Have you ever wondered if your API security strategy is ready for the unique risks introduced by GraphQL?
While GraphQL unlocks speed and flexibility for developers and clients alike, its dynamic nature can also open the door to new attack methods that traditional security tools often fail to catch.
In recent years, GraphQL has become a go-to technology for modern application development. As a query language for APIs, it allows clients to request exactly the data they need—no more, no less. This efficiency and flexibility make GraphQL ideal for frontend teams and mobile applications, reducing over-fetching and under-fetching of data. But with that power comes a new set of security risks that traditional API protections often fail to address.
Let’s compare REST and GraphQL through a simple real-world example and explain why dedicated GraphQL API protection is crucial when using GraphQL in production.
Imagine you’re building a banking app. You need to retrieve a customer’s account balance and a list of their recent transactions.
The REST Approach: Multiple Endpoints, Predictable Behavior
REST APIs typically expose each resource through its own endpoint:
- Get customer details:
GET /customers/123
- Get customer’s transactions:
GET /customers/123/transactions
REST APIs are generally structured and predictable. Each endpoint has a fixed purpose and returns a consistent response. While this can lead to inefficiencies—such as fetching more data than needed or making multiple calls—it also makes it easier to apply rate limits and enforce access controls.
The GraphQL Approach: One Endpoint, Flexible Queries
GraphQL uses a single endpoint (often /graphql) and lets clients define both the structure of the request and the specific data fields they need:
Query:
query {
customer(id: "123") {
name
accountBalance
transactions {
amount
date
}
}
}
Response:
{
"data": {
"customer": {
"name": "Alice",
"accountBalance": 2500.00,
"transactions": [
{ "amount": -100.00, "date": "2025-06-10" },
{ "amount": -50.00, "date": "2025-06-08" }
]
}
}
}
This approach eliminates multiple round trips and over-fetching—but it also shifts more control to the client, which can introduce new risks.
The security challenge with GraphQL is that, unlike REST APIs, which typically expose multiple endpoints for different resources, GraphQL operates through a single endpoint where clients define the structure of the response. This dynamic nature is one of its biggest advantages—but also its biggest security liability.
Because users can shape their own queries, attackers can exploit that flexibility to launch denial-of-service (DoS) attacks using overly complex or deeply nested queries that strain server resources. Others may chain together fields and objects to scrape unauthorized data or perform authorization bypass attacks.
Securing GraphQL requires more than traditional API protections. It demands a purpose-built approach, including:
- Full schema validation to ensure that only allowed operations are accepted.
- Query depth and cost limits to prevent expensive or infinite-loop queries.
- Granular access control that ensures users can only retrieve data they are authorized to see.
- Real-time monitoring to detect abnormal query behavior and abuse patterns before they impact performance or leak data.
The Bottom Line
GraphQL empowers app developers and provides efficiency in modern applications—but it also introduces unique risks. Without proper security controls in place, your GraphQL APIs could become a backdoor for attackers.
The solution isn’t to avoid GraphQL—it’s to secure it with tools and strategies built specifically for the way GraphQL works. As GraphQL adoption continues to grow, so will the threats targeting it. The time to secure your GraphQL APIs is now.
Learn more on our Radware Minute video
What is GraphQL API Security? | A Radware Minute