Identifying sensitive data exposure

Identifying sensitive data exposure in APIs is a critical step in securing them. Regardless of their size, data breaches can cause severe and often irreparable damage to companies’ reputations. Hence, fully comprehending potential vulnerabilities on the API endpoints you own is paramount. The first step is defining what constitutes sensitive data. This goes beyond just Personally Identifiable Information (PII) such as names and addresses. Here’s a breakdown of different types of sensitive data and how APIs might expose them:

• PII: This corresponds to all kinds of data or information that can be used to identify a person or individual. This includes government ID numbers (such as social security numbers in the USA or Europe, or CPF in Brazil), passport information (such as passport numbers, as well as issue and expiry dates), and even health data. APIs that return user profiles without proper access control might expose PII.
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