Why securing GraphQL APIs is critical

GraphQL has redefined how applications handle data requests, giving clients unprecedented flexibility to pull exactly the information they need in a single call. While this is a major advantage for performance and developer experience, it also introduces a new and often underestimated security challenge: the same flexibility that makes GraphQL powerful can also make it dangerously permissive if left unchecked.

Some of the most common risks include:

• Overly permissive queries that allow access to sensitive or excessive data
• Broken access control that lets users perform actions they shouldn’t
• Deeply nested queries that can expose entire datasets in one request
• Unrestricted introspection that can give attackers the roadmap to your schema

Because GraphQL is relatively new compared to REST and also architecturally different, many security teams still lack purpose-built testing tools for it. Traditional REST-focused scanners can miss entire classes of vulnerabilities simply because they don’t understand GraphQL’s structure.

To address these risks effectively, you first need to understand what makes GraphQL fundamentally different from REST – and why that matters for security testing.

What makes GraphQL so different from REST in AppSec

When you apply a REST-based API security mindset to GraphQL, you quickly run into gaps. GraphQL condenses what REST spreads across multiple endpoints into a single, highly versatile access point. This difference changes the entire testing strategy.

Key factors that set GraphQL apart:

• Single endpoint, many functions: Every query and mutation flows through one URL, so URL-based scanning provides little coverage.
• Client-defined queries: Attackers can bypass intended logic by crafting custom queries if validation is weak.
• Nested and deep data access: A single query can reach far beyond its intended limits.
• Introspection exposure: Attackers can discover your entire schema if introspection is enabled in production.

These traits mean security teams can’t just “point and scan” with API tools that assume REST by default. They need scanners that can parse schemas, handle dynamic queries, and map the full attack surface.

That’s where Invicti’s GraphQL-specific DAST capabilities stand out, designed to understand the protocol’s unique architecture and test it as an attacker would.

How Invicti DAST secures GraphQL APIs

Invicti approaches GraphQL security from a runtime perspective, adopting the simulated view of an attacker to map out entry points, probe for weaknesses, and validate vulnerabilities with the precision needed to avoid both blind spots and false positives.

LEARN MORE: GraphQL Scanner

GraphQL introspection and query parsing

Invicti uses user-provided specs plus GraphQL introspection (when enabled for testing) to securely map out the API schema, identifying:

• Every query, mutation, and field
• Deprecated or hidden operations that may still be exploitable
• Potentially sensitive fields buried in nested structures

This deep mapping ensures that even undocumented or overlooked areas of your API get tested. Once the schema is mapped, Invicti shifts from understanding your API to actively challenging it in a controlled, realistic way.

Runtime vulnerability scanning

By interacting with running GraphQL APIs, Invicti can probe for security issues that include:

• Insecure direct object references (IDOR)
• Injection flaws (SQL, NoSQL)
• Access control weaknesses
• Overexposure from poorly restricted queries

Because this testing happens in a live environment (ideally in production-identical staging), any findings reflect actual reachability, not just code-level assumptions.

But detection is only the beginning. For many common vulnerability classes, GraphQL DAST on the Invicti Platform can take this a step further to automatically confirm that security issues are exploitable.

Proof-based validation

For many remotely exploitable vulnerabilities, Invicti can safely extract and report a proof-of-exploit, allowing teams to:

• Trust results without additional manual verification
• Prioritize fixes based on confirmed business risk
• Avoid wasting time chasing false alarms

And because GraphQL rarely exists in isolation as the only API technology in use, Invicti integrates GraphQL scanning into broader API and web application testing.

Full API security coverage

Invicti’s platform can test GraphQL alongside REST, SOAP, and web application front-ends, providing:

• Unified reporting and severity scoring
• Consistent vulnerability tracking across protocols
• A consolidated security view for leadership and compliance teams

These capabilities aren’t theoretical – they’re built for real-world use cases where GraphQL plays a critical role.

Use cases for GraphQL DAST scanning

GraphQL is increasingly common across all industries, but especially in companies that have lots of client apps and microservices and want to ship UI changes fast. Invicti’s GraphQL scanning capabilities fit into a variety of real-world contexts:

• Modern SaaS platforms using GraphQL for responsive, client-driven data retrieval
• Mobile and SPA backends where data exposure could impact large user bases
• Partner APIs where schema leaks could lead to competitive or compliance risks
• Internal microservices relying on GraphQL for high-volume, inter-service communication

No matter the use case, the foundation of securing GraphQL APIs lies in a DAST-first approach that tests them as they run, not just as code.

The DAST-first advantage for modern APIs

A DAST-first approach means starting with runtime validation. SAST and static SCA are still an important part of the picture to identify potentially risky libraries and code patterns, but only DAST can automatically check whether specific vulnerabilities appear in the live API.

With Invicti’s GraphQL DAST:

• Security teams fix what attackers could actually exploit
• Runtime-specific flaws like parameter tampering are caught early
• Testing integrates seamlessly into CI/CD, securing APIs without slowing delivery

By prioritizing runtime testing results for remediation, organizations shrink their attack surface before an API ever goes public, reducing the likelihood of costly incidents. Ultimately, the goal is simple: keep the flexibility and power of GraphQL while removing its security blind spots.

See how Invicti’s proof-based GraphQL scanning can uncover real, exploitable risks before attackers do. Schedule a demo to experience unified API and application security in action.