Akto as a API fuzzer

What middleBrick covers

Black-box scanning without agents or SDK integration
Risk score grading from A to F with prioritized findings
Detection of OWASP API Top 10 categories and authentication bypasses
OpenAPI 3.x and Swagger 2.0 parsing with $ref resolution
Authenticated scanning with header allowlist controls
Continuous monitoring and diff tracking across scans

What an API fuzzer does and does not cover

An API fuzzer sends a high volume of malformed, unexpected, or boundary-case inputs to an endpoint to surface crashes, exceptions, and inconsistent behavior. Akto operates as a non-intrusive scanner focused on detection rather than exploitation, using read-only methods and avoiding destructive payloads. It does not perform active SQL injection or command injection testing, which require intrusive payloads outside its scope, and it does not detect business logic vulnerabilities that depend on a human understanding of your domain.

Mapping to compliance frameworks

Findings align with multiple industry baselines. The scanner maps findings to PCI-DSS 4.0, SOC 2 Type II, and OWASP API Top 10 (2023). For other frameworks, results help you prepare for audits and support evidence collection, but middleBrick is a scanning tool and not an auditor, so it does not certify compliance.

OpenAPI analysis and coverage scope

OpenAPI 3.0, 3.1, and Swagger 2.0 files are parsed with recursive $ref resolution, and spec definitions are cross-referenced against runtime responses to identify undefined security schemes, sensitive fields, deprecated operations, and missing pagination. The coverage is limited to what the specification describes and what the endpoint returns; it cannot infer undocumented internal contracts or compensate for incomplete schemas.

Authenticated scanning and data safety

Authenticated scans support Bearer tokens, API keys, Basic auth, and cookies, gated by domain verification so only the domain owner can scan with credentials. Header forwarding is limited to Authorization, X-API-Key, Cookie, and X-Custom-* headers. Scan data can be deleted on demand and is purged within 30 days of cancellation; customer data is never sold or used for model training.

Limitations and risk context

The tool does not replace a human pentester for high-stakes audits, does not detect blind SSRF lacking out-of-band infrastructure, and does not test for business logic issues that require domain knowledge. Because it avoids intrusive methods, some server-side vulnerabilities may remain undetected compared to aggressive fuzzing approaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can authenticated scans be run against production APIs?

Yes, authenticated scans are supported with domain verification, but they should be scheduled during low-traffic windows and coordinated with operations to avoid rate-related disruptions.

Does the scanner test for SQL injection or command injection?

No. Those techniques require intrusive payloads that fall outside the scope of non-intrusive scanning and are not performed by the tool.

How are compliance mappings handled for frameworks like HIPAA or GDPR?

Mappings use alignment language only; the scanner surfaces findings relevant to audit evidence but does not claim certified or guaranteed compliance with specific regulations.

What happens to scan data after account cancellation?

Customer data is deletable on demand and fully purged within 30 days of cancellation. It is never sold or used for training models.

Can the scanner validate custom security rules?

Custom rules are not part of the baseline offering. The scanner reports findings aligned to standard frameworks and does not enforce organization-specific policies.