# Access Control Vulnerabilities - Documentation Index

**Complete guide to mastering the #1 vulnerability in OWASP Top 10:2021**

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## Overview

This comprehensive documentation covers **Access Control Vulnerabilities**, the most critical web application security risk according to OWASP Top 10:2021. The documentation is based on all 13 PortSwigger Web Security Academy labs and includes real-world exploitation techniques, CVE examples, prevention strategies, and complete resources for mastering access control security.

**Total Documentation:** Over 5,500 lines across 4 comprehensive guides

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## Documentation Structure

### 1. Complete Labs Guide (2,547 lines)
**File:** `access-control-portswigger-labs-complete.md`

**What's Inside:**
- **All 13 PortSwigger Labs:** Step-by-step solutions with exact HTTP requests/responses
- **5 Apprentice Labs:** Unprotected functionality, parameter manipulation, basic IDOR
- **8 Practitioner Labs:** GUID exploitation, data leakage, method bypasses, multi-step flaws
- **Complete Burp Suite Workflows:** Response interception, Repeater, Intruder, method conversion
- **Vulnerability Categories:** Vertical/horizontal privilege escalation, IDOR, parameter-based, method-based, URL/header manipulation
- **Attack Techniques Summary:** Detailed breakdown of all exploitation methods
- **Prevention Best Practices:** Framework-specific secure coding examples (Django, Spring, Express, Laravel)
- **Real-World Examples:** Facebook, Uber, Capital One, British Airways breaches

**Best For:**
- Learning complete exploitation techniques
- Understanding all lab solutions in detail
- Mastering Burp Suite for access control testing
- Exam preparation (OSCP, OSWA, CEH, GWAPT)

**Time to Complete:** 3-5 hours for all labs

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### 2. Quick Reference Cheat Sheet (959 lines)
**File:** `access-control-cheat-sheet.md`

**What's Inside:**
- **Quick Lab Solutions:** 1-2 minute completion guides for all 13 labs
- **Common Vulnerability Patterns:** IDOR, parameter injection, method bypass, header manipulation
- **Exploitation Payloads:** Ready-to-use commands for cURL, Burp Suite, Python
- **Burp Suite Quick Commands:** Essential shortcuts and workflows
- **Testing Checklist:** Complete methodology for access control assessments
- **Common Bypass Techniques:** Cookie manipulation, JSON injection, sequential enumeration
- **Automation Scripts:** Python/Bash for IDOR enumeration, method testing, header fuzzing
- **Quick Reference Tables:** Common parameters, admin paths, HTTP methods, headers
- **Remediation Guide:** Secure coding patterns for developers

**Best For:**
- Quick reference during penetration tests
- Rapid lab completion
- CTF competitions
- Bug bounty hunting
- Creating custom automation tools

**Time to Use:** Instant reference, 5-minute quick wins

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### 3. Quick Start Guide (696 lines)
**File:** `access-control-quickstart.md`

**What's Inside:**
- **5-Minute Quick Start:** Get testing immediately with essential techniques
- **Essential Test Cases:** Direct URL access, IDOR, cookie manipulation, method bypass
- **Common Patterns:** Visual identification of vulnerable code
- **Rapid Lab Completion:** 1-5 minute solutions for all labs
- **Burp Suite Speed Setup:** 2-minute configuration guide
- **Testing Checklist:** 5-minute security assessment workflow
- **Quick Wins:** Finding easy exploitation opportunities
- **Exploitation Templates:** Copy-paste scripts for immediate use
- **Real-World Examples:** Practical API IDOR, file download, admin cookies, method bypass
- **Detection Quick Reference:** High/medium/low risk indicators
- **Next Steps:** Learning path from beginner to advanced

**Best For:**
- Complete beginners starting access control testing
- Quick security assessments
- Getting immediate results
- Learning the basics in under 1 hour
- Understanding before diving into detailed labs

**Time to Start:** 5 minutes to first vulnerability

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### 4. Complete Resource Guide (1,304 lines)
**File:** `access-control-resources.md`

**What's Inside:**
- **OWASP Resources:** Top 10, Testing Guide, Cheat Sheets, Projects
- **Industry Standards:** NIST SP 800-53, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, MITRE ATT&CK/CWE/CAPEC
- **CVE Examples:**
  - 2025: CVE-2025-67875 (RAGFlow), CVE-2025-27507 (ZITADEL), CVE-2025-32463 (sudo)
  - 2024: KubeSphere, Oqtane, Moodle, Palo Alto, PHP-CGI
  - Historical: GitLab, Ruby on Rails, Grafana, Apache Airflow
- **Real-World Breaches:** Capital One, Facebook, Uber, British Airways with cost analysis
- **Tools & Frameworks:** Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Nuclei, custom Python/Bash tools
- **Research Papers:** Academic and industry research on access control
- **Secure Coding Practices:** Language-specific guidance (Python, JavaScript, Java, PHP)
- **Training Platforms:** PortSwigger Academy, HackTheBox, TryHackMe, PentesterLab
- **Certifications:** OSWA, OSCP, CEH, GWAPT
- **Bug Bounty Programs:** HackerOne, Bugcrowd, payouts and tips
- **Books:** Web Application Hacker's Handbook, Real-World Bug Hunting, Hacking APIs
- **Community Resources:** Reddit, Discord, Twitter, YouTube channels, podcasts, blogs

**Best For:**
- Deep dive into access control theory
- Understanding industry standards and compliance
- Learning from real-world breaches
- Finding training resources
- Getting certified
- Bug bounty preparation
- Building a security library

**Time Investment:** Reference for continuous learning

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## Quick Navigation

### I'm a Complete Beginner
**Start Here:**
1. Read `access-control-quickstart.md` (30 minutes)
2. Set up Burp Suite (5 minutes)
3. Complete first 3 labs using quickstart guide (15 minutes)
4. **Total:** Under 1 hour to first success

### I Want to Complete All Labs
**Path:**
1. Skim `access-control-quickstart.md` for basics (10 minutes)
2. Follow `access-control-portswigger-labs-complete.md` in order (3-5 hours)
3. Use `access-control-cheat-sheet.md` for quick reference
4. **Total:** Complete mastery in one day

### I'm Doing a Pentest Right Now
**Immediate Reference:**
1. Open `access-control-cheat-sheet.md`
2. Go to "Testing Checklist" section
3. Use "Exploitation Payloads" as needed
4. Reference "Burp Suite Quick Commands"
5. **Total:** Instant access during engagement

### I'm Hunting Bug Bounties
**Strategy:**
1. Review "Quick Wins" in `access-control-quickstart.md` (5 minutes)
2. Use automation scripts from `access-control-cheat-sheet.md`
3. Check "Bug Bounty Programs" in `access-control-resources.md`
4. Reference CVE examples for similar patterns
5. **Total:** Efficient hunting with proven techniques

### I Want to Learn More
**Deep Dive:**
1. Complete all labs with `access-control-portswigger-labs-complete.md`
2. Study real-world CVEs in `access-control-resources.md`
3. Read recommended books
4. Practice on additional platforms (HackTheBox, TryHackMe)
5. Participate in bug bounty programs
6. **Total:** Expert-level knowledge

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## Key Statistics

### OWASP Top 10:2021 - A01: Broken Access Control
- **Rank:** #1 (Most Critical)
- **Incidence Rate:** 3.81% of applications tested
- **Occurrences:** 318,000+ identified
- **CWEs Mapped:** 40 different weakness enumerations
- **Average Impact:** 3.73% exposure rate per application

### Lab Coverage
- **Total Labs:** 13 (5 Apprentice, 8 Practitioner)
- **Completion Time:** 15 minutes - 2 hours depending on experience
- **Success Rate:** 100% with proper guidance
- **Skill Level:** Beginner to Intermediate

### Real-World Impact
- **Capital One:** 100 million records, $80 million fine
- **British Airways:** £20 million GDPR fine
- **Facebook IDOR:** $10,000-$40,000 bug bounty payouts
- **Industry Average:** 3-6 month detection time

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## Vulnerability Categories Covered

### Vertical Privilege Escalation (8 Labs)
**Gaining admin/higher privileges:**
- Unprotected admin functionality (Labs 1-2)
- Parameter-based access control (Labs 3-4)
- URL/header manipulation (Lab 10)
- Method-based bypass (Lab 11)
- Multi-step process flaws (Lab 12)
- Referer-based controls (Lab 13)

### Horizontal Privilege Escalation (5 Labs)
**Accessing other users' data:**
- Basic IDOR with sequential IDs (Lab 5)
- IDOR with GUIDs (Lab 6)
- Data leakage in redirects (Lab 7)
- Password disclosure (Lab 8)
- File access IDOR (Lab 9)

### Attack Techniques
- Cookie manipulation (Admin=true)
- JSON parameter injection (roleid:2)
- HTTP method conversion (POST→GET)
- Alternative URL headers (X-Original-URL)
- Referer spoofing
- Multi-step workflow bypass
- Sequential ID enumeration
- GUID discovery

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## Tools Covered

### Burp Suite Features
- Response interception for cookie modification
- Repeater for parameter manipulation
- Intruder for IDOR enumeration
- Method conversion techniques
- Custom header injection
- Session token management

### Automation Tools
- Python scripts for IDOR enumeration
- Bash scripts for method testing
- cURL commands for quick testing
- ffuf for fuzzing
- Custom Burp Suite extensions (Autorize, AuthMatrix)

### Testing Frameworks
- OWASP ZAP
- Nuclei templates
- Postman collection runner
- Custom payload lists

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## Learning Outcomes

After completing this documentation, you will be able to:

### Knowledge
- ✅ Understand all types of access control vulnerabilities
- ✅ Identify vulnerable patterns in code and applications
- ✅ Explain vertical vs horizontal privilege escalation
- ✅ Recognize IDOR in various contexts (URLs, APIs, files)
- ✅ Understand framework-specific security controls

### Skills
- ✅ Complete all 13 PortSwigger access control labs
- ✅ Use Burp Suite effectively for authorization testing
- ✅ Write automation scripts for IDOR enumeration
- ✅ Test all HTTP methods for access control bypass
- ✅ Manipulate cookies, parameters, and headers
- ✅ Chain multiple vulnerabilities for maximum impact

### Application
- ✅ Perform professional penetration testing
- ✅ Hunt access control bugs in bug bounty programs
- ✅ Secure code reviews for authorization flaws
- ✅ Write comprehensive security reports
- ✅ Implement proper access control in applications
- ✅ Pass security certifications (OSCP, OSWA, CEH)

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## File Recommendations by Use Case

| Use Case | Primary File | Secondary File | Time Required |
|----------|-------------|----------------|---------------|
| **First-time learning** | quickstart.md | labs-complete.md | 1-4 hours |
| **Lab completion** | labs-complete.md | cheat-sheet.md | 3-5 hours |
| **Pentest reference** | cheat-sheet.md | quickstart.md | Instant |
| **Bug bounty hunting** | cheat-sheet.md | resources.md | Ongoing |
| **Exam preparation** | labs-complete.md | cheat-sheet.md | 1 week |
| **Developer learning** | resources.md | labs-complete.md | 2-4 weeks |
| **Security research** | resources.md | labs-complete.md | Ongoing |
| **Teaching/Training** | quickstart.md | labs-complete.md | Course material |

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## Print-Friendly Versions

All files are formatted for easy printing:
- Clear headers and sections
- Code blocks for copy-paste
- Tables for quick reference
- Minimal graphics (text-based)

**Recommended Print Order:**
1. `access-control-cheat-sheet.md` - Keep at desk
2. `access-control-quickstart.md` - Quick reference card
3. `access-control-labs-complete.md` - Detailed study guide

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## Integration with Other Topics

Access control vulnerabilities often combine with:
- **CSRF:** Bypassing tokens via clickjacking or CORS
- **XSS:** Escalating to admin via stored XSS
- **SSRF:** Accessing internal admin panels
- **IDOR:** Combined with other vulns for data exfiltration
- **Path Traversal:** Often categorized under access control
- **Authentication Bypass:** Leading to authorization bypass

**See related documentation:**
- `csrf-portswigger-labs-complete.md`
- `cross-site-scripting.md`
- `ssrf-portswigger-labs-complete.md`
- `path-traversal-portswigger-labs-complete.md`

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## Updates and Maintenance

This documentation is current as of **January 2025** and includes:
- Latest PortSwigger lab solutions
- Recent CVEs (2024-2025)
- Current OWASP Top 10:2021
- Modern framework security features
- Active bug bounty programs
- Updated tool versions

**Check for updates:**
- PortSwigger Academy new labs
- OWASP Top 10:2025 (expected release)
- New CVE disclosures
- Framework security updates

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## Contributing

Found an issue or have suggestions?
- Verify against PortSwigger official solutions
- Test all code examples before reporting
- Include CVE numbers for vulnerability references
- Provide framework version numbers

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## License and Usage

**Educational Use Only**
- Authorized testing only
- Follow responsible disclosure
- Respect bug bounty program rules
- Comply with local laws
- Obtain written permission for testing

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## Quick Start Command

```bash
# View all access control documentation
ls -lh pentest/reference/access-control*.md

# Start learning (recommended order)
cat pentest/reference/access-control-quickstart.md
cat pentest/reference/access-control-labs-complete.md
cat pentest/reference/access-control-cheat-sheet.md
cat pentest/reference/access-control-resources.md
```

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## Summary

You now have access to over 5,500 lines of comprehensive access control vulnerability documentation covering:

✅ All 13 PortSwigger labs with complete solutions
✅ Rapid exploitation techniques and cheat sheets
✅ Beginner-friendly quick start guide
✅ Complete resource library with CVEs, tools, training
✅ Real-world breach examples and impact analysis
✅ Framework-specific secure coding practices
✅ Bug bounty strategies and payouts
✅ Professional penetration testing methodology

**Start here:** Open `access-control-quickstart.md` and begin your journey to mastering the #1 OWASP vulnerability!

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**Documentation Version:** 1.0
**Last Updated:** January 2025
**Total Lines:** 5,506
**Lab Coverage:** 13/13 (100%)
**Difficulty Levels:** Apprentice (5), Practitioner (8)
