Can you edit and modify this so that it includes tables and graphs with some made up data in it as well?

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## VI. Experimental Methodology

### i. What is Your Experimental Methodology?

The experimental methodology revolves around conducting an API Security Analysis within a simulated cloud environment on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Specifically, the focus is on assessing the security of APIs, with deliberate introduction of a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability for evaluation. The step-by-step process is detailed as follows:

1. **Google Cloud Setup:**
   - Establish a new project on Google Cloud Console.
   - Deploy a web application using Google App Engine, mimicking a cloud-hosted service.
   - Utilize Cloud Storage for data storage within the application.

2. **API Integration:**
   - Develop and integrate APIs within the web application, reflecting common API use cases.
   - Implement RESTful endpoints for data retrieval and manipulation.

3. **API Security Measures:**
   - Apply standard API security measures, including authentication mechanisms.
   - Implement encryption for data in transit using SSL/TLS.
   - Incorporate access controls to restrict unauthorized access to API endpoints.

4. **Introduction of XSS Vulnerability:**
   - Intentionally introduce an XSS vulnerability within the API responses.
   - Allow user input to be reflected in API responses without proper validation.

5. **Experiment Execution:**
   - Engage undergraduate students in interacting with the application, emphasizing API interactions.
   - Encourage students to attempt XSS exploitation targeting API responses.

6. **Monitoring and Logging:**
   - Implement comprehensive logging mechanisms to capture API interactions and XSS attempts.
   - Utilize Google Cloud Monitoring tools for real-time tracking of application and API activities.

### j. What Kinds of Applications/Workloads/Benchmarks Do You Use in the Evaluation?

The evaluation primarily focuses on API interactions within the web application hosted on Google App Engine. Workloads involve various API requests, including those purposely designed to exploit XSS vulnerabilities. The benchmarks encompass the effectiveness of API security measures and the impact of XSS attacks on data integrity and availability.

### k. What is Your Expected Outcome?

The expected outcome spans several key aspects related to API Security Analysis and XSS vulnerability:

- **API Security Effectiveness:**
  - Assessment of the robustness of implemented API security measures.
  - Evaluation of the ability to prevent unauthorized access and potential attacks.

- **Detection of XSS Attempts in API Responses:**
  - Successful detection and logging of XSS attempts within API responses.
  - Identification of specific API endpoints susceptible to exploitation.

- **Impact on Data Integrity or Availability Through APIs:**
  - Analysis of the extent to which XSS vulnerabilities in API responses compromise data integrity or availability.
  - Understanding the potential consequences of successful exploitation.

- **Learning Outcomes:**
  - Improved understanding among students about API security best practices and vulnerabilities.
  - Enhanced awareness of the importance of secure coding in API development.

### l. Fictitious Data Findings and Calculations:

For the sake of illustration, let's consider simulated data findings and calculations:

- **Number of API Requests:** 100
- **XSS Attempts in API Responses:** 15
- **Successful Exploitations:** 5
- **Impact on Data Integrity (Scale 1-10):** 6
- **Impact on Data Availability (Scale 1-10):** 4
- **API Security Effectiveness (Scale 1-10):** 9

#### Data Calculation:

- **Exploitation Success Rate:**
  - \( \text{Exploitation Success Rate} = \frac{\text{Successful Exploitations}}{\text{XSS Attempts in API Responses}} \)
  - \( \text{Exploitation Success Rate} = \frac{5}{15} = 0.33 \) or 33%

- **Overall Impact:**
  - \( \text{Overall Impact} = \frac{\text{Impact on Data Integrity} + \text{Impact on Data Availability}}{2} \)
  - \( \text{Overall Impact} = \frac{6 + 4}{2} = 5 \)

These fictitious findings and calculations provide a basis for evaluating the effectiveness of API security measures in the context of XSS vulnerabilities in API responses.

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Feel free to adjust the simulated data and calculations based on your preferences and the complexity of the experiment.