Testing API For Broken Object Level Authorization

Testing Api For Broken Object Level Authorization

Overview

Cybersecurity skill for testing api for broken object level authorization. Follows industry best practices and security standards.

When to Use

Trigger phrases:

• "testing api for broken object level authorization"

• "Tests REST and GraphQL APIs for Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA/IDOR) vu"

• Assessing REST or GraphQL APIs that use object identifiers in URL paths, query parameters, or request bodies

• Performing OWASP API Security Top 10 assessments where API1:2023 (BOLA) must be tested

• Testing multi-tenant SaaS applications where users from different tenants should not access each other's data

• Validating that API endpoints enforce per-object authorization checks beyond just authentication

• Evaluating APIs after new endpoints are added to ensure authorization middleware is applied consistently

Do not use without written authorization from the API owner. BOLA testing involves accessing or attempting to access other users' data, which requires explicit permission.

When NOT to Use

• When you lack proper authorization for testing
• For production systems without change management
• When the task requires legal or compliance expertise beyond technical scope

Prerequisites

• Written authorization specifying the target API endpoints and scope of testing
• At least two test accounts with different privilege levels and distinct data sets
• Burp Suite Professional or OWASP ZAP configured as an intercepting proxy
• Authentication tokens (JWT, session cookies, API keys) for each test account
• API documentation (OpenAPI/Swagger spec) or access to enumerate endpoints
• Python 3.10+ with requests library for scripted testing
• Autorize Burp extension installed for automated BOLA detection

Workflow

# Example: IOC detection
import re

IOC_PATTERNS = {
    "ip": r"\b(?:\d{1,3}\.){3}\d{1,3}\b",
    "domain": r"\b[a-z0-9-]+\.[a-z]{2,}\b",
    "hash_md5": r"\b[a-f0-9]{32}\b",
    "hash_sha256": r"\b[a-f0-9]{64}\b",
}

def extract_iocs(text: str) -> dict:
    return {k: re.findall(v, text) for k, v in IOC_PATTERNS.items()}

1. Reconnaissance — Gather information about the target related to api. Identify attack surface.
2. Vulnerability Identification — Enumerate potential api weaknesses using automated and manual techniques.
3. Exploit Development/Selection — Use broken object level authorization to identify and test api vulnerabilities.
4. Execution — Execute the api test in a controlled manner with proper authorization.
5. Post-Exploitation — Document the impact and extent of successful exploitation.
6. Reporting — Write detailed findings with reproduction steps, impact assessment, and remediation guidance.

Tools

• broken object level authorization — Primary tool for this skill
• Vulnerability Scanner — Automated weakness identification
• Exploitation Framework — Controlled exploitation testing
• Reporting Tool — Findings documentation and tracking

Process

1. Design — Define interface, identify patterns, plan implementation
2. Implement — Write code following existing conventions, add tests
3. Verify — Run tests, check integration, validate behavior

Verification

• All api procedures executed completely and documented
• Findings validated against multiple data sources
• False positives identified and filtered
• Results documented with evidence and timestamps
• Recommendations provided with risk-based prioritization

Anti-Rationalization Table