Access control is a security technique that governs who has access to sensitive information, resources, and systems. Only authorized users have access to sensitive data and actions, while unauthorized ones are barred.
Controlling access to sensitive data such as personally identifiable information (PII), financial information, and intellectual property is crucial.
Access control, on the other hand, might fail owing to a variety of causes such as poorly configured policies, insufficient testing, and a lack of input validation. When access control fails, unauthorised access, data breaches, data loss, and other security problems can occur.
Access control failure is a serious problem for organizations of all sizes and industries. It underlines the significance of keeping a good access control system that is examined, tested, and updated on a regular basis to eliminate weaknesses that attackers could exploit.
This article defines broken access control, discusses its causes and implications, and provides some examples. We’ll also go over best practices for preventing broken access control occurrences and maintaining a working access control system.
What Is Broken Access Control?
A vulnerability in online applications is broken access control, which allows users to obtain unauthorized access to resources or functionality that they should not have access to. This can occur as a result of defects in the design or implementation of access control measures, as well as errors in the authentication and authorization processes.
Access control, authentication, and session management are all terms that are frequently used interchangeably. These three principles are connected, but their roles in web application security differ.
Authentication is the process of authenticating a user’s identity, generally using a username and password, but also with biometric verification or multifactor authentication.
Authentication ensures that users are who they claim to be while also preventing illegal access to web application resources and functionality.
In contrast, session management is the practice of managing user sessions within a web application. It requires creating and storing session tokens, which enable users to remain logged in and utilize the application. Session management seeks to safeguard user sessions by preventing session hijacking and other sorts of attacks that exploit session vulnerabilities.
To avoid failed access control, proper access control mechanisms (technology used to enforce access control regulations such as passwords and biometrics) must be implemented and thoroughly verified before the application is deployed.
This includes checking user permissions, accurately implementing access control policies, and conducting frequent security audits to identify and rectify any potential vulnerabilities.
Broken Access Control Examples
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URL access is unrestricted.
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Insufficient authorization checks
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IDOR (insecure direct object reference)
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Control of horizontal and vertical access
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Management of broken sessions
Common Causes of Access Control Failure
Broken access control in web applications can be caused by a variety of factors. The following are some of the most common causes:
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Insufficient authorization checks
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Direct object references that are not secure
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Inadequate authentication
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Access control has been misconfigured
Finally, to avoid serious consequences for online applications, access control must be handled. Developers and security specialists must identify and avoid typical reasons for failing access control. Such steps include thorough testing, secure coding practices, and regular security audits.
Consequences of Broken Access Control
Access control failures can have a serious impact on online applications, resulting in unauthorized actions and the disclosure, alteration, or deletion of sensitive data. Here are some of the probable outcomes of faulty access control:
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Unauthorized data release
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Modification or deletion of data
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Unauthorized use of functionality
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Infraction of regulatory compliance
Steps to Prevent Inadequate Access Control
Role-based access control (RBAC)
RBAC is a type of access control in which roles are assigned to users based on their job functions and responsibilities. Each position is assigned a set of permissions that regulate the data and functionality to which they have access. RBAC ensures that users only have access to the resources and functions that are necessary for their position.
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
ABAC is a type of access control that uses attributes to decide whether or not a user can access a resource. Attributes include user identification, location, time of day, device kind, and other pertinent factors. ABAC enables more detailed and dynamic access control policies, ensuring users only have access to resources based on certain requirements.
Authentication and authorization controls
Auth controls guarantee that users are properly authenticated before accessing web app resources or functionality. To prevent illegal access, use strong passwords, multifactor authentication, and session timeouts.
Audit access control
Regularly auditing access control measures can assist in identifying vulnerabilities and flaws. During audits, test all access control vulnerabilities such as IDOR, horizontal and vertical access control, and session management.
Best access control procedures
Best practices for access control include least privilege, separation of roles, and defense-in-depth tactics. To prevent unwanted access, these techniques stack policies and employ several security mechanisms.
Employee training best practices
This is critical in order to prevent unwanted access to sensitive data or functionality. Employees should be trained on how to administer access control rules appropriately, identify and report access control vulnerabilities, and respond to security incidents.
These safeguards protect online applications by maintaining data security, integrity, and availability, as well as preventing unwanted access and data breaches.
Conclusion
Finally, access control guarantees that only authorized users have access to sensitive data and activities while prohibiting unauthorized users from doing so.
Unauthorized access to data and functionality can result in a variety of outcomes, such as data deletion, identity theft, and fraud. As a result, organizations should consider ways to prevent unauthorized access.