Agent skill · security · aiskillstore
api-security-best-practices
Implement secure API design patterns including authentication, authorization, input validation, rate limiting, and protection against common API vulnerabilities
Why this skill is useful
Provides specific security patterns and implementation examples for securing APIs that the AI wouldn't reliably generate on its own.
What it needs
About 10k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-08-07. 405 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
API Security Best Practices Overview Guide developers in building secure APIs by implementing authentication, authorization, input validation, rate limiting, and protection against common vulnerabilities. This skill covers security patterns for REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket APIs. When to Use This Skill Use when designing new API endpoints Use when securing existing APIs Use when implementing authentication and authorization Use when protecting against API attacks (injection, DDoS, etc.) Use when conducting API security reviews Use when preparing for security audits Use when implementing rate limiting and throttling Use when handling sensitive data in APIs How It Works Step 1: Authentication & Authorization I'll help you implement secure authentication: Choose authentication method (JWT, OAuth 2.0, API keys) Implement token-based authentication Set up role-based access control (RBAC) Secure session management Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) Step 2: Input Validation & Sanitization Protect against injection attacks: Validate all input data Sanitize user inputs Use parameterized queries Implement request schema validation Prevent SQL injection, XSS, and command injection Step 3: Rate Limiting & Throttling Prevent abuse and DDoS attacks: Implement rate limiting per user/IP Set up API throttling Configure request quotas Handle rate limit errors gracefully Monitor for suspicious activity Step 4: Data Protection Secure sensitive data: Encrypt data in transit (HTTPS/TLS) Encrypt sensitive data at rest Implement proper error handling (no data leaks) Sanitize error messages Use secure headers Step 5: API Security Testing Verify security implementation: Test authentication and authorization Perform penetration testing Check for common vulnerabilities (OWASP API Top 10) Validate input handling Test rate limiting Examples Example 1: Implementing JWT Authentication Example 2: Input Validation and SQL Injection Prevention Example 3: Rate Limiting and DDoS Protection Best …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills aiskillstore/api-security-best-practices