API and Automation Problems

API automation failures often result from incorrect endpoint configuration or authentication issues. Verify API endpoints are accessible from the ZAP host. Check API key placement—headers, query parameters, or request bodies. Ensure proper content-type headers for JSON or XML APIs. Use ZAP's manual request editor to verify API connectivity before automated scanning.

Headless mode issues prevent CI/CD integration and automated security testing. When ZAP fails to start in daemon mode, check for port conflicts and ensure no GUI dependencies exist. Some add-ons require GUI components and fail in headless mode. Use minimal configurations for automated scanning, adding only essential components. Monitor daemon logs for startup errors indicating configuration problems.

# Debugging API automation issues

import requests

# Test ZAP API connectivity
def test_zap_api():
    zap_url = "http://localhost:8080"
    api_key = "your-api-key"
    
    # Check ZAP status
    try:
        response = requests.get(f"{zap_url}/JSON/core/view/version/",
                               params={"apikey": api_key})
        print(f"ZAP Version: {response.json()}")
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Connection failed: {e}")
    
    # Verify API key
    try:
        response = requests.get(f"{zap_url}/JSON/core/view/alerts/",
                               params={"apikey": "wrong-key"})
    except:
        print("API key validation working")

test_zap_api()