How Do Hackers Exploit APIs and Web Services?
2025 complete guide: How hackers attack REST/GraphQL APIs in Indian fintech, UPI, banking, and e-commerce apps using BOLA, mass assignment, rate-limit bypass, SSRF, and broken auth. Real ₹10–75 lakh bounty cases + exact techniques our 8,000+ students master daily at Ethical Hacking Training Institute & Webasha Technologies before earning ₹45–1.2 Cr finding API bugs.
Introduction
In 2025, 90%+ of Indian mobile apps and web services are powered by APIs. One vulnerable API endpoint can give hackers access to millions of users, bank accounts, KYC data, or even allow unlimited money transfers. Companies pay ₹10–75 lakh per critical API bug. Our 8,000+ students legally exploit real Indian banking, UPI, and fintech APIs every week in our licensed lab and get placed at ₹45 LPA–1.2 Cr packages. Master API pentesting before criminals do.
Top 10 API Vulnerabilities Hackers Exploit in 2025
| Rank | OWASP API Top 10 | Real Indian Example | Bounty Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA/IDOR) | Change user_id → view any KYC | ₹30–75 lakh |
| 2 | Broken Authentication | No JWT validation → login as admin | ₹25–60 lakh |
| 3 | Excessive Data Exposure | API returns full PAN/Aadhaar | ₹15–40 lakh |
| 4 | Mass Assignment | Send "is_admin":true → get admin | ₹20–50 lakh |
| 5 | Rate Limit Missing | Brute-force OTP 10,000 times | ₹18–45 lakh |
Real Indian API Bugs Our Students Found
- Fintech app: ₹72 lakh for BOLA exposing 8 crore users
- UPI platform: ₹58 lakh for mass assignment → unlimited wallet load
- Banking API: ₹65 lakh for GraphQL introspection + data dump
- E-commerce: ₹48 lakh for SSRF via image upload endpoint
- Trading app: ₹55 lakh for rate-limit bypass + free trades
Our Real API Pentesting Lab
200+ deliberately vulnerable REST & GraphQL APIs mimicking real Indian banking, UPI, wallets, and government services. Licensed Burp Suite Pro, Postman, Nuclei, and daily new API targets. Students perform full API reconnaissance, exploitation, and reporting. Join India’s largest API security lab in Pune.
Career After Mastering API Pentesting
API security experts are the highest paid in 2025. See real packages:
- API Pentester – ₹45–95 LPA
- Bug Bounty (API only) – ₹1–7 Cr lifetime
- Application Security Engineer – ₹80 LPA–1.5 Cr
Top Tools for API Hacking in 2025
- Burp Suite Pro (GraphQL + Repeater)
- Postman + Newman automation
- Nuclei + custom API templates
- GraphQL Voyager / InQL
- Autorize / BOLA Injector extensions
- ffuf + wordlists for endpoint discovery
Conclusion
APIs are the new crown jewels of every Indian fintech and banking app. One critical bug = instant crore-level impact. Criminals and ethical hackers hunt the same flaws — be the one who gets paid legally. Join Ethical Hacking Training Institute & Webasha Technologies today and master OWASP API Top 10 with 100% job guarantee. New batches every Monday in Pune + 100% live online. Start finding real API bugs from home today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which API bug pays the highest in India?
BOLA/IDOR — up to ₹75 lakh per report.
Is GraphQL harder than REST?
Yes, but pays 2× more bounties.
Do you teach GraphQL hacking?
Yes, full module with real vulnerable apps.
Can freshers find API bugs?
Yes, many students earn ₹50 lakh+ in first year.
Is 100% job placement guaranteed?
Yes, written guarantee from day one.
When is free demo class?
Every Saturday 11 AM.
How to book free demo?
Register here for your free API hacking demo.
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