See also: Misconfigured Protocol Buffers, Misconfigured gRPC
TLDR: Misconfigured GraphQL, introduced in 2015 by Facebook, can lead to security vulnerabilities such as unauthorized access, data leakage, and denial of service attacks. These vulnerabilities arise from weak schema design, improper input validation, and lack of query complexity controls, violating several OWASP Top Ten principles like Access Controls, Input Validation, and secure Error Handling.
Improper input validation in GraphQL queries allows attackers to inject malicious payloads or bypass application logic. For example, unchecked variables in queries can result in SQL injection or other exploitation. Adhering to OWASP Top Ten's Input Validation practices ensures that all input data is sanitized and verified.
https://owasp.org/www-community/Input_Validation
Exposing overly permissive or unrestricted schemas can result in data leakage. Poor schema design may allow clients to access fields or types that reveal sensitive information. Enforcing strict Access Controls through role-based permissions complies with OWASP Top Ten recommendations.
https://owasp.org/www-community/Access_Control
Failing to implement query depth or complexity limits can make GraphQL APIs vulnerable to denial of service attacks. Attackers can craft deeply nested queries or resource-intensive operations to overwhelm the server. Rate limiting and query complexity analysis align with OWASP Top Ten's guidance on resource management.
https://owasp.org/www-community/Denial_of_Service
Improper Error Handling in GraphQL responses may reveal sensitive information, such as server configurations or database paths, to attackers. Customizing error messages to hide internal details while logging the specifics securely is critical for compliance with OWASP Top Ten practices.
https://owasp.org/www-community/Error_Handling
Logging raw GraphQL queries without sanitization or encryption increases the risk of exposing sensitive data. Secure Logging practices, including redacting sensitive fields and encrypting logs, ensure adherence to the OWASP Top Ten's logging and monitoring standards.
https://owasp.org/www-community/Logging_and_Monitoring_Cheat_Sheet
Neglecting to secure GraphQL endpoints with proper authentication can lead to unauthorized access. Using robust authentication methods, such as OAuth or JWT, ensures that only authorized users can query the API, aligning with OWASP Top Ten's Access Controls.
https://owasp.org/www-community/Authentication
Exposing introspection queries in production environments allows attackers to map the GraphQL schema and identify potential attack vectors. Disabling introspection or limiting it to trusted users helps prevent this, complying with OWASP Top Ten's secure configuration guidelines.
https://graphql.org/learn/introspection/
Relying on default Framework Defaults or ignoring security patches for GraphQL libraries can leave applications vulnerable to known exploits. Regularly updating dependencies and customizing configurations ensures compliance with OWASP Top Ten's recommendations for secure frameworks.
https://owasp.org/www-community/Framework_Security_Project
Failing to restrict CORS policies in GraphQL APIs can allow unauthorized origins to access sensitive data. Implementing strict Policy Enforcement with whitelisted origins prevents cross-domain permissions vulnerabilities, as per OWASP Top Ten guidelines.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/CORS
Finally, lacking dependency checking for GraphQL libraries and tools can expose applications to vulnerabilities in outdated versions. Using alerts for vulnerable components and automated dependency checks ensures secure GraphQL implementations, adhering to OWASP Top Ten best practices.