middleBrick vs Invicti

middleBrick is a black-box API security scanner. You submit a URL and receive a risk score with prioritized findings. It uses read-only methods (GET and HEAD) and text-only POST for LLM probes, requires no agents or SDKs, and completes a scan in under one minute. It supports any language, framework, or cloud because it does not rely on code instrumentation.

Invicti is a dynamic application security testing (DAST) solution focused on vulnerability detection. It performs active checks that may include intrusive payloads designed to exploit findings. Its scans may interact more extensively with the application state and can include authenticated testing workflows.

For teams that want evidence-based scanning without requiring code access, middleBrick’s black-box approach limits operational risk. Invicti positions itself for deeper vulnerability discovery where active testing is acceptable. The choice depends on your tolerance for intrusive probing and the operational constraints of the target environment.

middleBrick detects issues across 12 categories aligned to OWASP API Top 10 (2023). It identifies authentication bypasses, JWT misconfigurations such as alg=none and expired tokens, BOLA and IDOR via sequential ID probing, BFLA and privilege escalation indicators, over-exposed properties and mass-assignment surfaces, CORS wildcard misconfigurations, rate-limit header inconsistencies, data exposure including PII and API key patterns, missing encryption protections, SSRF indicators in URL and body fields, and inventory issues like missing versioning. It also includes 18 LLM/AI security probes across Quick, Standard, and Deep scan tiers, covering system prompt extraction, instruction override, jailbreak techniques, data exfiltration attempts, and token smuggling.

middleBrick maps findings to three specific frameworks: PCI-DSS 4.0, SOC 2 Type II, and OWASP API Top 10 (2023). For other regulations, it helps you prepare for audit evidence and aligns with security controls described in relevant frameworks. Invicti also maps results to standards such as PCI-DSS and provides compliance reporting aimed at structured audit workflows.

middleBrick does not perform active SQL injection or command injection testing, does not detect business logic vulnerabilities, and does not replace a human pentester for high-stakes audits. Invicti similarly requires scope definition and does not automatically cover every logical flaw. Understanding the boundaries of each tool reduces expectation gaps during security assessments.

middleBrick requires no installation of agents or SDKs. You provide a URL, and the scanner validates domain ownership via DNS TXT records or an HTTP well-known file before proceeding. Authenticated scans support Bearer, API key, Basic auth, and cookies, with a strict header allowlist. Only Authorization, X-API-Key, Cookie, and X-Custom-* headers are forwarded, and destructive payloads are never sent.

Invicti offers authenticated scanning with broader credential handling and supports more complex authentication chains out of the box. Its setup can involve agent installation or integration with existing testing platforms, which increases its integration footprint. The operational footprint of middleBrick is intentionally minimal, which suits ephemeral environments and strict change controls.

If your environment prohibits any form of active testing, middleBrick’s read-only posture may still require approval, but it avoids the deeper interaction levels that Invicti may perform. Review the authentication and header allowlist details carefully to ensure alignment with your API gateway policies.

middleBrick provides a web dashboard for managing scans and viewing reports with score trends and downloadable compliance PDFs. The CLI via the middlebrick npm package runs with a simple command such as middlebrick scan <url>, outputting JSON or text. A GitHub Action enables CI/CD gating, failing builds when the score drops below a set threshold. An MCP server allows scanning from AI coding assistants, and a programmable API supports custom integrations.

Invicti provides on-premise and SaaS deployment models with a broader feature set in its enterprise offering, including advanced scheduling and detailed reporting dashboards. Its CI/CD integrations often require more configuration and may involve agent-based scanning in certain deployments.

For teams already invested in JavaScript-based tooling, the npm-based CLI of middleBrick integrates cleanly into existing workflows. If your pipeline requires on-premise scanning and deeper configuration, Invicti may warrant a closer look, though you should verify exact deployment requirements in your environment.

middleBrick offers a free tier at $0 with 3 scans per month and CLI access. The Starter plan at $99 per month supports 15 APIs, monthly scans, dashboard access, email alerts, and the MCP Server. The Pro plan at $499 per month covers 100 APIs with continuous monitoring, GitHub Action gates, CI/CD integration, Slack or Teams alerts, compliance reports, and signed webhooks. Enterprise plans start above $2000 per month for unlimited APIs, custom rules, SSO, audit logs, SLAs, and dedicated support.

Continuous monitoring in Pro rescans on configurable intervals, detects diffs between scans, sends rate-limited email alerts, and uses HMAC-SHA256 signed webhooks that auto-disable after 5 consecutive failures. Customer scan data is deletable on demand and purged within 30 days of cancellation. No data is sold or used for model training.

Invicti’s pricing varies by deployment model and number of endpoints, typically with higher entry costs for on-premise options. Its monitoring features include scheduled scans and detailed reporting, though exact alerting and data retention policies depend on the edition. Evaluate your expected scan volume and compliance needs to determine which pricing structure aligns with your budget.