Findings
Missing rate limit headers
Updated: June 19, 2025
Description
Remediation
Security Frameworks
Satisfying API requests requires resources such as network bandwidth, CPU, memory, and storage. Other resources such as emails/SMS/phone calls or biometrics validation are made available by service providers via API integrations, and paid for per request. Successful attacks can lead to Denial of Service or an increase of operational costs.
Quite often, APIs do not impose any restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be requested by the client/user. Not only can this impact the API server performance, leading to Denial of Service (DoS), but also leaves the door open to authentication flaws such as brute force.
CIS-ASG-2.2.4: CIS 2.2.4: Enforce Rate Limiting mechanisms
Enforce rate limiting mechanisms to provide protection from repeated requests that target an endpoint.
Rationale
Enforcing rate limiting mechanisms helps prevent Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) and brute-force attacks by limiting the number of requests an attacker can make within a given timeframe. This ensures the availability of services for legitimate users and protects server resources from being overwhelmed. Compliance requirements often mandate implementing such measures to enhance security. By maintaining Quality of Service (QoS), rate limiting ensures a consistent and reliable experience for users while mitigating the risk of abuse or exploitation of system resources.
Remediation
- Update rate-limiting configurations.
- Implement behavioral rate-limiting based on session and/or IP behavior.
- Enforce logging and monitoring procedures.
- Deploy distributed rate limiting (load balancers), CDNs, WAFs, IDS/IPS).
- Document all actions taken.
Audit
- Review the application architecture.
- Analyze existing rate-limiting configurations.
- Examine the logs.
- Review regulation compliance and check if it is currently inline with regulations.
- Evaluate Denial of Service (DoS) resilience.
- Perform stress tests on existing rate limiting mechanisms.