Just when CIOs and CISOs thought they were getting a grip on API security, AI came along and shook things up. In the past few years, a huge number of organizations have adopted AI, realizing innumerable productivity, operational, and efficiency benefits. However, they’re also having to deal with unprecedented API security challenges. 

Wallarm’s Annual 2025 API ThreatStats™ Report reveals a staggering 1,025% year-on-year increase in AI-related API vulnerabilities. APIs serve as the connective tissue between AI models and applications; they’re also now the primary attack vector for AI-driven environments. If CIOs and CISOs want to stay secure in 2025, they must make API security a top priority.

AIs and APIs: A Double-Edged Sword 

AI systems are utterly reliant on APIs. From data ingestion and model training to real-time inference and automation and everything in between, there is no AI without APIs. Unfortunately, the very APIs that enable AI also create new attack vectors that are leaving organizations vulnerable: 

• Insecure API Authentication: A concerning 89% of AI-powered APIs rely on weak authentication methods, like static keys, which makes them prime targets for attackers.
• Memory Corruption Risks: High-performance binary APIs, typically used for AI workloads, introduce vulnerabilities like buffer overflows and integer overflows that attackers can exploit.
• Exposure to External Threats: Over 57% of AI-powered APIs are externally accessible, significantly increasing organizations’ attack surfaces. 

To make matters worse, as agentic AI evolves, so too will the API threat landscape. The increasing interconnectedness of AI agents via APIs will expand the attack surface and make AI security increasingly complex. What does this mean? This means the only way to secure AI systems is to secure their APIs. 

APIs Were the Primary Attack Vector in 2024

2024 will go down in history as the year APIs became the dominant attack vector. Of the abused flaws detailed in the 2024 CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, more than 50% were API exploits, rising from just 20% in 2023. This increase underscores that attackers are increasingly shifting away from exploiting traditional infrastructure weaknesses and instead abusing API vulnerabilities at scale.

APIs have become a top target for attackers for several reasons: 

• Pervasive Use Across Industries: APIs power SaaS, cloud, AI, and IoT applications, making them a universal entry point for attackers.
• Rapid AI Adoption: The surge in AI-driven APIs has introduced new, often poorly secured, interfaces.
• Growing Complexity: APIs' interconnectivity has led to visibility gaps and shadow APIs that evade security monitoring.

These revelations drive home that, with APIs now playing a role in most cyberattacks, organizations can no longer afford to treat API security as an afterthought.

Guidance for CISOs and CIOs

We’ve established that API security should be a priority in 2025, but what does that look like? Put bluntly, waiting for regulatory mandates or industry-wide standards to catch up is not an option. The convergence of AI and APIs demands immediate action. Here are some immediate actions that should help keep your organization safe throughout the coming year:

• Comprehensive API Discovery and Shadow API Management: Use API security platforms like Wallarm to continuously detect and monitor managed and unmanaged (shadow) APIs. Don’t forget about AI APIs!
• Strengthening Authentication and Access Controls: Implement OAuth 2.0, JWTs with expiration policies, and zero-trust principles to replace static keys.
• Embedding API Security into AI Workflows: Enforce security testing in model training and inference pipelines to detect vulnerabilities before deployment.
• AI-Powered Threat Detection: Use behavioral analysis and machine learning-driven anomaly detection to identify API abuse in real time.
• Adopting a ‘Security by Design’ Approach: Integrate API security best practices directly into DevSecOps workflows to ensure continuous protection.

The key takeaway here is that while AI may be revolutionizing enterprise operations, it has also introduced a new era of API security challenges. Only by recognizing and acting on this fact can you protect your organization from threats. 

Securing AI-powered APIs must be at the forefront of every organization’s security strategy. CISOs and CIOs who take immediate, proactive steps will mitigate risks, protect sensitive data, and ensure their AI initiatives drive innovation - without compromising security. Those that don’t, won’t. For deeper insights into the API threat landscape and actionable recommendations for protecting yourself, download the full Annual 2025 API ThreatStats™ Report today.