API attacks in Retail environments

En el sector retail, donde cada vez más la experiencia del cliente se basa en la integración de sistemas, aplicaciones móviles y plataformas omnicanal, las Interfaces de Programación de Aplicaciones (APIs) se han convertido en un elemento esencial. Sin embargo, esta dependencia tecnológica ha abierto la puerta a un problema de ciberseguridad: los ataques a APIs.

In the retail sector, where the customer experience increasingly relies on the integration of systems, mobile applications, and omnichannel platforms, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) have become an essential component. However, this technological dependence has opened the door to a cybersecurity issue: API attacks.

What is an API and why is it essential in the retail sector?

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) allow different applications and systems to communicate with each other. In the retail context, this translates into functionalities such as:

• Integration with payment gateways

• Synchronization of inventory between physical stores and ecommerce platforms

• Communication with logistics providers

• Real-time queries for products, promotions, and pricing

• Personalization of the user experience across apps and web platforms

With the rise of omnichannel commerce, APIs have become ubiquitous. Modern retail organizations consume and expose dozens, if not hundreds, of internal and third-party APIs. Each of these interfaces represents a potential entry point for attackers.

Retail API cyberattacks: what you need to know

Unlike traditional attacks such as phishing or malware, API attacks often go undetected by conventional defense systems. Several factors make them particularly dangerous:

• Low visibility: Many organizations lack specialized tools to monitor API traffic.

• Common misconfigurations: Weak authentication, missing rate limiting, and unnecessary exposure of endpoints are frequent issues.

• Easy automation: Attackers can use scripts to test millions of combinations within minutes.

• Direct exposure to sensitive data: Including customer information, credit card details, purchase history, and more.

Most common API Attacks in retail

Real-World Examples of API Attacks Impacting the Retail Sector

• Shopify (2020): A malicious employee from a third-party vendor accessed order data from external stores by misusing internal APIs.
  
  
• T-Mobile (2023): A poorly secured API allowed attackers to steal personal information from millions of customers, including phone numbers and addresses.
  
  
• Sneaker bots and product reselling: Exposed APIs at limited-edition sneaker stores were exploited to automate bulk purchases, undermining fairness and damaging the customer experience.

Consequences of API Attacks for the retail sector

For CEOs, security is not just a technical issue, it's a strategic one. API attacks can lead to serious consequences for any business, including loss of customer trust, regulatory fines and penalties, and operational disruptions.

Consumers entrust their data to companies with the expectation that it will be securely protected. A data breach can destroy that trust and, in turn, severely damage the company’s brand reputation. It can also result in violations of data protection laws, which are mandatory for any business that collects personal information. On top of that, if business operations are interrupted, it can lead to failed transactions and an inability to serve customers.

Cyberattacks are a daily reality. The mindset of “we’re too small to be a target” is no longer valid under any circumstances. No company is exempt from being attacked, regardless of its size. These attacks are constant and strike all types of businesses like uncontrolled missiles.

Protecting your APIs is essential to ensuring business continuity. Without security, there is no business.

Security measures to protect APIs in the retail sector

Below are best practices for mitigating risks associated with APIs in the retail environment:

Implement a Zero Trust Security Architecture

The  Zero Trust model enables granular controls that minimize the risk of lateral movement within the network after an initial breach. Never assume trust in any part of the system. Every API request must be authenticated, authorized, and audited.

API Security Lifecycle

• Inventory: Identify all APIs you use or expose.

• Classification: Evaluate the risk level associated with each one.

• Continuous Monitoring: Use API gateway tools with deep inspection capabilities.

Use specialized API security tools

Incorporate solutions such as WAFs with API protection capabilities, API Security Gateways, or API Threat Detection & Response platforms.

Ongoing security testing (API Penetration Testing)

Conduct regular tests to identify vulnerabilities in your APIs. These should include fuzzing, input/output validation, and realistic attack simulations.

Discover ESED Attack, our ethical hacking solution designed to assess the security level of any IT system or infrastructure.

Limit access and apply strong authentication

• Use OAuth 2.0, JWT, and granular scopes.

• Implement rate limiting and throttling policies.

• Never expose internal APIs directly to the public without a secure intermediary layer.

Within a company’s cybersecurity strategy, the IT team plays a key role in ensuring that systems are protected. That’s why, beyond implementing cybersecurity solutions, they are also responsible for working closely with developers from the early stages of API design, educating the business and teams about the risks of excessive data exposure, and integrating automated audits into CI/CD pipelines.

For CEOs and IT leaders, API protection must be a strategic priority. Investing in visibility, control, and continuous monitoring of these assets not only helps prevent attacks but also ensures operational continuity, regulatory compliance, and customer trust.