GraphQL Security Testing Technical Workshop

certificate
Recording and certification are available to Multipass and Full ticket holders only
Please login if you have one.
Rate this content
Bookmark

We’ve all heard the buzz around pushing application security into the hands of developers, but if you’re like most companies, it has been hard to actually make this a reality. You aren’t alone – putting the culture, processes, and tooling in place to make this happen is tough – especially for sophisticated applications like those backed GraphQL.

In this hands-on technical session, StackHawk Senior DevOps Engineer, Zachary Conger, will walk through how to protect your GraphQL APIs from vulnerabilities using automated security testing. Get ready to roll-up your sleeves for automated AppSec testing.

This workshop has been presented at React Advanced 2021, check out the latest edition of this React Conference.

FAQ

HawkScan offers integrations with CI/CD platforms like GitHub Actions and CircleCI, communication tools like Slack and MS Teams, and issue tracking systems like JIRA. It also supports webhook integrations for custom workflows.

GraphQL is a query language and a type of API characterized by a single endpoint URL, typically '/graphql'. It is designed for developers to request exactly the data they need, making APIs more efficient and performant.

The two main types of operations performed in a GraphQL API are queries and mutations. Queries are used to fetch data and are typically considered safe operations, while mutations are used to modify data and can also fetch data.

GraphQL introspection is a powerful feature that allows clients to query a GraphQL server about the types it supports and the queries it can handle. This can be used to generate a schema or build client tools.

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) is a type of scanning technology used to identify vulnerabilities in running applications. It involves sending requests to the application and analyzing the responses to detect potential security issues.

DAST is considered effective because it tests the application in a state that closely mimics how it runs in production, potentially leading to fewer false positives and the identification of real, exploitable vulnerabilities.

GraphQL scanning often requires specialized techniques due to the nature of GraphQL APIs, such as using introspection to understand the schema. It focuses on effectively querying the schema without overwhelming the service or missing critical endpoints.

HawkScan is a security scanning tool based on the OWASP ZAP project, enhanced for better performance and integration. For GraphQL, it utilizes schema discovery via introspection to tailor the scan towards GraphQL-specific vulnerabilities.

Zachary Conger
Zachary Conger
119 min
11 Oct, 2021

Comments

Sign in or register to post your comment.
Video Summary and Transcription
GraphQL is a query language and API characterized by a single endpoint URL, typically slash GraphQL. DAST scans, such as OWASP ZAP, are considered the gold standard as they run against your application in production, resulting in fewer false positives. To get started with the Workshop, make sure you are authenticated and have cloned the repository. The Docker compose step is important to run the test app, and participants are encouraged to ask for help if they encounter any errors. The StackHawk platform offers various integrations, allows for triaging issues, and provides detailed information about vulnerabilities found in the scan.
Video transcription and chapters available for users with access.

Watch more workshops on topic

Build with SvelteKit and GraphQL
GraphQL Galaxy 2021GraphQL Galaxy 2021
140 min
Build with SvelteKit and GraphQL
Top Content
Featured WorkshopFree
Scott Spence
Scott Spence
Have you ever thought about building something that doesn't require a lot of boilerplate with a tiny bundle size? In this workshop, Scott Spence will go from hello world to covering routing and using endpoints in SvelteKit. You'll set up a backend GraphQL API then use GraphQL queries with SvelteKit to display the GraphQL API data. You'll build a fast secure project that uses SvelteKit's features, then deploy it as a fully static site. This course is for the Svelte curious who haven't had extensive experience with SvelteKit and want a deeper understanding of how to use it in practical applications.

Table of contents:
- Kick-off and Svelte introduction
- Initialise frontend project
- Tour of the SvelteKit skeleton project
- Configure backend project
- Query Data with GraphQL
- Fetching data to the frontend with GraphQL
- Styling
- Svelte directives
- Routing in SvelteKit
- Endpoints in SvelteKit
- Deploying to Netlify
- Navigation
- Mutations in GraphCMS
- Sending GraphQL Mutations via SvelteKit
- Q&A
Build Modern Applications Using GraphQL and Javascript
Node Congress 2024Node Congress 2024
152 min
Build Modern Applications Using GraphQL and Javascript
Featured Workshop
Emanuel Scirlet
Miguel Henriques
2 authors
Come and learn how you can supercharge your modern and secure applications using GraphQL and Javascript. In this workshop we will build a GraphQL API and we will demonstrate the benefits of the query language for APIs and what use cases that are fit for it. Basic Javascript knowledge required.
End-To-End Type Safety with React, GraphQL & Prisma
React Advanced 2022React Advanced 2022
95 min
End-To-End Type Safety with React, GraphQL & Prisma
Featured WorkshopFree
Sabin Adams
Sabin Adams
In this workshop, you will get a first-hand look at what end-to-end type safety is and why it is important. To accomplish this, you’ll be building a GraphQL API using modern, relevant tools which will be consumed by a React client.
Prerequisites: - Node.js installed on your machine (12.2.X / 14.X)- It is recommended (but not required) to use VS Code for the practical tasks- An IDE installed (VSCode recommended)- (Good to have)*A basic understanding of Node.js, React, and TypeScript
GraphQL for React Developers
GraphQL Galaxy 2022GraphQL Galaxy 2022
112 min
GraphQL for React Developers
Featured Workshop
Roy Derks
Roy Derks
There are many advantages to using GraphQL as a datasource for frontend development, compared to REST APIs. We developers in example need to write a lot of imperative code to retrieve data to display in our applications and handle state. With GraphQL you cannot only decrease the amount of code needed around data fetching and state-management you'll also get increased flexibility, better performance and most of all an improved developer experience. In this workshop you'll learn how GraphQL can improve your work as a frontend developer and how to handle GraphQL in your frontend React application.
Build a Headless WordPress App with Next.js and WPGraphQL
React Summit 2022React Summit 2022
173 min
Build a Headless WordPress App with Next.js and WPGraphQL
Top Content
WorkshopFree
Kellen Mace
Kellen Mace
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to build a Next.js app that uses Apollo Client to fetch data from a headless WordPress backend and use it to render the pages of your app. You’ll learn when you should consider a headless WordPress architecture, how to turn a WordPress backend into a GraphQL server, how to compose queries using the GraphiQL IDE, how to colocate GraphQL fragments with your components, and more.
API Testing with Postman Workshop
TestJS Summit 2023TestJS Summit 2023
48 min
API Testing with Postman Workshop
Top Content
WorkshopFree
Pooja Mistry
Pooja Mistry
In the ever-evolving landscape of software development, ensuring the reliability and functionality of APIs has become paramount. "API Testing with Postman" is a comprehensive workshop designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in API testing using Postman, a powerful tool widely adopted by professionals in the field. This workshop delves into the fundamentals of API testing, progresses to advanced testing techniques, and explores automation, performance testing, and multi-protocol support, providing attendees with a holistic understanding of API testing with Postman.
1. Welcome to Postman- Explaining the Postman User Interface (UI)2. Workspace and Collections Collaboration- Understanding Workspaces and their role in collaboration- Exploring the concept of Collections for organizing and executing API requests3. Introduction to API Testing- Covering the basics of API testing and its significance4. Variable Management- Managing environment, global, and collection variables- Utilizing scripting snippets for dynamic data5. Building Testing Workflows- Creating effective testing workflows for comprehensive testing- Utilizing the Collection Runner for test execution- Introduction to Postbot for automated testing6. Advanced Testing- Contract Testing for ensuring API contracts- Using Mock Servers for effective testing- Maximizing productivity with Collection/Workspace templates- Integration Testing and Regression Testing strategies7. Automation with Postman- Leveraging the Postman CLI for automation- Scheduled Runs for regular testing- Integrating Postman into CI/CD pipelines8. Performance Testing- Demonstrating performance testing capabilities (showing the desktop client)- Synchronizing tests with VS Code for streamlined development9. Exploring Advanced Features - Working with Multiple Protocols: GraphQL, gRPC, and more
Join us for this workshop to unlock the full potential of Postman for API testing, streamline your testing processes, and enhance the quality and reliability of your software. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced tester, this workshop will equip you with the skills needed to excel in API testing with Postman.

Check out more articles and videos

We constantly think of articles and videos that might spark Git people interest / skill us up or help building a stellar career

From GraphQL Zero to GraphQL Hero with RedwoodJS
GraphQL Galaxy 2021GraphQL Galaxy 2021
32 min
From GraphQL Zero to GraphQL Hero with RedwoodJS
Top Content
Tom Pressenwurter introduces Redwood.js, a full stack app framework for building GraphQL APIs easily and maintainably. He demonstrates a Redwood.js application with a React-based front end and a Node.js API. Redwood.js offers a simplified folder structure and schema for organizing the application. It provides easy data manipulation and CRUD operations through GraphQL functions. Redwood.js allows for easy implementation of new queries and directives, including authentication and limiting access to data. It is a stable and production-ready framework that integrates well with other front-end technologies.
Local State and Server Cache: Finding a Balance
Vue.js London Live 2021Vue.js London Live 2021
24 min
Local State and Server Cache: Finding a Balance
Top Content
This Talk discusses handling local state in software development, particularly when dealing with asynchronous behavior and API requests. It explores the challenges of managing global state and the need for actions when handling server data. The Talk also highlights the issue of fetching data not in Vuex and the challenges of keeping data up-to-date in Vuex. It mentions alternative tools like Apollo Client and React Query for handling local state. The Talk concludes with a discussion on GitLab going public and the celebration that followed.
Batteries Included Reimagined - The Revival of GraphQL Yoga
GraphQL Galaxy 2021GraphQL Galaxy 2021
33 min
Batteries Included Reimagined - The Revival of GraphQL Yoga
Envelope is a powerful GraphQL plugin system that simplifies server development and allows for powerful plugin integration. It provides conformity for large corporations with multiple GraphQL servers and can be used with various frameworks. Envelope acts as the Babel of GraphQL, allowing the use of non-spec features. The Guild offers GraphQL Hive, a service similar to Apollo Studio, and encourages collaboration with other frameworks and languages.
Rock Solid React and GraphQL Apps for People in a Hurry
GraphQL Galaxy 2022GraphQL Galaxy 2022
29 min
Rock Solid React and GraphQL Apps for People in a Hurry
The Talk discusses the challenges and advancements in using GraphQL and React together. It introduces RedwoodJS, a framework that simplifies frontend-backend integration and provides features like code generation, scaffolding, and authentication. The Talk demonstrates how to set up a Redwood project, generate layouts and models, and perform CRUD operations. Redwood automates many GraphQL parts and provides an easy way for developers to get started with GraphQL. It also highlights the benefits of Redwood and suggests checking out RedwoodJS.com for more information.
Adopting GraphQL in an Enterprise
GraphQL Galaxy 2021GraphQL Galaxy 2021
32 min
Adopting GraphQL in an Enterprise
Today's Talk is about adopting GraphQL in an enterprise. It discusses the challenges of using REST APIs and the benefits of GraphQL. The Talk explores different approaches to adopting GraphQL, including coexistence with REST APIs. It emphasizes the power of GraphQL and provides tips for successful adoption. Overall, the Talk highlights the advantages of GraphQL in terms of efficiency, collaboration, and control over APIs.
Step aside resolvers: a new approach to GraphQL execution
GraphQL Galaxy 2022GraphQL Galaxy 2022
16 min
Step aside resolvers: a new approach to GraphQL execution
GraphQL has made a huge impact in the way we build client applications, websites, and mobile apps. Despite the dominance of resolvers, the GraphQL specification does not mandate their use. Introducing Graphast, a new project that compiles GraphQL operations into execution and output plans, providing advanced optimizations. In GraphFast, instead of resolvers, we have plan resolvers that deal with future data. Graphfast plan resolvers are short and efficient, supporting all features of modern GraphQL.