THREAT MODELING IN GRAPHQL APIS: A MODERN APPROACH TO MINIMIZING ATTACK SURFACE

In this article, we will take a closer look at why the GraphQL API requires a different approach to threat modeling
compared to traditional REST APIs. Unlike RESTAPIs with multiple fixed endpoints, GraphQL uses a single endpoint
that allows clients to accurately request the data they need. While this makes development more flexible and efficient,
it also opens the door to a set of security challenges that are difficult to capture in general. To explore these challenges,
we investigated 30 real-world GraphQL APIs and documented the most frequent and harmful vulnerabilities we
discovered.
Some common GraphQL issues, like exposing private data or allowing very complex queries are often missed by
traditional security models because they are not designed to handle these types of risks. So, we developed a modified
version of the STRIDE model specializing in GraphQL. We tested this updated model with all 30 APIs and found it
to help reduce the number of published security risks by less than half.
Our goal in this research is to provide developers, security teams and companies using GraphQL with a clear and
simple framework that can be followed to improve API security. Focus on practical steps backed by real data to show
how a more compatible threat model can lead to better results. This article is especially useful for teams that use
GraphQL for the first time, and teams that don't know how to manage security in production.