Static tools can’t replicate how a live API behaves under attack, leaving blind spots in security. Invicti’s DAST for APIs provides proof-based, runtime testing across REST, SOAP, and GraphQL to uncover real vulnerabilities, reduce false positives, and secure even undocumented endpoints.
APIs are the connective tissue of modern software, powering everything from mobile apps to enterprise integrations. Yet, while API adoption is exploding, API security testing hasn’t always kept pace. Many endpoints remain untested or undersecured, creating blind spots that attackers can exploit.
Traditional SAST and SCA tools focus on code and dependencies, but they can’t replicate how a live API behaves under real-world conditions. That’s where dynamic application security testing (DAST) steps in, effectively taking a (safely simulated) attacker’s perspective to find runtime vulnerabilities in APIs that static tools may miss.
With Invicti’s DAST and API security combo, DAST goes from being one of many scans to a continuous safety net that adapts to the complexity and scale of your API ecosystem.
Invicti DAST doesn’t just read API specifications (though it does that as well) but also actively interacts with your running APIs in the same way an attacker would. By sending crafted requests and analyzing responses both in real time and out-of-band, it detects vulnerabilities that only appear or are exploitable when the API is in operation.
This live interaction makes it possible to uncover threats such as:
Because testing occurs in a fully operational environment, the vulnerabilities identified are not hypothetical but could be directly exploitable by attackers if left unpatched. That’s the level of actionable intelligence that shifts security from reactive to preventive.
Invicti is designed to speak the language of modern APIs and legacy systems alike, supporting multiple protocols and data formats with precision:
This protocol awareness allows Invicti to not only test the endpoints you know about but also surface hidden, undocumented APIs (often called shadow APIs) that may be exposing sensitive data without proper protection. By covering both documented and unknown assets, you dramatically reduce blind spots in your API security posture.
Confirmed vulnerabilities detected by Invicti are backed by safe, automated proof-of-exploit for a controlled demonstration showing exactly how the flaw could be abused. This approach delivers three major benefits:
The result is a streamlined workflow where security findings are actionable on day one, enabling faster patch cycles and stronger collaboration between security and development.
Taking a DAST-first approach means prioritizing validated, runtime intelligence over theoretical risk lists. While SAST and static SCA are valuable for spotting insecure code patterns or outdated libraries, they can’t confirm whether such potential issues are accessible and exploitable in a live API environment. In addition to finding runtime-specific vulnerabilities, DAST bridges the static analysis gap by testing APIs in real time, replicating attacker behavior, and showing exactly how risks manifest themselves (or don’t) under actual operating conditions.
With Invicti’s API DAST, organizations gain the confidence that:
The result is a leaner, more effective application and API security program where development, security, and operations teams are all working from the same set of proven, prioritized vulnerabilities that matter most to the business.
APIs are powerful, but with power comes risk. By integrating DAST for API security testing into your DevSecOps workflows, you can uncover real runtime vulnerabilities, validate them with proof, and fix them before they become breach headlines.
Next step: Discover how Invicti secures your APIs with proof-based, CI/CD-ready DAST.