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A media type (formerly known as MIME type) is an identifier for file formats and format contents transmitted. A OpenAPI document lets you specify that a given operation can accept different media types, hence a given request can send data using different file content. As for example, a `PUT /user` operation to update user data could accept data in either XML (media type `application/xml`) or JSON (media type `application/json`) format.
OpenAPI 2.x lets you specify the accepted media types globally or per operation, and OpenAPI 3.x lets you specify the accepted media types per operation. DAST API will check the listed media types, and try to produce sample data for each supported media type.
- In [GitLab 14.10 and later](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/333304), the default behavior is to select one of the supported media types to use. The first supported media type is chosen from the list. This behavior is configurable.
- In GitLab 14.9 and earlier, the default behavior is to perform testing using all supported media types. This means if two media types are listed (for example, `application/json` and `application/xml`), testing are performed using JSON, and then the same tests using XML.
Testing the same operation (for example, `POST /user`) using different media types (for example, `application/json` and `application/xml`) is not always desirable.
For example, if the target application executes the same code regardless of the request content type, it will take longer to finish the test session, and it may report duplicated vulnerabilities related to the request body depending on the target app.
The environment variable `DAST_API_OPENAPI_ALL_MEDIA_TYPES` lets you specify whether or not to use all supported media types instead of one when generating requests for a given operation. When the environment variable `DAST_API_OPENAPI_ALL_MEDIA_TYPES` is set to any value, DAST API tries to generate requests for all supported media types instead of one in a given operation. This will cause testing to take longer as testing is repeated for each provided media type.
Alternatively, the variable `DAST_API_OPENAPI_MEDIA_TYPES` is used to provide a list of media types that will each be tested. Providing more than one media type causes testing to take longer, as testing is performed for each media type selected. When the environment variable `DAST_API_OPENAPI_MEDIA_TYPES` is set to a list of media types, only the listed media types are included when creating requests.
Multiple media types in `DAST_API_OPENAPI_MEDIA_TYPES` are separated by a colon (`:`). For example, to limit request generation to the media types `application/x-www-form-urlencoded` and `multipart/form-data`, set the environment variable `DAST_API_OPENAPI_MEDIA_TYPES` to `application/x-www-form-urlencoded:multipart/form-data`. Only supported media types in this list are included when creating requests, though non-supported media types are always skipped. A media type text may contain different sections. For example, `application/vnd.api+json; charset=UTF-8`, is a compound of `type "/" [tree "."] subtype ["+" suffix]* [";" parameter]`. Parameters are not taken into account when performing the filtering media types on request generation.
The environment variables `DAST_API_OPENAPI_ALL_MEDIA_TYPES` and `DAST_API_OPENAPI_MEDIA_TYPES` allow you to decide how to handle media types. These settings are mutually exclusive. If both are enabled, DAST API reports an error.
the [`DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml` template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Security/DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml) in your `.gitlab-ci.yml` file.
1. The [configuration file](#configuration-files) has several testing profiles defined with different checks enabled. We recommend that you start with the `Quick` profile.
Testing with this profile completes faster, allowing for easier configuration validation.
Provide the profile by adding the `DAST_API_PROFILE` CI/CD variable to your `.gitlab-ci.yml` file.
1. Provide the location of the OpenAPI Specification as either a file or URL.
Specify the location by adding the `DAST_API_OPENAPI` variable.
the [`DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml` template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Security/DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml) in your `.gitlab-ci.yml` file.
1. The [configuration file](#configuration-files) has several testing profiles defined with different checks enabled. We recommend that you start with the `Quick` profile.
Testing with this profile completes faster, allowing for easier configuration validation.
or URL. [URL support was introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/285020) in GitLab 13.10 and later. Specify the location by adding the `DAST_API_HAR` variable.
the [`DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml` template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Security/DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml) in your `.gitlab-ci.yml` file.
1. Provide the path to the GraphQL endpoint, for example `/api/graphql`. Specify the location by adding the `DAST_API_GRAPHQL` variable.
1. The target API instance's base URL is also required. Provide it by using the `DAST_API_TARGET_URL`
variable or an `environment_url.txt` file.
Adding the URL in an `environment_url.txt` file at your project's root is great for testing in
dynamic environments. See the [dynamic environment solutions](#dynamic-environment-solutions) section of our documentation for more information.
Complete example configuration of using a GraphQL endpoint path:
```yaml
stages:
- dast
include:
- template: DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml
dast_api:
variables:
DAST_API_GRAPHQL: /api/graphql
DAST_API_TARGET_URL: http://test-deployment/
```
This example is a minimal configuration for DAST API. From here you can:
- [Run your first scan](#running-your-first-scan).
- [Add authentication](#authentication).
- Learn how to [handle false positives](#handling-false-positives).
DAST API can use a GraphQL schema file to understand and test a GraphQL endpoint that has introspection disabled. To use a GraphQL schema file, it must be in the introspection JSON format. A GraphQL schema can be converted to a the introspection JSON format using an online 3rd party tool: [https://transform.tools/graphql-to-introspection-json](https://transform.tools/graphql-to-introspection-json).
the [`DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml` template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Security/DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml) in your `.gitlab-ci.yml` file.
1. Provide the GraphQL endpoint path, for example `/api/graphql`. Specify the path by adding the `DAST_API_GRAPHQL` variable.
1. Provide the location of the GraphQL schema file. You can provide the location as a file path
or URL. Specify the location by adding the `DAST_API_GRAPHQL_SCHEMA` variable.
1. The target API instance's base URL is also required. Provide it by using the `DAST_API_TARGET_URL`
variable or an `environment_url.txt` file.
Adding the URL in an `environment_url.txt` file at your project's root is great for testing in
dynamic environments. See the [dynamic environment solutions](#dynamic-environment-solutions) section of our documentation for more information.
Complete example configuration of using an GraphQL schema file:
```yaml
stages:
- dast
include:
- template: DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml
dast_api:
variables:
DAST_API_GRAPHQL: /api/graphql
DAST_API_GRAPHQL_SCHEMA: test-api-graphql.schema
DAST_API_TARGET_URL: http://test-deployment/
```
Complete example configuration of using an GraphQL schema file URL:
1. The [configuration file](#configuration-files) has several testing profiles defined with different checks enabled. We recommend that you start with the `Quick` profile.
Testing with this profile completes faster, allowing for easier configuration validation.
1. Provide the location of the Postman Collection file as either a file or URL. Specify the location by adding the `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION` variable.
Postman has grown from a basic client tool with a nice UX experience to a more complex ecosystem that allows testing APIs with scripts, creating complex collections that trigger secondary requests, and setting variables along the way. Not every feature in the Postman ecosystem is supported. For example, scripts are not supported. The main focus of the Postman support is to ingest Postman Collection definitions that are used by the Postman Client and their related variables defined in the workspace, environments, and the collections themselves.
Postman allows creating variables in different scopes. Each scope has a different level of visibility in the Postman tools. For example, you can create a variable in a _global environment_ scope that is seen by every operation definition and workspace. You can also create a variable in a specific _environment_ scope that is only visible and used when that specific environment is selected for use. Some scopes are not always available, for example in the Postman ecosystem you can create requests in the Postman Client, these requests do not have a _local_ scope, but test scripts do.
Variable scopes in Postman can be a daunting topic and not everyone is familiar with it. We strongly recommend that you read [Variable Scopes](https://learning.postman.com/docs/sending-requests/variables/#variable-scopes) from Postman documentation before moving forward.
As mentioned above, there are different variable scopes, and each of them has a purpose and can be used to provide more flexibility to your Postman document. There is an important note on how values for variables are computed, as per Postman documentation:
> If a variable with the same name is declared in two different scopes, the value stored in the variable with narrowest scope is used. For example, if there is a global variable named `username` and a local variable named `username`, the local value is used when the request runs.
The following is a summary of the variable scopes supported by the Postman Client and DAST API:
- **Global Environment (Global) scope** is a special pre-defined environment that is available throughout a workspace. We can also refer to the _global environment_ scope as the _global_ scope. The Postman Client allows exporting the global environment into a JSON file, which can be used with DAST API.
- **Environment scope** is a named group of variables created by a user in the Postman Client.
The Postman Client supports a single active environment along with the global environment. The variables defined in an active user-created environment take precedence over variables defined in the global environment. The Postman Client allows exporting your environment into a JSON file, which can be used with DAST API.
- **Collection scope** is a group of variables declared in a given collection. The collection variables are available to the collection where they have been declared and the nested requests or collections. Variables defined in the collection scope take precedence over the _global environment_ scope and also the _environment_ scope.
The Postman Client can export one or more collections into a JSON file, this JSON file contains selected collections, requests, and collection variables.
- **DAST API Scope** is a new scope added by DAST API to allow users to provide extra variables, or override variables defined in other supported scopes. This scope is not supported by Postman. The _DAST API Scope_ variables are provided using a [custom JSON file format](#dast-api-scope-custom-json-file-format).
- Override values defined in the environment or collection
- Defining variables from scripts
- Define a single row of data from the unsupported _data scope_
- **Data scope** is a group of variables in which their name and values come from JSON or CSV files. A Postman collection runner like [Newman](https://learning.postman.com/docs/running-collections/using-newman-cli/command-line-integration-with-newman/) or [Postman Collection Runner](https://learning.postman.com/docs/running-collections/intro-to-collection-runs/) executes the requests in a collection as many times as entries have the JSON or CSV file. A good use case for these variables is to automate tests using scripts in Postman.
DAST API does **not** support reading data from a CSV or JSON file.
- **Local scope** are variables that are defined in Postman scripts. DAST API does **not** support Postman scripts and by extension, variables defined in scripts. You can still provide values for the script-defined variables by defining them in one of the supported scopes, or our custom JSON format.
Not all scopes are supported by DAST API and variables defined in scripts are not supported. The following table is sorted by broadest scope to narrowest scope.
- [Defining global variables](https://learning.postman.com/docs/sending-requests/variables/#defining-global-variables)
##### Exporting from Postman Client
The Postman Client lets you export different file formats, for instance, you can export a Postman collection or a Postman environment.
The exported environment can be the global environment (which is always available) or can be any custom environment you previously have created. When you export a Postman Collection, it may contain only declarations for _collection_ and _local_ scoped variables; _environment_ scoped variables are not included.
To get the declaration for _environment_ scoped variables, you have to export a given environment at the time. Each exported file only includes variables from the selected environment.
For more details on exporting variables in different supported scopes, see:
- [Downloading global environments](https://learning.postman.com/docs/sending-requests/variables/#downloading-global-environments)
##### DAST API Scope, custom JSON file format
Our custom JSON file format is a JSON object where each object property represents a variable name and the property value represents the variable value. This file can be created using your favorite text editor, or it can be produced by an earlier job in your pipeline.
This example defines two variables `base_url` and `token` in the DAST API scope:
```json
{
"base_url": "http://127.0.0.1/",
"token": "Token 84816165151"
}
```
##### Using scopes with DAST API
The scopes: _global_, _environment_, _collection_, and _GitLab DAST API_ are supported in [GitLab 15.1 and later](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/356312). GitLab 15.0 and earlier, supports only the _collection_, and _GitLab DAST API_ scopes.
The following table provides a quick reference for mapping scope files/URLs to DAST API configuration variables:
| Scope | How to Provide |
| ------------------ | --------------- |
| Global Environment | DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION_VARIABLES |
| DAST API Scope | DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION_VARIABLES |
| Data | Not supported |
| Local | Not supported |
The Postman Collection document automatically includes any _collection_ scoped variables. The Postman Collection is provided with the configuration variable `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION`. This variable can be set to a single [exported Postman collection](https://learning.postman.com/docs/getting-started/importing-and-exporting-data/#exporting-collections).
Variables from other scopes are provided through the `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION_VARIABLES` configuration variable. The configuration variable supports a comma (`,`) delimited file list in [GitLab 15.1 and later](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/356312). GitLab 15.0 and earlier, supports only one single file. The order of the files provided is not important as the files provide the needed scope information.
The configuration variable `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION_VARIABLES` can be set to:
- [Exported Global environment](https://learning.postman.com/docs/sending-requests/variables/#downloading-global-environments)
- [DAST API Custom JSON format](#dast-api-scope-custom-json-file-format)
##### Undefined Postman variables
There is a chance that DAST API engine does not find all variables references that your Postman collection file is using. Some cases can be:
- You are using _data_ or _local_ scoped variables, and as stated previously these scopes are not supported by DAST API. Thus, assuming the values for these variables have not been provided through [the DAST API scope](#dast-api-scope-custom-json-file-format), then the values of the _data_ and _local_ scoped variables are undefined.
- A variable name was typed incorrectly, and the name does not match the defined variable.
- Postman Client supports a new dynamic variable that is not supported by DAST API.
When possible, DAST API follows the same behavior as the Postman Client does when dealing with undefined variables. The text of the variable reference remains the same, and there is no text substitution. The same behavior also applies to any unsupported dynamic variables.
For example, if a request definition in the Postman Collection references the variable `{{full_url}}` and the variable is not found it is left unchanged with the value `{{full_url}}`.
##### Dynamic Postman variables
In addition to variables that a user can define at various scope levels, Postman has a set of pre-defined variables called _dynamic_ variables. The [_dynamic_ variables](https://learning.postman.com/docs/writing-scripts/script-references/variables-list/) are already defined and their name is prefixed with a dollar sign (`$`), for instance, `$guid`. _Dynamic_ variables can be used like any other variable, and in the Postman Client, they produce random values during the request/collection run.
An important difference between DAST API and Postman is that DAST API returns the same value for each usage of the same dynamic variables. This differs from the Postman Client behavior which returns a random value on each use of the same dynamic variable. In other words, DAST API uses static values for dynamic variables while Postman uses random values.
The supported dynamic variables during the scanning process are:
| `$randomLoremLines` | `Ducimus in ut mollitia.\nA itaque non.\nHarum temporibus nihil voluptas.\nIste in sed et nesciunt in quaerat sed.` |
| `$randomLoremParagraph` | `Ab aliquid odio iste quo voluptas voluptatem dignissimos velit. Recusandae facilis qui commodi ea magnam enim nostrum quia quis. Nihil est suscipit assumenda ut voluptatem sed. Esse ab voluptas odit qui molestiae. Rem est nesciunt est quis ipsam expedita consequuntur.` |
| `$randomLoremParagraphs` | `Voluptatem rem magnam aliquam ab id aut quaerat. Placeat provident possimus voluptatibus dicta velit non aut quasi. Mollitia et aliquam expedita sunt dolores nam consequuntur. Nam dolorum delectus ipsam repudiandae et ipsam ut voluptatum totam. Nobis labore labore recusandae ipsam quo.` |
| `$randomLoremSentence` | `Molestias consequuntur nisi non quod.` |
| `$randomLoremSentences` | `Et sint voluptas similique iure amet perspiciatis vero sequi atque. Ut porro sit et hic. Neque aspernatur vitae fugiat ut dolore et veritatis. Ab iusto ex delectus animi. Voluptates nisi iusto. Impedit quod quae voluptate qui.` |
| `$randomLoremText` | `Quisquam asperiores exercitationem ut ipsum. Aut eius nesciunt. Et reiciendis aut alias eaque. Nihil amet laboriosam pariatur eligendi. Sunt ullam ut sint natus ducimus. Voluptas harum aspernatur soluta rem nam.` |
In this example, [the _global_ scope is exported](https://learning.postman.com/docs/sending-requests/variables/#downloading-global-environments) from the Postman Client as `global-scope.json` and provided to DAST API through the `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION_VARIABLES` configuration variable.
In this example, [the _environment_ scope is exported](https://learning.postman.com/docs/getting-started/importing-and-exporting-data/#exporting-environments) from the Postman Client as `environment-scope.json` and provided to DAST API through the `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION_VARIABLES` configuration variable.
Here is an example of using `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION_VARIABLES`:
The _collection_ scope variables are included in the exported Postman Collection file and provided through the `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION` configuration variable.
Here is an example of using `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION`:
The DAST API Scope is used for two main purposes, defining _data_ and _local_ scope variables that are not supported by DAST API, and changing the value of an existing variable defined in another scope. The DAST API Scope is provided through the `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION_VARIABLES` configuration variable.
Here is an example of using `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION_VARIABLES`:
The file `dast-api-scope.json` uses our [custom JSON file format](#dast-api-scope-custom-json-file-format). This JSON is an object with key-value pairs for properties. The keys are the variables' names, and the values are the variables'
In this example, a _global_ scope, _environment_ scope, and _collection_ scope are configured. The first step is to export our various scopes.
- [Export the _global_ scope](https://learning.postman.com/docs/sending-requests/variables/#downloading-global-environments) as `global-scope.json`
- [Export the _environment_ scope](https://learning.postman.com/docs/getting-started/importing-and-exporting-data/#exporting-environments) as `environment-scope.json`
- Export the Postman Collection which includes the _collection_ scope as `postman-collection.json`
The Postman Collection is provided using the `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION` variable, while the other scopes are provided using the `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION_VARIABLES`. DAST API can identify which scope the provided files match using data provided in each file.
When using exported scopes, it's often the case that the value of a variable must be changed for use with DAST API. For example, a _collection_ scoped variable might contain a variable named `api_version` with a value of `v2`, while your test needs a value of `v1`. Instead of modifying the exported collection to change the value, the DAST API scope can be used to change its value. This works because the _DAST API_ scope takes precedence over all other scopes.
The _collection_ scope variables are included in the exported Postman Collection file and provided through the `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION` configuration variable.
The DAST API Scope is provided through the `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION_VARIABLES` configuration variable, but first, we must create the file.
The file `dast-api-scope.json` uses our [custom JSON file format](#dast-api-scope-custom-json-file-format). This JSON is an object with key-value pairs for properties. The keys are the variables' names, and the values are the variables'
##### Example: Changing a Variables Value with Multiple Scopes
When using exported scopes, it's often the case that the value of a variable must be changed for use with DAST API. For example, an _environment_ scope might contain a variable named `api_version` with a value of `v2`, while your test needs a value of `v1`. Instead of modifying the exported file to change the value, the DAST API scope can be used. This works because the _DAST API_ scope takes precedence over all other scopes.
In this example, a _global_ scope, _environment_ scope, _collection_ scope, and _DAST API_ scope are configured. The first step is to export and create our various scopes.
- [Export the _global_ scope](https://learning.postman.com/docs/sending-requests/variables/#downloading-global-environments) as `global-scope.json`
- [Export the _environment_ scope](https://learning.postman.com/docs/getting-started/importing-and-exporting-data/#exporting-environments) as `environment-scope.json`
- Export the Postman Collection which includes the _collection_ scope as `postman-collection.json`
The DAST API scope is used by creating a file `dast-api-scope.json` using our [custom JSON file format](#dast-api-scope-custom-json-file-format). This JSON is an object with key-value pairs for properties. The keys are the variables' names, and the values are the variables'
values. For example:
```json
{
"api_version": "v1"
}
```
The Postman Collection is provided using the `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION` variable, while the other scopes are provided using the `DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION_VARIABLES`. DAST API can identify which scope the provided files match using data provided in each file.
If you do not want to Base64-encode the password (or if you are using GitLab 15.3 or earlier) you can provide the raw password `DAST_API_HTTP_PASSWORD`, instead of using `DAST_API_HTTP_PASSWORD_BASE64`.
If the Bearer token must be generated and doesn't expire during testing, you can provide DAST API with a file that has the token. A prior stage and job, or part of the DAST API job, can
To validate that authentication is working, run an DAST API test and review the job logs and the test API's application logs. See the [overrides section](#overrides) for more information about override commands.
| `DAST_API_API_PORT` | Specify the communication port number used by DAST API engine. Defaults to `5500`. [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/367734) in GitLab 15.5. |
|[`DAST_API_EXCLUDE_URLS`](#exclude-urls) | Exclude API URL from testing. [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/357195) in GitLab 14.10. |
|[`DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS`](#request-headers) | A comma-separated (`,`) list of headers to include on each scan request. Consider using `DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS_BASE64` when storing secret header values in a [masked variable](../../../ci/variables/index.md#mask-a-cicd-variable), which has character set restrictions. |
|[`DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS_BASE64`](#request-headers) | A comma-separated (`,`) list of headers to include on each scan request, Base64-encoded. [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/378440) in GitLab 15.6. |
|[`DAST_API_OPENAPI_ALL_MEDIA_TYPES`](#openapi-specification) | Use all supported media types instead of one when generating requests. Causes test duration to be longer. Default is disabled. [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/333304) in GitLab 14.10. |
|[`DAST_API_OPENAPI_MEDIA_TYPES`](#openapi-specification) | Colon (`:`) separated media types accepted for testing. Default is disabled. [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/333304) in GitLab 14.10. |
|[`DAST_API_GRAPHQL`](#graphql-schema) | Path to GraphQL endpoint, for example `/api/graphql`. [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/352780) in GitLab 15.4. |
|[`DAST_API_GRAPHQL_SCHEMA`](#graphql-schema) | A URL or filename for a GraphQL schema in JSON format. [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/352780) in GitLab 15.4. |
|[`DAST_API_POSTMAN_COLLECTION_VARIABLES`](#postman-variables) | Path to a JSON file to extract Postman variable values. The support for comma-separated (`,`) files was [introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/356312) in GitLab 15.1. |
|[`DAST_API_OVERRIDES_CMD_VERBOSE`](#overrides) | When set to any value. It shows overrides command output as part of the job output. [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/334578) in GitLab 14.6. |
|`DAST_API_PRE_SCRIPT` | Run user command or script before scan session starts. |
|`DAST_API_POST_SCRIPT` | Run user command or script after scan session has finished. |
To provide the overrides JSON as a file, the `DAST_API_OVERRIDES_FILE` CI/CD variable is set. The path is relative to the job current working directory.
To execute scripts in Alpine Linux you must first use the command [`chmod`](https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/manual/html_node/chmod-invocation.html) to set the [execution permission](https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/manual/html_node/Setting-Permissions.html). For example, to set the execution permission of `script.py` for everyone, use the command: `chmod a+x script.py`. If needed, you can version your `script.py` with the execution permission already set.
By default the output of the overrides command is hidden. If the overrides command returns a non zero exit code, the command is displayed as part of your job output. Optionally, you can set the variable `DAST_API_OVERRIDES_CMD_VERBOSE` to any value to display overrides command output as it is generated. This is useful when testing your overrides script, but should be disabled afterwards as it slows down testing.
It is also possible to write messages from your script to a log file that is collected when the job completes or fails. The log file must be created in a specific location and following a naming convention.
Adding some basic logging to your overrides script is useful in case the script fails unexpectedly during standard running of the job. The log file is automatically included as an artifact of the job, allowing you to download it after the job has finished.
In the overrides command example, the Python script depends on the `backoff` library. To make sure the library is installed before executing the Python script, the `DAST_API_PRE_SCRIPT` is set to a script that installs the dependencies of your overrides command.
As for example, the following script `user-pre-scan-set-up.sh`
```shell
#!/bin/bash
# user-pre-scan-set-up.sh
# Ensures python dependencies are installed
echo "**** install python dependencies ****"
python3 -m ensurepip
pip3 install --no-cache --upgrade \
pip \
backoff
echo "**** python dependencies installed ****"
# end
```
You have to update your configuration to set the `DAST_API_PRE_SCRIPT` to our new `user-pre-scan-set-up.sh` script. For example:
```yaml
stages:
- dast
include:
- template: DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml
variables:
DAST_API_PROFILE: Quick
DAST_API_OPENAPI: test-api-specification.json
DAST_API_TARGET_URL: http://test-deployment/
DAST_API_PRE_SCRIPT: user-pre-scan-set-up.sh
DAST_API_OVERRIDES_FILE: dast-api-overrides.json
DAST_API_OVERRIDES_CMD: renew_token.py
DAST_API_OVERRIDES_INTERVAL: 300
```
In the previous sample, you could use the script `user-pre-scan-set-up.sh` to also install new runtimes or applications that later on you could use in our overrides command.
The request headers feature lets you specify fixed values for the headers during the scan session. For example, you can use the configuration variable `DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS` to set a fixed value in the `Cache-Control` header. If the headers you need to set include sensitive values like the `Authorization` header, use the [masked variable](../../../ci/variables/index.md#mask-a-cicd-variable) feature along with the [variable `DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS_BASE64`](#base64).
If the `Authorization` header or any other header needs to get updated while the scan is in progress, consider using the [overrides](#overrides) feature.
The variable `DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS` lets you specify a comma-separated (`,`) list of headers. These headers are included on each request that the scanner performs. Each header entry in the list consists of a name followed by a colon (`:`) and then by its value. Whitespace before the key or value is ignored. For example, to declare a header name `Cache-Control` with the value `max-age=604800`, the header entry is `Cache-Control: max-age=604800`. To use two headers, `Cache-Control: max-age=604800` and `Age: 100`, set `DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS` variable to `Cache-Control: max-age=604800, Age: 100`.
The order in which the different headers are provided into the variable `DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS` does not affect the result. Setting `DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS` to `Cache-Control: max-age=604800, Age: 100` produces the same result as setting it to `Age: 100, Cache-Control: max-age=604800`.
### Base64
The `DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS_BASE64` variable accepts the same list of headers as `DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS`, with the only difference that the entire value of the variable must be Base64-encoded. For example, to set `DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS_BASE64` variable to `Authorization: QmVhcmVyIFRPS0VO, Cache-control: bm8tY2FjaGU=`, ensure you convert the list to its Base64 equivalent: `QXV0aG9yaXphdGlvbjogUW1WaGNtVnlJRlJQUzBWTywgQ2FjaGUtY29udHJvbDogYm04dFkyRmphR1U9`, and the Base64-encoded value must be used. This is useful when storing secret header values in a [masked variable](../../../ci/variables/index.md#mask-a-cicd-variable), which has character set restrictions.
WARNING:
Base64 is used to support the [masked variable](../../../ci/variables/index.md#mask-a-cicd-variable) feature. Base64 encoding is not by itself a security measure, because sensitive values can be easily decoded.
### Example: Adding a list of headers on each request using plain text
In the following example of a `.gitlab-ci.yml`, `DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS` configuration variable is set to provide two header values as explained in [request headers](#request-headers).
The following `.gitlab-ci.yml` sample assumes the [masked variable](../../../ci/variables/index.md#mask-a-cicd-variable) `SECRET_REQUEST_HEADERS_BASE64` is defined as a [group or instance level CI/CD variable defined in the UI](../../../ci/variables/index.md#define-a-cicd-variable-in-the-ui). The value of `SECRET_REQUEST_HEADERS_BASE64` is set to `WC1BQ01FLVNlY3JldDogc31jcnt0ISwgWC1BQ01FLVRva2VuOiA3MDVkMTZmNWUzZmI=`, which is the Base64-encoded text version of `X-ACME-Secret: s3cr3t!, X-ACME-Token: 705d16f5e3fb`. Then, it can be used as follows:
Consider using `DAST_API_REQUEST_HEADERS_BASE64` when storing secret header values in a [masked variable](../../../ci/variables/index.md#mask-a-cicd-variable), which has character set restrictions.
When testing an API it can be useful to exclude certain paths. For example, you might exclude testing of an authentication service or an older version of the API. To exclude paths, use the `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PATHS` CI/CD variable . This variable is specified in your `.gitlab-ci.yml` file. To exclude multiple paths, separate entries using the `;` character. In the provided paths you can use a single character wildcard `?` and `*` for a multiple character wildcard.
To verify the paths are excluded, review the `Tested Operations` and `Excluded Operations` portion of the job output. You should not see any excluded paths listed under `Tested Operations`.
To exclude one or more nested levels within a path we use `**`. In this example we are testing API endpoints. We are testing `/api/v1/` and `/api/v2/` of a data query requesting `mass`, `brightness` and `coordinates` data for `planet`, `moon`, `star`, and `satellite` objects. Example paths that could be scanned include, but are not limited to:
-`/api/v2/planet/coordinates`
-`/api/v1/star/mass`
-`/api/v2/satellite/brightness`
In this example we test the `brightness` endpoint only:
> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/292196) in GitLab 14.10.
While testing an API you may might want to exclude a parameter (query string, header, or body element) from testing. This may be needed because a parameter always causes a failure, slows down testing, or for other reasons. To exclude parameters, you can set one of the following variables: `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PARAMETER_ENV` or `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PARAMETER_FILE`.
The `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PARAMETER_ENV` allows providing a JSON string containing excluded parameters. This is a good option if the JSON is short and does not change often. Another option is the variable `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PARAMETER_FILE`. This variable is set to a file path that can be checked into the repository, created by another job as an artifact, or generated at runtime with a pre-script using `DAST_API_PRE_SCRIPT`.
The JSON document contains a JSON object, this object uses specific properties to identify which parameter should be excluded.
You can provide the following properties to exclude specific parameters during the scanning process:
-`headers`: Use this property to exclude specific headers. The property's value is an array of header names to be excluded. Names are case-insensitive.
-`cookies`: Use this property's value to exclude specific cookies. The property's value is an array of cookie names to be excluded. Names are case-sensitive.
-`query`: Use this property to exclude specific fields from the query string. The property's value is an array of field names from the query string to be excluded. Names are case-sensitive.
-`body-form`: Use this property to exclude specific fields from a request that uses the media type `application/x-www-form-urlencoded`. The property's value is an array of the field names from the body to be excluded. Names are case-sensitive.
-`body-json`: Use this property to exclude specific JSON nodes from a request that uses the media type `application/json`. The property's value is an array, each entry of the array is a [JSON Path](https://goessner.net/articles/JsonPath/) expression.
-`body-xml`: Use this property to exclude specific XML nodes from a request that uses media type `application/xml`. The property's value is an array, each entry of the array is a [XPath v2](https://www.w3.org/TR/xpath20/) expression.
To exclude the header `Upgrade-Insecure-Requests`, set the `header` property's value to an array with the header name: `[ "Upgrade-Insecure-Requests" ]`. For instance, the JSON document looks like this:
```json
{
"headers": [ "Upgrade-Insecure-Requests" ]
}
```
Header names are case-insensitive, so the header name `UPGRADE-INSECURE-REQUESTS` is equivalent to `Upgrade-Insecure-Requests`.
##### Excluding both a header and two cookies
To exclude the header `Authorization`, and the cookies `PHPSESSID` and `csrftoken`, set the `headers` property's value to an array with header name `[ "Authorization" ]` and the `cookies` property's value to an array with the cookies' names `[ "PHPSESSID", "csrftoken" ]`. For instance, the JSON document looks like this:
```json
{
"headers": [ "Authorization" ],
"cookies": [ "PHPSESSID", "csrftoken" ]
}
```
##### Excluding a `body-form` parameter
To exclude the `password` field in a request that uses `application/x-www-form-urlencoded`, set the `body-form` property's value to an array with the field name `[ "password" ]`. For instance, the JSON document looks like this:
```json
{
"body-form": [ "password" ]
}
```
The exclude parameters uses `body-form` when the request uses a content type `application/x-www-form-urlencoded`.
The JSON Path expression uses special syntax to identify JSON nodes: `$` refers to the root of the JSON document, `.` refers to the current object (in our case the root object), and the text `schema` refers to a property name. Thus, the JSON path expression `$.schema` refers to a property `schema` in the root object.
The exclude parameters uses `body-json` when the request uses a content type `application/json`. Each entry in `body-json` is expected to be a [JSON Path expression](https://goessner.net/articles/JsonPath/). In JSON Path characters like `$`, `*`, `.` among others have special meaning.
To exclude the property `password` on each entry of an array of `users` at the root level, set the `body-json` property's value to an array with the JSON Path expression `[ "$.users[*].paswword" ]`.
The JSON Path expression starts with `$` to refer to the root node and uses `.` to refer to the current node. Then, it uses `users` to refer to a property and the characters `[` and `]` to enclose the index in the array you want to use, instead of providing a number as an index you use `*` to specify any index. After the index reference, we find `.` which now refers to any given selected index in the array, preceded by a property name `password`.
The exclude parameters uses `body-json` when the request uses a content type `application/json`. Each entry in `body-json` is expected to be a [JSON Path expression](https://goessner.net/articles/JsonPath/). In JSON Path characters like `$`, `*`, `.` among others have special meaning.
To exclude an attribute named `isEnabled` located in the root element `credentials`, set the `body-xml` property's value to an array with the XPath expression `[ "/credentials/@isEnabled" ]`.
The XPath expression `/credentials/@isEnabled`, starts with `/` to indicate the root of the XML document, then it is followed by the word `credentials` which indicates the name of the element to match. It uses a `/` to refer to a node of the previous XML element, and the character `@` to indicate that the name `isEnable` is an attribute.
The exclude parameters uses `body-xml` when the request uses a content type `application/xml`. Each entry in `body-xml` is expected to be a [XPath v2 expression](https://www.w3.org/TR/xpath20/). In XPath expressions characters like `@`, `/`, `:`, `[`, `]` among others have special meanings.
To exclude the text of the `username` element contained in root node `credentials`, set the `body-xml` property's value to an array with the XPath expression `[/credentials/username/text()" ]`.
In the XPath expression `/credentials/username/text()`, the first character `/` refers to the root XML node, and then after it indicates an XML element's name `credentials`. Similarly, the character `/` refers to the current element, followed by a new XML element's name `username`. Last part has a `/` that refers to the current element, and uses a XPath function called `text()` which identifies the text of the current element.
The exclude parameters uses `body-xml` when the request uses a content type `application/xml`. Each entry in `body-xml` is expected to be a [XPath v2 expression](https://www.w3.org/TR/xpath20/). In XPath expressions characters like `@`, `/`, `:`, `[`, `]` among others have special meanings.
To exclude the element `username` contained in root node `credentials`, set the `body-xml` property's value to an array with the XPath expression `[/credentials/username" ]`.
In the XPath expression `/credentials/username`, the first character `/` refers to the root XML node, and then after it indicates an XML element's name `credentials`. Similarly, the character `/` refers to the current element, followed by a new XML element's name `username`.
The exclude parameters uses `body-xml` when the request uses a content type `application/xml`. Each entry in `body-xml` is expected to be a [XPath v2 expression](https://www.w3.org/TR/xpath20/). In XPath expressions characters like `@`, `/`, `:`, `[`, `]` among others have special meanings.
To exclude anXML element `login` which is defined in namespace `s`, and contained in `credentials` root node, set the `body-xml` property's value to an array with the XPath expression `[ "/credentials/s:login" ]`.
In the XPath expression `/credentials/s:login`, the first character `/` refers to the root XML node, and then after it indicates an XML element's name `credentials`. Similarly, the character `/` refers to the current element, followed by a new XML element's name `s:login`. Notice that name contains the character `:`, this character separates the namespace from the node name.
The namespace name should have been defined in the XML document which is part of the body request. You may check the namespace in the specification document HAR, OpenAPI, or Postman Collection file.
The exclude parameters uses `body-xml` when the request uses a content type `application/xml`. Each entry in `body-xml` is expected to be an [XPath v2 expression](https://www.w3.org/TR/xpath20/). In XPath, expressions characters like `@`, `/`, `:`, `[`, `]` among others have special meanings.
To provide the exclusion JSON document set the variable `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PARAMETER_ENV` with the JSON string. In the following example, the `.gitlab-ci.yml`, the `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PARAMETER_ENV` variable is set to a JSON string:
To provide the exclusion JSON document set the variable `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PARAMETER_FILE` with the JSON file path. The file path is relative to the job current working directory. In the following example `.gitlab-ci.yml` content, the `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PARAMETER_FILE` variable is set to a JSON file path:
The `dast-api-exclude-parameters.json` is a JSON document that follows the structure of [exclude parameters document](#exclude-parameters-using-a-json-document).
As an alternative to excluding by paths, you can filter by any other component in the URL by using the `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_URLS` CI/CD variable. This variable can be set in your `.gitlab-ci.yml` file. The variable can store multiple values, separated by commas (`,`). Each value is a regular expression. Because each entry is a regular expression, an entry like `.*` excludes all URLs because it is a regular expression that matches everything.
In your job output you can check if any URLs matched any provided regular expression from `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_URLS`. Matching operations are listed in the **Excluded Operations** section. Operations listed in the **Excluded Operations** should not be listed in the **Tested Operations** section. For example the following portion of a job output:
Each value in `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_URLS` is a regular expression. Characters such as `.` , `*` and `$` among many others have special meanings in [regular expressions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_expression#Standards).
#### Examples
##### Excluding a URL and child resources
The following example excludes the URL `http://target/api/auth` and its child resources.
##### Excluding two URLs and allow their child resources
To exclude the URLs `http://target/api/buy` and `http://target/api/sell` but allowing to scan their child resources, for instance: `http://target/api/buy/toy` or `http://target/api/sell/chair`. You could use the value `http://target/api/buy/$,http://target/api/sell/$`. This value is using two regular expressions, each of them separated by a `,` character. Hence, it contains `http://target/api/buy$` and `http://target/api/sell$`. In each regular expression, the trailing `$` character points out where the matching URL should end.
To exclude the URLs: `http://target/api/buy` and `http://target/api/sell`, and their child resources. To provide multiple URLs we use the `,` character as follows:
To exclude exactly `https://target/api/v1/user/create` and `https://target/api/v2/user/create` or any other version (`v3`,`v4`, and more). We could use `https://target/api/v.*/user/create$`, in the previous regular expression `.` indicates any character and `*` indicates zero or more times, additionally `$` indicates that the URL should end there.
When configured correctly, a CI/CD pipeline contains a `dast` stage and an `dast_api` job. The job only fails when an invalid configuration is provided. During typical operation, the job always succeeds even if vulnerabilities are identified during testing.
Vulnerabilities are displayed on the **Security** pipeline tab with the suite name. When testing against the repositories default branch, the DAST API vulnerabilities are also shown on the Security and Compliance's Vulnerability Report page.
To prevent an excessive number of reported vulnerabilities, the DAST API scanner limits the number of vulnerabilities it reports per operation.
## Viewing DAST API vulnerabilities
The DAST API analyzer produces a JSON report that is collected and used
[to populate the vulnerabilities into GitLab vulnerability screens](#view-details-of-a-dast-api-vulnerability).
See [handling false positives](#handling-false-positives) for information about configuration changes you can make to limit the number of false positives reported.
### View details of a DAST API vulnerability
Follow these steps to view details of a vulnerability:
1. You can view vulnerabilities in a project, or a merge request:
Assertions detect vulnerabilities in tests produced by checks. Many checks support multiple Assertions such as Log Analysis, Response Analysis, and Status Code. When a vulnerability is found, the Assertion used is provided. To identify which Assertions are on by default, see the Checks default configuration in the configuration file. The section is called `Checks`.
This example shows the SQL Injection Check:
```yaml
- Name: SqlInjectionCheck
Configuration:
UserInjections: []
Assertions:
- Name: LogAnalysisAssertion
- Name: ResponseAnalysisAssertion
- Name: StatusCodeAssertion
```
Here you can see three Assertions are on by default. A common source of false positives is
`StatusCodeAssertion`. To turn it off, modify its configuration in the `Profiles` section. This
example provides only the other two Assertions (`LogAnalysisAssertion`,
`ResponseAnalysisAssertion`). This prevents `SqlInjectionCheck` from using `StatusCodeAssertion`:
For self-managed GitLab instances in an environment with limited, restricted, or intermittent access to external resources through the internet, some adjustments are required for the DAST API testing job to successfully run.
Steps:
1. Host the Docker image in a local container registry.
1. Set the `SECURE_ANALYZERS_PREFIX` to the local container registry.
The Docker image for DAST API must be pulled (downloaded) from the public registry and then pushed (imported) into a local registry. The GitLab container registry can be used to locally host the Docker image. This process can be performed using a special template. See [loading Docker images onto your offline host](../offline_deployments/index.md#loading-docker-images-onto-your-offline-host) for instructions.
Once the Docker image is hosted locally, the `SECURE_ANALYZERS_PREFIX` variable is set with the location of the local registry. The variable must be set such that concatenating `/api-security:2` results in a valid image location.
Security tools that perform dynamic analysis testing, such as DAST API, perform testing by sending requests to an instance of your running application. The requests are engineered to test for specific vulnerabilities that might exist in your application. The speed of a dynamic analysis test depends on the following:
- How many requests per second can be sent to your application by our tooling
- How fast your application responds to requests
- How many requests must be sent to test the application
- How many operations your API is comprised of
- How many fields are in each operation (think JSON bodies, headers, query string, cookies, etc.)
If the DAST API testing job still takes longer than expected reach after following the advice in this performance guide, reach out to support for further assistance.
### Diagnosing performance issues
The first step to resolving performance issues is to understand what is contributing to the slower-than-expected testing time. Some common issues we see are:
- DAST API is running on a slow or single-CPU GitLab Runner (GitLab Shared Runners are single-CPU)
- The application deployed to a slow/single-CPU instance and is not able to keep up with the testing load
- The application contains a slow operation that impacts the overall test speed (> 1/2 second)
- The application contains an operation that returns a large amount of data (> 500K+)
- The application contains a large number of operations (> 40)
#### The application contains a slow operation that impacts the overall test speed (> 1/2 second)
The DAST API job output contains helpful information about how fast we are testing, how fast each operation being tested responds, and summary information. Let's take a look at some sample output to see how it can be used in tracking down performance issues:
This job console output snippet starts by telling us how many operations were found (10), followed by notifications that testing has started on a specific operation and a summary of the operation has been completed. The summary is the most interesting part of this log output. In the summary, we can see that it took DAST API 767 requests to fully test this operation and its related fields. We can also see that the average response time was 2 seconds and the time to complete was 14 minutes for this one operation.
An average response time of 2 seconds is a good initial indicator that this specific operation takes a long time to test. Further, we can see that the response body size is quite large. The large body size is the culprit here, transferring that much data on each request is what takes the majority of that 2 seconds.
For this issue, the team might decide to:
- Use a multi-CPU runner. Using a multi-CPU runner allows DAST API to parallelize the work being performed. This helps lower the test time, but getting the test down under 10 minutes might still be problematic without moving to a high CPU machine due to how long the operation takes to test.
- Trade off between how many CPUs and cost.
- [Exclude this operation](#excluding-slow-operations) from the DAST API test. While this is the simplest, it has the downside of a gap in security test coverage.
- [Exclude the operation from feature branch DAST API tests, but include it in the default branch test](#excluding-operations-in-feature-branches-but-not-default-branch).
- [Split up the DAST API testing into multiple jobs](#splitting-a-test-into-multiple-jobs).
The likely solution is to use a combination of these solutions to reach an acceptable test time, assuming your team's requirements are in the 5-7 minute range.
### Addressing performance issues
The following sections document various options for addressing performance issues for DAST API:
- [Using a multi-CPU Runner](#using-a-multi-cpu-runner)
- [Splitting a test into multiple jobs](#splitting-a-test-into-multiple-jobs)
- [Excluding operations in feature branches, but not default branch](#excluding-operations-in-feature-branches-but-not-default-branch)
#### Using a multi-CPU Runner
One of the easiest performance boosts can be achieved using a multi-CPU runner with DAST API. This table shows statistics collected during benchmarking of a Java Spring Boot REST API. In this benchmark, the target and DAST API share a single runner instance.
| CPU Count | Request per Second |
|----------------------|--------------------|
| 1 CPU (Shared Runner)| 75 |
| 4 CPU | 255 |
| 8 CPU | 400 |
As we can see from this table, increasing the CPU count of the runner can have a large impact on testing speed/performance.
To use a multi-CPU typically requires deploying a self-managed GitLab Runner onto a multi-CPU machine or cloud compute instance.
When multiple types of GitLab Runners are available for use, the various instances are commonly set up with tags that can be used in the job definition to select a type of runner.
Here is an example job definition for DAST API that adds a `tags` section with the tag `multi-cpu`. The job automatically extends the job definition included through the DAST API template.
```yaml
dast_api:
tags:
- multi-cpu
```
To verify that DAST API can detect multiple CPUs in the runner, download the `gl-api-security-scanner.log` file from a completed job's artifacts. Search the file for the string `Starting work item processor` and inspect the reported max DOP (degree of parallelism). The max DOP should be greater than or equal to the number of CPUs assigned to the runner. The value is never lower than 2, even on single CPU runners, unless forced through a configuration variable. If the value reported is less than the number of CPUs assigned to the runner, then something is wrong with the runner deployment. If unable to identify the problem, open a ticket with support to assist.
Example log entry:
`17:00:01.084 [INF] <Peach.Web.Core.Services.WebRunnerMachine> Starting work item processor with 2 max DOP`
#### Excluding slow operations
In the case of one or two slow operations, the team might decide to skip testing the operations. Excluding the operation is done using the `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PATHS` configuration [variable as explained in this section.](#exclude-paths)
In this example, we have an operation that returns a large amount of data. The operation is `GET http://target:7777/api/large_response_json`. To exclude it we provide the `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PATHS` configuration variable with the path portion of our operation URL `/api/large_response_json`.
To verify the operation is excluded, run the DAST API job and review the job console output. It includes a list of included and excluded operations at the end of the test.
```yaml
dast_api:
variables:
DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PATHS: /api/large_response_json
```
Excluding operations from testing could allow some vulnerabilities to go undetected.
{: .alert .alert-warning}
#### Splitting a test into multiple jobs
Splitting a test into multiple jobs is supported by DAST API through the use of [`DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PATHS`](#exclude-paths) and [`DAST_API_EXCLUDE_URLS`](#exclude-urls). When splitting a test up, a good pattern is to disable the `dast_api` job and replace it with two jobs with identifying names. In this example we have two jobs, each job is testing a version of the API, so our names reflect that. However, this technique can be applied to any situation, not just with versions of an API.
The rules we are using in the `dast_api_v1` and `dast_api_v2` jobs are copied from the [DAST API template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Security/DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml).
#### Excluding operations in feature branches, but not default branch
In the case of one or two slow operations, the team might decide to skip testing the operations, or exclude them from feature branch tests, but include them for default branch tests. Excluding the operation is done using the `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PATHS` configuration [variable as explained in this section.](#exclude-paths)
In this example, we have an operation that returns a large amount of data. The operation is `GET http://target:7777/api/large_response_json`. To exclude it we provide the `DAST_API_EXCLUDE_PATHS` configuration variable with the path portion of our operation URL `/api/large_response_json`. Our configuration disables the main `dast_api` job and creates two new jobs `dast_api_main` and `dast_api_branch`. The `dast_api_branch` is set up to exclude the long operation and only run on non-default branches (for example, feature branches). The `dast_api_main` branch is set up to only execute on the default branch (`main` in this example). The `dast_api_branch` jobs run faster, allowing for quick development cycles, while the `dast_api_main` job which only runs on default branch builds, takes longer to run.
To verify the operation is excluded, run the DAST API job and review the job console output. It includes a list of included and excluded operations at the end of the test.
```yaml
# Disable the main job so we can create two jobs with
# different names
dast_api:
rules:
- if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH
when: never
# DAST API for feature branch work, excludes /api/large_response_json
The top two reasons for the DAST API job timing out are slow operations (> 1 second) and using a single-CPU runner for DAST API (GitLab shared runners are single-CPU). Before you can diagnose the problem further, the job must complete so the output can be analyzed. We recommend to start with a multi-CPU runner first, then exclude portions of your API operations until the job completes and the output can be further reviewed.
See the following documentation sections for assistance:
- [Performance tuning and testing speed](#performance-tuning-and-testing-speed)
- [Using a multi-CPU Runner](#using-a-multi-cpu-runner)
A bug exists in versions of the DAST API analyzer prior to v1.6.196 that can cause a background process to fail under certain conditions. The solution is to update to a newer version of the DAST API analyzer.
The version information can be found in the job details for the `dast_api` job.
- In [GitLab 15.6 and later](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/376078), `Error waiting for DAST API 'http://127.0.0.1:5000' to become available`
- In GitLab 15.5 and earlier, `Error waiting for API Security 'http://127.0.0.1:5000' to become available`.
The DAST API engine outputs an error message when it cannot establish a connection with the scanner application component. The error message is shown in the job output window of the `dast_api` job. A common cause of this issue is changing the `DAST_API_API` variable from its default.
**Error message**
- In [GitLab 13.11 and later](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/323939), `Failed to start scanner session (version header not found).`
- Remove the `DAST_API_API` variable from the `.gitlab-ci.yml` file. The value inherits from the DAST API CI/CD template. We recommend this method instead of manually setting a value.
- If removing the variable is not possible, check to see if this value has changed in the latest version of the [DAST API CI/CD template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Security/DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml). If so, update the value in the `.gitlab-ci.yml` file.
### `Failed to start session with scanner. Please retry, and if the problem persists reach out to support.`
The DAST API engine outputs an error message when it cannot establish a connection with the scanner application component. The error message is shown in the job output window of the `dast_api` job. A common cause for this issue is that the background component cannot use the selected port as it's already in use. This error can occur intermittently if timing plays a part (race condition). This issue occurs most often with Kubernetes environments when other services are mapped into the container causing port conflicts.
Before proceeding with a solution, it is important to confirm that the error message was produced because the port was already taken. To confirm this was the cause:
1. Go to the job console.
1. Look for the artifact `gl-api-security-scanner.log`. You can either download all artifacts by selecting **Download** and then search for the file, or directly start searching by selecting **Browse**.
1. Open the file `gl-api-security-scanner.log` in a text editor.
1. If the error message was produced because the port was already taken, you should see in the file a message like the following:
- In [GitLab 15.5 and later](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/367734):
```log
Failed to bind to address http://127.0.0.1:5500: address already in use.
```
- In GitLab 15.4 and earlier:
```log
Failed to bind to address http://[::]:5000: address already in use.
```
The text `http://[::]:5000` in the previous message could be different in your case, for instance it could be `http://[::]:5500` or `http://127.0.0.1:5500`. As long as the remaining parts of the error message are the same, it is safe to assume the port was already taken.
If you did not find evidence that the port was already taken, check other troubleshooting sections which also address the same error message shown in the job console output. If there are no more options, feel free to [get support or request an improvement](#get-support-or-request-an-improvement) through the proper channels.
Once you have confirmed the issue was produced because the port was already taken. Then, [GitLab 15.5 and later](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/367734) introduced the configuration variable `DAST_API_API_PORT`. This configuration variable allows setting a fixed port number for the scanner background component.
**Solution**
1. Ensure your `.gitlab-ci.yml` file defines the configuration variable `DAST_API_API_PORT`.
1. Update the value of `DAST_API_API_PORT` to any available port number greater than 1024. We recommend checking that the new value is not in used by GitLab. See the full list of ports used by GitLab in [Package defaults](../../../administration/package_information/defaults.md#ports)
The DAST API engine outputs an error message when it cannot determine the target API after inspecting the OpenAPI document. This error message is shown when the target API has not been set in the `.gitlab-ci.yml` file, it is not available in the `environment_url.txt` file, and it could not be computed using the OpenAPI document.
There is a order of precedence in which the DAST API engine tries to get the target API when checking the different sources. First, it tries to use the `DAST_API_TARGET_URL`. If the environment variable has not been set, then the DAST API engine attempts to use the `environment_url.txt` file. If there is no file `environment_url.txt`, then the DAST API engine uses the OpenAPI document contents and the URL provided in `DAST_API_OPENAPI` (if a URL is provided) to try to compute the target API.
The best-suited solution depends on whether or not your target API changes for each deployment. In static environments, the target API is the same for each deployment, in this case refer to the [static environment solution](#static-environment-solution). If the target API changes for each deployment a [dynamic environment solution](#dynamic-environment-solutions) should be applied.
For environments where the target API remains the same, we recommend you specify the target URL by using the `DAST_API_TARGET_URL` environment variable. In your `.gitlab-ci.yml`, add a variable `DAST_API_TARGET_URL`. The variable must be set to the base URL of API testing target. For example:
In a dynamic environment your target API changes for each different deployment. In this case, there is more than one possible solution, we recommend you use the `environment_url.txt` file when dealing with dynamic environments.
To support dynamic environments in which the target API URL changes during each pipeline, DAST API engine supports the use of an `environment_url.txt` file that contains the URL to use. This file is not checked into the repository, instead it's created during the pipeline by the job that deploys the test target and collected as an artifact that can be used by later jobs in the pipeline. The job that creates the `environment_url.txt` file must run before the DAST API engine job.
1. Modify the test target deployment job adding the base URL in an `environment_url.txt` file at the root of your project.
1. Modify the test target deployment job collecting the `environment_url.txt` as an artifact.
There are cases where the document is autogenerated with an invalid schema or cannot be edited manually in a timely manner. In those scenarios, the DAST API is able to perform a relaxed validation by setting the variable `DAST_API_OPENAPI_RELAXED_VALIDATION`. We recommend providing a fully compliant OpenAPI document to prevent unexpected behaviors.
To detect and correct elements that don't comply with the OpenAPI specifications, we recommend using an editor. An editor commonly provides document validation, and suggestions to create a schema-compliant OpenAPI document. Suggested editors include:
If your OpenAPI document is generated manually, load your document in the editor and fix anything that is non-compliant. If your document is generated automatically, load it in your editor to identify the issues in the schema, then go to the application and perform the corrections based on the framework you are using.
#### Enable OpenAPI relaxed validation
Relaxed validation is meant for cases when the OpenAPI document cannot meet OpenAPI specifications, but it still has enough content to be consumed by different tools. A validation is performed but less strictly in regards to document schema.
DAST API can still try to consume an OpenAPI document that does not fully comply with OpenAPI specifications. To instruct DAST API to perform a relaxed validation, set the variable `DAST_API_OPENAPI_RELAXED_VALIDATION` to any value, for example:
DAST API uses the specified media types in the OpenAPI document to generate requests. If no request can be created due to the lack of supported media types, then an error is thrown.
- In [GitLab 14.10 and later](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/333304), `Error, no operation in the OpenApi document is consuming any supported media type. Check 'OpenAPI Specification' to check the supported media types.`
**Solution**
1. Review supported media types in the [OpenAPI Specification](#openapi-specification) section.
1. Edit your OpenAPI document, allowing at least a given operation to accept any of the supported media types. Alternatively, a supported media type could be set in the OpenAPI document level and get applied to all operations. This step may require changes in your application to ensure the supported media type is accepted by the application.
### ``Error, error occurred trying to download `<URL>`: There was an error when retrieving content from Uri:' <URL>'. Error:The SSL connection could not be established, see inner exception.``
DAST API is compatible with a broad range of TLS configurations, including outdated protocols and ciphers.
Despite broad support, you might encounter connection errors. This error occurs because DAST API could not establish a secure connection with the server at the given URL.
To resolve the issue:
If the host in the error message supports non-TLS connections, change `https://` to `http://` in your configuration.
For example, if an error occurs with the following configuration:
```yaml
stages:
- dast
include:
- template: DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml
variables:
DAST_API_TARGET_URL: https://test-deployment/
DAST_API_OPENAPI: https://specs/openapi.json
```
Change the prefix of `DAST_API_OPENAPI` from `https://` to `http://`:
```yaml
stages:
- dast
include:
- template: DAST-API.gitlab-ci.yml
variables:
DAST_API_TARGET_URL: https://test-deployment/
DAST_API_OPENAPI: http://specs/openapi.json
```
If you cannot use a non-TLS connection to access the URL, contact the Support team for help.
You can expedite the investigation with the [testssl.sh tool](https://testssl.sh/). From a machine with a bash shell and connectivity to the affected server:
1. Download the latest release `zip` or `tar.gz` file and extract from <https://github.com/drwetter/testssl.sh/releases>.
WARNING: Failed to pull image with policy "always": Error response from daemon: Get https://registry.example.com/my-target-app/manifests/latest: unauthorized (manager.go:237:0s)
ERROR: Job failed: failed to pull image "registry.example.com/my-target-app:latest" with specified policies [always]: Error response from daemon: Get https://registry.example.com/my-target-app/manifests/latest: unauthorized (manager.go:237:0s)
```
**Error message**
- In GitLab 15.9 and earlier, `ERROR: Job failed: failed to pull image` followed by `Error response from daemon: Get IMAGE: unauthorized`.
**Solution**
Authentication credentials are provided using the methods outlined in the [Access an image from a private Container Registry](../../../ci/docker/using_docker_images.md#access-an-image-from-a-private-container-registry) documentation section. The method used is dictated by your container registry provider and its configuration. If your using a container registry provided by a 3rd party, such as a cloud provider (Azure, Google Could (GCP), AWS and so on), check the providers documentation for information on how to authenticate to their container registries.
The following example uses the [statically defined credentials](../../../ci/docker/using_docker_images.md#use-statically-defined-credentials) authentication method. In this example the container registry is `registry.example.com` and image is `my-target-app:latest`.
1. Read how to [Determine your `DOCKER_AUTH_CONFIG` data](../../../ci/docker/using_docker_images.md#determine-your-docker_auth_config-data) to understand how to compute the variable value for `DOCKER_AUTH_CONFIG`. The configuration variable `DOCKER_AUTH_CONFIG` contains the Docker JSON configuration to provide the appropriate authentication information. For example, to access private container registry: `registry.example.com` with the credentials `aGVsbG8gd29ybGQK`, the Docker JSON looks like:
```json
{
"auths": {
"registry.example.com": {
"auth": "aGVsbG8gd29ybGQK"
}
}
}
```
1. Add the `DOCKER_AUTH_CONFIG` as a CI/CD variable. Instead of adding the configuration variable directly in your `.gitlab-ci.yml`file you should create a project [CI/CD variable](../../../ci/variables/index.md#for-a-project).
1. Rerun your job, and the statically-defined credentials are now used to sign in to the private container registry `registry.example.com`, and let you pull the image `my-target-app:latest`. If succeeded the job console shows an output like:
```log
Running with gitlab-runner 15.6.0~beta.186.ga889181a (a889181a)
on blue-4.shared.runners-manager.gitlab.com/default J2nyww-s
Resolving secrets
00:00
Preparing the "docker+machine" executor
00:56
Using Docker executor with image registry.gitlab.com/security-products/api-security:2 ...
Starting service registry.example.com/my-target-app:latest ...
Authenticating with credentials from $DOCKER_AUTH_CONFIG
Using docker image sha256:139c39668e5e4417f7d0eb0eeb74145ba862f4f3c24f7c6594ecb2f82dc4ad06 for registry.example.com/my-target-app:latest with digest registry.example.com/my-target-
The [GitLab issue tracker on GitLab.com](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues) is the right place for bugs and feature proposals about API Security and DAST API.
Use `~"Category:API Security"` [label](../../../development/labels/index.md) when opening a new issue regarding DAST API to ensure it is quickly reviewed by the right people. Refer to our [review response SLO](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/workflow/code-review/#review-response-slo) to understand when you should receive a response.
[Search the issue tracker](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues) for similar entries before submitting your own, there's a good chance somebody else had the same issue or feature proposal. Show your support with an emoji reaction or join the discussion.
- Assert: Assertions are detection modules used by checks to trigger a vulnerability. Many assertions have
configurations. A check can use multiple Assertions. For example, Log Analysis, Response Analysis,
and Status Code are common Assertions used together by checks. Checks with multiple Assertions
allow them to be turned on and off.
- Check: Performs a specific type of test, or performed a check for a type of vulnerability. For
example, the SQL Injection Check performs DAST testing for SQL Injection vulnerabilities. The DAST API scanner is comprised of several checks. Checks can be turned on and off in a profile.
- Profile: A configuration file has one or more testing profiles, or sub-configurations. You may
have a profile for feature branches and another with extra testing for a main branch.
