April 20, 2023 / By Securium Solutions
Description:-
Broken access control, also known as authorization, is when a web application grants or denies users access to its content and features. It sounds like a simple step in the process of setting up a system, but establishing secure and correct access control requires resources.
Broken access control vulnerability is a type of security flaw that allows an unauthorized user access to restricted resources. By exploiting this vulnerability, attackers can circumvent standard security procedures and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or systems. Broken access control vulnerabilities are often caused by weak authentication and authorization mechanisms, allowing attackers to gain illegitimate privileges. Prevention of such vulnerabilities is critical for preserving the security of your systems and data.
There are several types of errors that can lead to Broken Access Control:-
- Insufficient or Weak Authorization Mechanisms: Authorization mechanisms should be designed to ensure that users are granted access to only the resources or functions they require to do their work. If the authorization mechanism is insufficient or weak, users may be granted access to resources or functions that they should not be allowed to access.
- Lack of Proper Authentication: Authentication mechanisms are used to verify the identity of users or entities. If the authentication mechanism is weak or missing, it becomes easy for attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain access to resources or functions that they are not authorized to access.
- Poorly Configured Access Controls: If Access Controls are not properly configured, it may lead to security breaches. This may happen if a system administrator fails to configure an access control mechanism or incorrectly configures it.
- Unsecured APIs: APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are used to integrate various systems or components. If the APIs are unsecured, attackers may gain unauthorized access to the resources or functions exposed by the APIs.
- Direct Object References: Direct Object References occur when attackers are able to access a resource or function directly without authorization. This vulnerability occurs when applications use references to resources in their URLs or parameter values.
Broken Access Control can lead to several types of attacks, including:-
- Privilege Escalation: Privilege Escalation is a type of attack that occurs when attackers gain elevated privileges within a system. This can happen if the Broken access control mechanism does not limit the privileges of users appropriately. Attackers can use this vulnerability to access resources or functions that they should not be able to access.
- Forced Browsing: Forced Browsing is a type of attack that involves an attacker using a web browser to access resources or functions that should be restricted. This can happen if the URL for the resource or function is known to the attacker.
- Session Hijacking: Session Hijacking is a type of attack that involves an attacker stealing the session ID of a legitimate user to gain access to resources or functions that should be restricted.
- Vertical Privilege Escalation: Vertical Privilege Escalation is a type of attack that occurs when attackers move up the privilege ladder within a system. Attackers can use this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive resources or functions.
- Horizontal Privilege Escalation: Horizontal Privilege Escalation is a type of attack that occurs when attackers gain access to resources or functions that are at the same level of privilege as they are. This vulnerability can be exploited to gain access to data or functionality that the attacker should not be able to access.
Remediation:-
Broken access control is a highly ranked OWASP-listed vulnerability rated to happen occasionally, has moderate exploitability, and has extremely deeper and harmful impacts. Additionally, broken access control is a leading factor in data breaches and leaks, which often result in huge penalties, loss of business reputation, and exposure of customer information to fraudsters.
It is, therefore, essential to address these vulnerabilities before attackers take advantage of them and, in general, establish an access control policy.
Following is the list of best practices and tools commonly used to prevent broken access control vulnerability attacks.
- Deny by default
- Implement strong authentication mechanisms
- Use role-based access control(RBAC)
- Implement access control checks
- Regularly review and update access control policies
- Use secure coding practices
Author
Lokesh Yadav
Cyber security Intern
