API abuse, like most forms of hacking, involves making APIs do things they were not intended to do. When a developer creates an API, it will have a legitimate purpose, such as enabling API clients with proper permission to invoke the API to receive the data it represents. Pretty much any other use of that API could be considered abuse.

API abuse takes many forms, but it mostly involves either disrupting the API, gaining improper access to it, or changing the API or its clients for malicious purposes. Some API abuse exploits API security vulnerabilities, such as those caused by misconfiguration or poor version control. It is also possible, however, to abuse an API through otherwise legitimate means.

Learn more about API abuse by visiting our Noname Security Academy: https://nonamesecurity.com/learn/what-is-api-abuse/