The average request payload size of the API has decreased significantly, falling below the mean average minus one standard deviation of the preceding period. This indicates a drop in the amount of data being sent in requests, which could be caused by various factors such as changes in client behavior, application logic, or issues with how the API processes incoming data. A sudden and unexplained reduction in request payloads could signal potential problems with data collection, API behavior, or even an attempt to manipulate the system through smaller, less detectable requests.
An attacker may attempt to exploit the reduction in request payload size by sending smaller, more concise requests that bypass normal security or validation checks. For example, if the application typically expects large JSON payloads, an attacker may attempt to send a smaller, carefully crafted request to avoid triggering size-based detection systems or filtering rules. If the API has weak data validation or security mechanisms in place, these smaller requests could be used to perform attacks such as:
