attacks are not limited to causing service disruption. During a DoS attack, an attacker could inject and execute arbitrary code into an API to gain access to sensitive information or execute commands on the server. ZOFixer.com security scan helps to find this vulnerability in your SOAP, you can easily use it by registering on our website and activating the 30-day trial.