Methods and apparatuses for improved network communication using a message integrity secure token

An apparatus for limiting an attack surface of a server application hosted by the apparatus by verifying integrity of messages transmitted to the server application, the apparatus comprising:

• communications circuitry configured to receive a message including specific message content and a token,
• authentication circuitry configured to determine, using the specific message content, whether the token comprises a valid message integrity secure token
• wherein the token comprises a valid message integrity secure token in an instance in which the token matches a result produced by applying a one-way hash function to a combination of (1) a calling system credential and (2) a particular portion of the specific message content;
• and
• response circuitry configured to perform, in an instance in which the authentication circuitry determines that the token comprises a valid message integrity secure token, an operation in response to the message.

A method for enhancing trustworthiness of a message generated by a calling application, the method comprising:

• generating, by message generation circuitry of a calling system hosting the calling application, specific message content for the message;
• generating, by the message generation circuitry of the calling system, a message integrity secure token by applying a one-way hash function to a combination of a calling system credential that is not included in the specific message content and a particular portion of the specific message content;
• generate the message by the message generation circuitry of the calling system, wherein the message includes the specific message content and the message integrity secure token;
• and
• transmitting the message by communications circuitry of the calling system.