Broken Access Control is a significant security risk that is often featured in the OWASP Top 10, a list of the most critical web application security risks. The specific manifestation of this vulnerability in the OWASP Top 10 focuses on situations where restrictions on what authenticated users are allowed to do are not adequately enforced.
Here’s a more detailed explanation of Broken Access Control in the context of the OWASP Top 10:
OWASP Top 10 – Broken Access Control:
Description:
Broken Access Control is ranked as a top security risk because it can lead to unauthorized access, privilege escalation, and exposure of sensitive information. When access controls are not implemented or are improperly configured, attackers may exploit these weaknesses to gain unauthorized access to certain functionalities, data, or administrative capabilities.
Common Scenarios:
- Inadequate Authorization Checks:
- Issue: Lack of proper checks to verify if a user has the necessary permissions to perform a specific action.
- Impact: Unauthorized users might be able to access sensitive information, execute privileged actions, or modify data.
- Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR):
- Issue: Allowing users to manipulate input parameters to access or modify objects they are not authorized to access.
- Impact: Unauthorized access to files, records, or resources that should be restricted.
- Elevation of Privilege:
- Issue: Users gaining unauthorized access to higher-level privileges or administrative functionalities.
- Impact: Attackers might escalate their privileges, leading to unauthorized control over critical aspects of the application.
Mitigation Strategies:
- Implement Proper Authorization Checks:
- Enforce proper authorization checks at every level to ensure users have the necessary permissions before allowing them to access certain functionalities or data.
- Use the Principle of Least Privilege:
- Assign the minimum level of access or permissions necessary for users to perform their tasks. Avoid granting excessive privileges by default.
- Regularly Audit Access Controls:
- Conduct regular security audits to identify and correct misconfigurations, unauthorized access points, and potential vulnerabilities related to access controls.
- Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC):
- Implement RBAC to simplify access control management and assign permissions based on user roles.
- Apply Proper Session Management:
- Ensure that session tokens or cookies are properly managed and validate user permissions during each session to prevent unauthorized access.
- Regular Security Testing:
- Conduct regular security testing, including penetration testing and code reviews, to identify and address potential access control issues.
Addressing Broken Access Control is crucial for maintaining the security of web applications. Implementing robust access controls and continuously monitoring and testing for vulnerabilities are key steps in mitigating this risk.
