Data security remains one of the most pressing concerns for modern enterprises, and an exposed API can lead to catastrophic consequences. Recently, CloudSEK’s BeVigil discovered that API endpoints belonging to a major technology service provider were left unprotected, exposing sensitive data of over 33,000 employees. This blog explores how misconfigured APIs can lead to unauthorized access and the potential impact on businesses.

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A Door Left Wide Open

BeVigil’s Webapp scanner detected unauthenticated API endpoints associated with service provider’s internal web application. These endpoints allowed unrestricted access to:

• Employee Personal Information (PII) – Names, email addresses, business unit details.
• Asset Details – Hardware configurations and provisioned devices.
• Project Information – Internal workgroup assignments and project structures.

With these endpoints publicly accessible, any attacker could simply send an HTTP request and extract confidential data without any authentication barriers.

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A Chain Reaction of Security Risks

1. Unauthorized Data Access

The exposed APIs provided unrestricted access to over 33,000 records, allowing attackers to Download and analyze organizational data, Track employees across different business units, Identify key personnel and their responsibilities.

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2. Increased Attack Surface for Cybercriminals

Since the exposed API data was updated in real-time, any attacker could continuously monitor employee activities, infrastructure changes, and software deployments, leading to further security breaches.

3. Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks

With access to employee details, attackers could impersonate internal IT teams to Extract additional credentials through targeted phishing emails, Deploy malware under the guise of legitimate corporate communications, Gain further access to organization’s internal network.

Immediate Actions Taken

To mitigate the damage, the organization must:

1. Restrict API Access – Implement authentication and authorization for all API endpoints.
2. Encrypt Sensitive Data – Ensure that personally identifiable information is encrypted before transmission.
3. Monitor API Traffic – Deploy monitoring tools to detect unauthorized access in real time.
4. Rotate Exposed Credentials – Change all compromised API keys and user credentials immediately.

Final Thoughts

This incident underscores the critical importance of API security in today’s digital ecosystem. Exposed endpoints, if left unchecked, can open the floodgates to data breaches, regulatory fines, and loss of customer trust. Organizations must adopt a proactive stance in securing their attack surface to prevent such vulnerabilities.

With BeVigil, companies can detect and fix misconfigurations before they escalate into full-scale data breaches. Protect your APIs today—because data security is non-negotiable.