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🧟 Zombie APIs: The Hidden Cyber Security Risk Lurking in Your Business
Table of Contents
What Are Zombie APIs?
Zombie APIs are digital leftovers — interfaces that once served a purpose but have since been forgotten, deprecated, or replaced. Unlike properly retired APIs, zombie APIs remain active in the background, quietly ticking along with no monitoring or updates.
The danger? They’re still connected to your systems.
To put it simply: a live API is one you actively use, a deprecated API is retired and switched off, while a zombie API is the one left “undead,” forgotten by IT but still accessible.
For attackers, zombie APIs are a goldmine. For your IT team, they’re a nightmare.
Why Zombie APIs Are So Dangerous
Here’s why IT managers and SMEs should be concerned about zombie APIs:
- Security holes → Unmonitored APIs aren’t patched, leaving vulnerabilities wide open.
- Compliance risks → Sensitive data flowing through zombie APIs could breach GDPR or PCI-DSS requirements.
- Financial loss → A single breach can cause downtime, fines, and reputational damage.
- Operational disruption → Old APIs can conflict with current systems, breaking workflows.
Think of a zombie API as leaving your office door unlocked after hours — you may not notice straight away, but the wrong person will.
Real-World Examples of Zombie APIs in Action
Zombie APIs aren’t just theory — they’ve been behind some high-profile breaches:
- In 2024, 15 million Trello users’ email addresses and other account info were posted on the dark web after a threat actor named manipulated calls to an API to scrape data.
- In June 2024, a password reset API, was exploited at Honda to access 21,393 customer orders, internal financial reports, and other details.
- PandaBuy, an online shopping platform, suffered a serious breach in April 2024 when hackers managed to access the data of over 1.3 million customers.
- Australian telecom company Optus left an API with broken access controls online for at least 4 years. A hacker found the flawed API and accessed info on over 9 million customers.
- T-Mobile (2020): Hackers exploited an API tied to legacy systems to access customer data.
- The pattern is clear: zombie APIs thrive where IT teams forget to switch things off.
How to Identify Zombie APIs in Your Business
The first step to tackling zombie APIs is knowing where they are. Here’s a quick checklist:
Zombie API Identification Checklist
- Audit your API inventory (do you even have one?).
- Look for old, unused tokens and credentials.
- Review past integrations with suppliers or software no longer in use.
- Check API gateways and logs for dormant traffic.
- Ask: “Do we know where all our APIs are running?”
Tools like Postman, API gateways, and SIEM systems can help you locate and monitor suspicious endpoints.
Preventing Zombie APIs: Best Practices for IT Managers
Once you’ve identified zombie APIs, prevention is key. Here’s how IT teams can stop the undead from haunting their systems:
- Enforce API governance → Define ownership of every API.
- Use API gateways → Centralise access and monitoring.
- Properly decommission APIs → Don’t just leave them idle — shut them down.
- Audit regularly → Treat API reviews like patching cycles.
- Penetration testing → Hire experts to actively hunt for zombie APIs.
Zombie APIs vs Shadow IT: Key Differences
It’s easy to confuse zombie APIs with shadow IT, but they’re different beasts.
| Aspect | Zombie APIs | Shadow IT |
|---|---|---|
|
Definition |
Forgotten APIs still active in your system |
Unapproved apps, devices, or services set up without IT’s knowledge |
|
Risk |
Security holes, compliance breaches, data leaks |
Data silos, compliance risks, lack of control |
|
Cause |
Poor decommissioning practices |
End users bypassing IT for convenience |
|
Solution |
API governance, decommissioning, monitoring |
Better IT support, policy enforcement, approved tools |
Both are dangerous — but zombie APIs are often more invisible.
The Role of Vendors and Partners in Tackling Zombie APIs
Top-tier vendors like Microsoft, Cisco, and Barracuda have invested heavily in API security tools. But even the best tools can’t help if your APIs aren’t properly managed.
This is where a trusted technology partner like Qual Limited makes the difference. With 30 years of IT expertise, we help businesses identify, monitor, and retire APIs safely, working alongside our tier-one partners to ensure no backdoor is left open.
The Future of API Security: Why Monitoring Never Stops
The API economy is exploding. More cloud apps, more SaaS platforms, more integrations.
This growth means more zombie APIs unless businesses adopt proactive monitoring. The future of API security will lean heavily on AI-powered tools to flag anomalies, expired tokens, or unusual activity — much like we already see in advanced threat detection.
👉 This ties into our recent blog on AI procurement, where AI is helping IT managers automate routine tasks like auditing and monitoring.
FAQ: Common Questions on Zombie APIs
What’s the difference between deprecated and zombie APIs?
A deprecated API is officially retired and switched off. A zombie API is left running, often forgotten.
How can SMEs detect zombie APIs on a budget?
Start with an API inventory and review old integrations. Even without premium tools, a manual audit can highlight risks.
Do cloud providers like Azure and AWS protect against zombie APIs?
They provide tools and monitoring, but the responsibility to retire APIs lies with the business.
How often should we audit APIs?
At least twice a year — more often if you’re in a regulated sector.
Final Thoughts & How Qual Limited Can Help
Zombie APIs may sound like IT jargon, but the risks are real. From exposing sensitive data to causing major compliance headaches, they’re the kind of silent cybersecurity gap no business can afford.
At Qual Limited, we’ve been helping businesses plan, build, operate, and monitor their IT for over 30 years. With our expertise and partnerships with leading vendors, we can help you find and eliminate zombie APIs before they cause chaos.
👉 Call to Action: Talk to Qual Limited today to make sure your business isn’t haunted by zombie APIs.
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👉 The 1 Definitive IT Checklist for Every Business
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👉 AI Procurement: How We’re Delivering More Value for Businesses
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Work With Qual Limited: Smarter Security, Better Results
At Qual Limited, we specialise in streamlining IT procurement and fulfilment for businesses of all sizes. Our approach includes:
- A dedicated Personal Account Manager to handle your IT needs
- End-to-end procurement support, from vendor selection to delivery
- Strategic cost-saving solutions tailored to your budget
- Access to an extensive network of global IT vendors
With 30 years of experience, we understand the challenges of IT procurement and provide customised solutions to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs, and improve IT fulfilment speed.
IT procurement doesn’t have to be complex. Qual Limited simplifies the entire process, ensuring you get the right IT solutions at the right price, without the usual frustrations and delays.
Book a consultation today with your dedicated Personal Account Manager and discover how we can streamline IT procurement, enhance efficiency, and drive cost savings.
Book your consultation now and take the stress out of IT procurement with Qual Limited
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Biography
James, our Senior Cyber Security Specialist, has been a key part of Qual since 2004. With over a decade of experience, James is dedicated to protecting your business from cyber threats. He combines deep technical knowledge with a proactive approach, ensuring your systems are secure and risks are minimised. Whether it’s implementing the latest security measures or responding to incidents, James is committed to keeping your data safe and your business running smoothly
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