Performing GRAPHQL Security Assessment

Performing Graphql Security Assessment

Overview

Cybersecurity skill for performing graphql security assessment. Follows industry best practices and security standards.

When to Use

Trigger phrases:

• "performing graphql security assessment"

• "Assessing GraphQL API endpoints for introspection leaks, injection attacks, auth"

• During authorized penetration tests when the target application uses a GraphQL API

• When assessing single-page applications (React, Vue, Angular) that communicate via GraphQL

• For evaluating mobile app backends that expose GraphQL endpoints

• When testing microservice architectures with a GraphQL gateway or federation

• During bug bounty programs targeting GraphQL-based APIs

When NOT to Use

• When you lack proper authorization for testing
• For production systems without change management
• When the task requires legal or compliance expertise beyond technical scope

Prerequisites

• Authorization: Written penetration testing agreement for the target
• Burp Suite Professional: With InQL extension for GraphQL scanning
• GraphQL Voyager: Schema visualization tool
• InQL Scanner: Burp extension for GraphQL introspection and query generation
• Altair GraphQL Client: Desktop GraphQL client for interactive testing
• clairvoyance: GraphQL schema enumeration when introspection is disabled
• curl: For manual GraphQL query submission

Workflow

# Example: IOC detection
import re

IOC_PATTERNS = {
    "ip": r"\b(?:\d{1,3}\.){3}\d{1,3}\b",
    "domain": r"\b[a-z0-9-]+\.[a-z]{2,}\b",
    "hash_md5": r"\b[a-f0-9]{32}\b",
    "hash_sha256": r"\b[a-f0-9]{64}\b",
}

def extract_iocs(text: str) -> dict:
    return {k: re.findall(v, text) for k, v in IOC_PATTERNS.items()}

1. Plan Operations — Define objectives, scope, and success criteria for graphql security assessment operations.
2. Prepare Environment — Set up tools, access, and data sources required for graphql security assessment.
3. Execute Core Workflow — Perform the graphql security assessment operations following established procedures.
4. Validate Results — Verify that results meet quality standards and objectives.
5. Report Findings — Document results, observations, and recommendations.
6. Follow Up — Track remediation actions and verify fixes where applicable.

Tools

• Analysis Platform — Data processing and visualization
• Collaboration Tools — Team coordination and knowledge sharing

Process

1. Reconnaissance — Gather target information, identify attack surface, enumerate services
2. Analysis/Exploitation — Execute the technique, analyze results, document findings
3. Reporting — Document IOCs, write findings, provide remediation recommendations

Verification

• All graphql security assessment procedures executed completely and documented
• Findings validated against multiple data sources
• False positives identified and filtered
• Results documented with evidence and timestamps
• Recommendations provided with risk-based prioritization

Anti-Rationalization Table