Security Testing for GraphQL Backed Applications

This ad is not shown to multipass and full ticket holders
React Summit
React Summit 2026
June 11 - 15, 2026
Amsterdam & Online
The biggest React conference worldwide
Upcoming event
React Summit 2026
React Summit 2026
June 11 - 15, 2026. Amsterdam & Online
Learn more
Bookmark
Rate this content
Sentry
Promoted
Code breaks, fix it faster

Crashes, slowdowns, regressions in prod. Seer by Sentry unifies traces, replays, errors, profiles to find root causes fast.

FAQ

Yes, StackHawk can scan a variety of application types including server side HTML, single page applications, REST APIs, and GraphQL interfaces.

StackHawk is a tool designed for developers to easily find, triage, and fix application security vulnerabilities. It specializes in application and API security testing, and is built for integration with CI/CD workflows.

StackHawk runs automated scans on applications and APIs, identifying vulnerabilities such as SQL injection or data exposure. These scans can be triggered during the development processes like opening a pull request or on a commit, depending on the CI/CD configuration.

StackHawk is built on top of the open-source scanner ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy), which is an industry-standard dynamic application security testing tool.

When StackHawk identifies a vulnerability, it notifies the development team and provides detailed information including the request sent and the response received. This allows developers to validate the issue, debug the code, and quickly implement a fix.

StackHawk offers triage options such as marking vulnerabilities as 'risk accepted' or adding them to a JIRA backlog. The scanner respects these settings in subsequent runs, focusing only on newly introduced vulnerabilities.

StackHawk integrates seamlessly with modern engineering stacks and workflows, enhancing the approachability of security tasks for engineering teams.

To start using StackHawk, you can visit their website and sign up for a free account. There is also a promotional giveaway for Node Congress attendees, including a t-shirt and a chance to win a Nintendo Switch.

Ryan Severns
Ryan Severns
5 min
24 Jun, 2021

Comments

Sign in or register to post your comment.
Video Summary and Transcription
StackHawk is an automated application and API security testing tool that integrates with CI/CD. It uses the ZAP scanner and supports various types of applications and APIs. StackHawk provides detailed vulnerability information and triage features to manage low-risk issues. The tool aims to seamlessly integrate into engineering workflows and make security accessible for teams.

1. Overview of StackHawk

Short description:

StackHawk provides automated application and API security testing, making it easy to find and fix vulnerabilities. It integrates with CI/CD, running scans on pull requests or commits. The tool uses the ZAP scanner and supports various types of applications and APIs. When a vulnerability is found, StackHawk provides detailed information and allows for easy debugging and fixing. It also offers triage features to manage low-risk issues. StackHawk aims to integrate seamlessly into engineering workflows and make security approachable for teams.

Hey there, Node Congress. I'm Ryan Severance, one of the founders of StackHawk. At StackHawk, it's simple for developers to find and triage and fix application security bugs. I'm going to tell you a little bit more about what we do today.

So StackHawk in a nutshell, we do application and API security testing. We're built for automation in CI, CD. Ultimately, we make it really easy to find and fix any application security vulnerabilities. So let's say you're building a new feature and your team's working on it. And somebody introduces a new endpoint that perhaps has a SQL injection vulnerability, exposes sensitive data from the backend that a malicious attacker could access. What would happen traditionally, traditional approaches that might not be discovered until weeks, months later, and maybe a pen test or a security team review.

With StackHawk, when you open the pull request or even on the commit, depending on how you have it configured in CICD, a scan will run. It's a test against the application and it looks for any of these sort of vulnerabilities. It would notify you that a SQL injection vulnerability has been found. And then it tees the team up with all of the information to hop in there and fix it. So you find any bugs early, and it makes it really simple to fix them. Let me tell you a little bit about how it works behind the scenes. So we're built on top of an open source scanner. It's called ZAP, Z-A proxy.org. So it's an industry standard in terms of one of the best dynamic application security testing tools out there. We make it really easy to configure and to run anywhere, make it simple to automate. With StackHawk, you can scan modern applications, server side HTML, single page applications, rest APIs, GraphQL, and ultimately it's just really fast automated application security testing.

So let's say test runs, maybe you get notified from a broken build that there is a new vulnerability that's been introduced. Can hop into the StackHawk web app, and you have the request that was sent to the application, the response that was returned with a highlighting of the evidence that shows that it's a vulnerability. There's a validate button that you can click on, to go recreate that same request, and step through the code in debug mode, figure out where you're mishandling information, and ultimately get to a fix really quickly. We also have overviews of what the bug is, documentation on how to fix it. There's also triage features. So let's say you get notified about something, but it's low risk, it shouldn't block the push to production. You can mark it as either risk accepted, or maybe you put it in your JIRA backlog, and the scanner respects that. So the next time it runs, it's only looking for newly introduced vulnerabilities. Stackhawk integrates really easily with the rest of your engineering stack. We're big believers in tying into the modern developer workflows and making security easy to approach for engineering teams.

So that's a quick overview of Stackhawk. We'd love for you to come check us out. Come by the website, sign up for a free account, and make sure to check out the giveaway that we have going on for Node Congress. Everybody gets a t-shirt and you're also entered to win a Nintendo Switch. That's all. Thanks so much. Bye.

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

It's a Jungle Out There: What's Really Going on Inside Your Node_Modules Folder
Node Congress 2022Node Congress 2022
26 min
It's a Jungle Out There: What's Really Going on Inside Your Node_Modules Folder
Top Content
The talk discusses the importance of supply chain security in the open source ecosystem, highlighting the risks of relying on open source code without proper code review. It explores the trend of supply chain attacks and the need for a new approach to detect and block malicious dependencies. The talk also introduces Socket, a tool that assesses the security of packages and provides automation and analysis to protect against malware and supply chain attacks. It emphasizes the need to prioritize security in software development and offers insights into potential solutions such as realms and Deno's command line flags.
ESM Loaders: Enhancing Module Loading in Node.js
JSNation 2023JSNation 2023
22 min
ESM Loaders: Enhancing Module Loading in Node.js
Top Content
ESM Loaders enhance module loading in Node.js by resolving URLs and reading files from the disk. Module loaders can override modules and change how they are found. Enhancing the loading phase involves loading directly from HTTP and loading TypeScript code without building it. The loader in the module URL handles URL resolution and uses fetch to fetch the source code. Loaders can be chained together to load from different sources, transform source code, and resolve URLs differently. The future of module loading enhancements is promising and simple to use.
The State of Node.js 2025
JSNation 2025JSNation 2025
30 min
The State of Node.js 2025
Top Content
The speaker covers a wide range of topics related to Node.js, including its resilience, popularity, and significance in the tech ecosystem. They discuss Node.js version support, organization activity, development updates, enhancements, and security updates. Node.js relies heavily on volunteers for governance and contribution. The speaker introduces an application server for Node.js enabling PHP integration. Insights are shared on Node.js downloads, infrastructure challenges, software maintenance, and the importance of update schedules for security.
Towards a Standard Library for JavaScript Runtimes
Node Congress 2022Node Congress 2022
34 min
Towards a Standard Library for JavaScript Runtimes
Top Content
There is a need for a standard library of APIs for JavaScript runtimes, as there are currently multiple ways to perform fundamental tasks like base64 encoding. JavaScript runtimes have historically lacked a standard library, causing friction and difficulty for developers. The idea of a small core has both benefits and drawbacks, with some runtimes abusing it to limit innovation. There is a misalignment between Node and web browsers in terms of functionality and API standards. The proposal is to involve browser developers in conversations about API standardization and to create a common standard library for JavaScript runtimes.
Out of the Box Node.js Diagnostics
Node Congress 2022Node Congress 2022
34 min
Out of the Box Node.js Diagnostics
This talk covers various techniques for getting diagnostics information out of Node.js, including debugging with environment variables, handling warnings and deprecations, tracing uncaught exceptions and process exit, using the v8 inspector and dev tools, and generating diagnostic reports. The speaker also mentions areas for improvement in Node.js diagnostics and provides resources for learning and contributing. Additionally, the responsibilities of the Technical Steering Committee in the TS community are discussed.
Node.js Compatibility in Deno
Node Congress 2022Node Congress 2022
34 min
Node.js Compatibility in Deno
Deno aims to provide Node.js compatibility to make migration smoother and easier. While Deno can run apps and libraries offered for Node.js, not all are supported yet. There are trade-offs to consider, such as incompatible APIs and a less ideal developer experience. Deno is working on improving compatibility and the transition process. Efforts include porting Node.js modules, exploring a superset approach, and transparent package installation from npm.

Workshops on related topic

Hands-On Workshop: Introduction to Pentesting for Web Apps / Web APIs
JSNation US 2024JSNation US 2024
148 min
Hands-On Workshop: Introduction to Pentesting for Web Apps / Web APIs
Featured Workshop
Gregor Biswanger
Gregor Biswanger
In this hands-on workshop, you will be equipped with the tools to effectively test the security of web applications. This course is designed for beginners as well as those already familiar with web application security testing who wish to expand their knowledge. In a world where websites play an increasingly central role, ensuring the security of these technologies is crucial. Understanding the attacker's perspective and knowing the appropriate defense mechanisms have become essential skills for IT professionals.This workshop, led by the renowned trainer Gregor Biswanger, will guide you through the use of industry-standard pentesting tools such as Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, and the professional pentesting framework Metasploit. You will learn how to identify and exploit common vulnerabilities in web applications. Through practical exercises and challenges, you will be able to put your theoretical knowledge into practice and expand it. In this course, you will acquire the fundamental skills necessary to protect your websites from attacks and enhance the security of your systems.
Building a RAG System in Node.js: Vector Databases, Embeddings & Chunking
Node Congress 2025Node Congress 2025
98 min
Building a RAG System in Node.js: Vector Databases, Embeddings & Chunking
Featured Workshop
Alex Korzhikov
Pavlik Kiselev
2 authors
Large Language Models (LLMs) are powerful, but they often lack real-time knowledge. Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) bridges this gap by fetching relevant information from external sources before generating responses. In this workshop, we’ll explore how to build an efficient RAG pipeline in Node.js using RSS feeds as a data source. We’ll compare different vector databases (FAISS, pgvector, Elasticsearch), embedding methods, and testing strategies. We’ll also cover the crucial role of chunking—splitting and structuring data effectively for better retrieval performance.Prerequisites- Good understanding of JavaScript or TypeScript- Experience with Node.js and API development- Basic knowledge of databases and LLMs is helpful but not required
Agenda📢 Introduction to RAG💻 Demo - Example Application (RAG with RSS Feeds)📕 Vector Databases (FAISS, pgvector, Elasticsearch) & Embeddings🛠️ Chunking Strategies for Better Retrieval🔬 Testing & Evaluating RAG Pipelines (Precision, Recall, Performance)🏊‍♀️ Performance & Optimization Considerations🥟 Summary & Q&A
Build a MCP (Model Context Protocol) in Node.js
JSNation US 2025JSNation US 2025
97 min
Build a MCP (Model Context Protocol) in Node.js
Featured Workshop
Julián Duque
Julián Duque
Model Context Protocol (MCP) introduces a structured approach to LLM context management that addresses limitations in traditional prompting methods. In this workshop, you'll learn about the Model Context Protocol, its architecture, and how to build and use and MCP with Node.jsTable of Contents:What Is the Model Context Protocol?Types of MCPs (Stdio, SSE, HTTP Streaming)Understanding Tools, Resources, and PromptsBuilding an MCP with the Official TypeScript SDK in Node.jsDeploying the MCP to the Cloud (Heroku)Integrating the MCP with Your Favorite AI Tool (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code Copilot)Security Considerations and Best Practices
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.
Node.js Masterclass
Node Congress 2023Node Congress 2023
109 min
Node.js Masterclass
Top Content
Workshop
Matteo Collina
Matteo Collina
Have you ever struggled with designing and structuring your Node.js applications? Building applications that are well organised, testable and extendable is not always easy. It can often turn out to be a lot more complicated than you expect it to be. In this live event Matteo will show you how he builds Node.js applications from scratch. You’ll learn how he approaches application design, and the philosophies that he applies to create modular, maintainable and effective applications.

Level: intermediate
Build and Deploy a Backend With Fastify & Platformatic
JSNation 2023JSNation 2023
104 min
Build and Deploy a Backend With Fastify & Platformatic
Top Content
WorkshopFree
Matteo Collina
Matteo Collina
Platformatic allows you to rapidly develop GraphQL and REST APIs with minimal effort. The best part is that it also allows you to unleash the full potential of Node.js and Fastify whenever you need to. You can fully customise a Platformatic application by writing your own additional features and plugins. In the workshop, we’ll cover both our Open Source modules and our Cloud offering:- Platformatic OSS (open-source software) — Tools and libraries for rapidly building robust applications with Node.js (https://oss.platformatic.dev/).- Platformatic Cloud (currently in beta) — Our hosting platform that includes features such as preview apps, built-in metrics and integration with your Git flow (https://platformatic.dev/). 
In this workshop you'll learn how to develop APIs with Fastify and deploy them to the Platformatic Cloud.