middleBrick vs StackHawk

middleBrick is a black-box API security scanner that submits a URL and returns a risk score from A to F with prioritized findings. It uses read-only methods (GET and HEAD) and text-only POST for LLM probes, requires no agents or SDK integration, and completes a scan in under a minute. StackHawk also performs black-box scanning and supports authenticated checks, but its public documentation emphasizes runtime application self-protection and active security testing, which can involve more intrusive probes than middleBrick’s strictly read-only design.

middleBrick detects issues across 12 categories aligned to the OWASP API Top 10 (2023), including authentication bypass, JWT misconfigurations, BOLA and BFLA, over-exposed properties, input validation, rate limiting, data exposure such as PII and API keys, encryption issues, SSRF indicators, inventory problems, unsafe consumption surfaces, and LLM/AI security probes. Findings map directly to PCI-DSS 4.0, SOC 2 Type II, and OWASP API Top 10. StackHawk reports coverage against OWASP API Top 10 and can integrate with issue trackers; public details on its specific mappings to PCI-DSS or SOC 2 are not specified, so those claims should be treated as uncertain.

middleBrick supports authenticated scans at the Starter tier and above with Bearer, API key, Basic auth, and Cookie methods. Domain verification is required via DNS TXT record or an HTTP well-known file so only the domain owner can scan with credentials, and a strict header allowlist limits forwarded headers to Authorization, X-API-Key, Cookie, and X-Custom-* values. StackHawk also offers authenticated scanning and supports multiple authentication types; its public documentation highlights role-based access controls and SSO integrations, which can help teams manage scan permissions at scale.

middleBrick provides a Web Dashboard for reviewing scans and score trends, downloading branded compliance PDFs, an npm CLI with JSON or text output, a GitHub Action for CI/CD gating, an MCP Server for AI coding assistants, and a programmatic API for custom integrations. StackHawk focuses on developer-friendly workflows with a CLI and IDE integrations, plus policy-as-code support; its public documentation positions it as an SDLC tool that can run in pipelines, but specific integration names and exact CLI syntax are not detailed here.

middleBrick’s public pricing includes a free tier with 3 scans per month and CLI access, Starter at 99 dollars per month for 15 APIs with dashboard and email alerts, Pro at 499 dollars per month for 100 APIs with continuous monitoring and CI/CD integration, and Enterprise at 2000 dollars per month for unlimited APIs and custom controls. StackHawk does not publish public pricing on its website; interested users must request a quote, so direct cost comparison at the public tier level is not possible. middleBrick operates as a scanning tool only and does not install agents or modify application code, whereas StackHawk promotes runtime protection capabilities that imply a broader operational footprint.

middleBrick does not fix, patch, block, or remediate issues; it detects and reports with remediation guidance. It 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. StackHawk similarly positions its product as a detection and reporting aid rather than a remediation or authorization tool. Teams should evaluate both tools against their specific risk tolerance, development processes, and compliance evidence requirements.