middleBrick vs Qualys

middleBrick is a black-box API security scanner that submits read-only methods (GET and HEAD) plus text-only POST for LLM probes. It requires no agents, SDKs, or code access and works with any language, framework, or cloud. Scan completion is under one minute. Qualys traditionally focuses on infrastructure and vulnerability scanning across networks and hosts, with API assessments often part of broader agent-based or authenticated scans. For API coverage, middleBrick emphasizes rapid, unauthenticated discovery plus optional authenticated scanning when credentials and domain verification are provided.

middleBrick detects issues across 12 categories aligned to the OWASP API Top 10 (2023), including authentication bypass, JWT misconfigurations, BOLA and BFLA, property authorization, input validation, rate limiting, data exposure, encryption issues, SSRF, inventory mismanagement, unsafe consumption, and LLM/AI security. Findings map directly to OWASP API Top 10, and the tool supports evidence collection for SOC 2 Type II and PCI-DSS 4.0. Qualys coverage of APIs may require additional modules and custom scripts; public documentation positions Qualys as more general purpose, with API security often needing focused configuration and extensions. middleBrick surfaces findings relevant to compliance activities but does not certify or guarantee compliance with any regulation.

middleBrick operates via a web dashboard, CLI (middlebrick scan <url>), GitHub Action, MCP server for AI coding assistants, and an API client for custom integrations. Setup is intended to be low friction: provide a URL and, for authenticated scans, pass domain verification and header allowlisting. The public tier includes the CLI and dashboard; paid tiers add CI/CD gates and webhook integrations. Qualys deployments often involve agents, connectors, and heavier integration efforts, with public tier offerings typically focused on asset inventory and vulnerability management rather than specialized API testing workflows. Exact Qualys public tier setup characteristics are not detailed here.

Authenticated scanning in middleBrick (Starter tier and above) supports Bearer tokens, API keys, Basic auth, and cookies, gated by domain verification so that only the domain owner can run scans with credentials. It forwards a restricted set of headers and includes continuous monitoring with scheduled rescans, diff detection, email alerts, signed webhooks, and data deletion on demand. Qualys authentication methods vary by deployment and may include agent-based credentials or platform-specific integrations, with public tier documentation indicating broader IT and vulnerability management use cases. Specific Qualys public tier authenticated scanning capabilities for APIs are not described here.

middleBrick pricing is usage-based: Free (3 scans/month, CLI), Starter ($99/month for 15 APIs with dashboard and email alerts), Pro ($499/month for 100 APIs with continuous monitoring and CI/CD gates), and Enterprise (custom volumes, SSO, audit logs, SLA). Qualys public tier pricing is not stated here; typical models for vulnerability management include subscription tiers based on asset count or modules. middleBrick targets teams that need focused API security scanning and developer-friendly integrations, whereas Qualys often serves broader IT and security operations.

middleBrick does not fix, patch, or block findings; it detects and reports with remediation guidance. It does not perform active SQL injection or command injection, does not detect business logic vulnerabilities, and does not replace a human pentester for high-stakes audits. Blind SSRF and certain advanced logic issues are out of scope because they require infrastructure or domain-specific context beyond black-box probing. These limitations are stated to set clear expectations rather than imply capability gaps.