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Application & OT Security · Intermediate

Shadow API

An API endpoint that is undocumented or unknown to the security team and therefore unmanaged.

Definition

Shadow APIs arise from fast development, forgotten test endpoints or third-party integrations. They often lack authentication, monitoring and patching. API discovery via gateway logs, traffic analysis and code scanning helps find them.

Example

Traffic analysis reveals /internal/export receiving internet requests though it is not in the API catalog.

Exam tip

Shadow = unknown; zombie = known but deprecated and still running.

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