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broken-access-control

Broken Access Control

Last reviewed May 28, 2026 Content v20260528
Track mode
none
Means
Read / quiz
Reading
~1 min
Level
intermediate

This lesson

This lesson teaches Broken Access Control: security mindset, common threats, and defensive practices for software teams.

Teams apply Broken Access Control in every serious Cybersecurity rollout—skipping it leaves blind spots in reviews and incidents.

You will apply Broken Access Control in contexts like: Web apps, APIs, CI/CD, and organizational compliance programs.

Read scenario-based lessons, map controls to code you write on other tracks, and complete MCQs—practice threat modeling on paper or in docs.

When you can explain the previous lesson's ideas in your own words.

Flaws where users perform actions or read data outside their permission—often #1 on OWASP lists.

Examples

  • Changing API id to access another user's record (IDOR)
  • Calling /admin without role check
  • JWT with role: admin tampered if not verified properly

Tests

For every endpoint: "What happens as user A trying user B's resource?" Automate in integration tests.

Important interview questions and answers

  1. Q: Horizontal vs vertical?
    A: Horizontal: peer users; vertical: escalate to admin.
  2. Q: Deny by default?
    A: 404/403 unless policy allows.

Self-check

  1. What is IDOR?
  2. How test access control in APIs?

Pitfall: Checking role only in frontend—attackers call API directly.

Interview prep

Server-side check?

Mandatory—clients are untrusted.

Interview tip Lesson completion confidence

Can you explain this lesson in 30 seconds without reading notes?

Not saved yet.

Check yourself

Multiple choice — immediate feedback.

Discussion

Past discussion is visible to everyone. Only logged-in users can post comments and replies.

Starter discussion topics

  • IDOR test?
  • Server-side check?

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