Hacking Humans: Episode on OWASP Broken Access Control

Host: N2K Networks
Episode Title: OWASP Broken Access Control (noun) [Word Notes]
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Description: Deception, influence, and social engineering in the world of cybercrime.

Introduction

In this episode of Hacking Humans, host Rick Howard delves into a critical aspect of cybersecurity: Broken Access Control, a top concern highlighted by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). The discussion underscores the pervasive nature of this vulnerability and its implications for organizations striving to maintain robust security postures.

Understanding OWASP Broken Access Control

Nila Genoe takes center stage to unpack the concept of OWASP Broken Access Control. She begins by breaking down the term:

“Broken access control occurs when users can act outside of their intended permissions,” explains Nila (01:12). This means that software users gain access to data or functionalities that should be restricted, often circumventing established security protocols.

Historical Context and OWASP's Evolution

Nila provides a historical perspective on OWASP, tracing its origins back to 2003 when Dave Wickers and Jeff Williams identified major software security coding issues. This initiative eventually evolved into the OWASP Top 10, a seminal document outlining the most critical security risks for web applications. As of 2021, OWASP’s annual update places Broken Access Control at the number one position, a rise from the fifth spot in previous years, highlighting its increasing prevalence and severity.

“In 2021, OWASP published an updated list where broken access control jumped up from the fifth position to the number one spot,” Nila notes (01:45).

Prevalence and Impact

The statistics are stark:

• 94% of tested applications exhibited some form of Broken Access Control.
• It remains the most frequently occurring issue among OWASP's categories.

Such high prevalence indicates that despite being a well-known vulnerability, Broken Access Control remains a persistent challenge for developers and security teams alike.

Types of Broken Access Control

Nila categorizes Broken Access Control into three main types:

1. Vertical Privilege Escalation: Gaining higher-level permissions than originally granted.
2. Horizontal Privilege Escalation: Accessing data or actions intended for peers with the same privilege level.
3. Context-Dependent Privilege Escalation: Exploiting specific conditions or contexts to bypass access controls.

Each type presents unique challenges and requires tailored mitigation strategies to effectively safeguard against unauthorized access.

Best Practices to Mitigate Broken Access Control

The Purple Box Website team recommends several best practices to minimize the risk of Broken Access Control:

1. Avoid Obfuscation and Hope: Relying on security through obscurity is inadequate. As Nila emphasizes, “Hope is not a plan; just because you don't understand it doesn't mean that the bad guys can't figure it out” (02:30).

2. Adopt a Zero Trust Approach: By default, deny all access and only grant permissions based on stringent identification and authorization processes.

3. Centralize Control Frameworks: Instead of disparate systems, implement a centralized access control framework to ensure consistency and ease of management.

4. Integrate DevSecOps Practices: Utilize infrastructure-as-code models to embed security into the development and deployment pipelines, ensuring continuous auditing and testing of access controls.

Real-World Illustration: Mr. Robot

To contextualize the concept, Nila references the popular TV series Mr. Robot. In Season 1, Episode 5, the protagonist Elliot employs various techniques to breach the New York City Department of Corrections' network, ultimately succeeding by exploiting Broken Access Control. By compromising a police officer's laptop and masquerading as a legitimate input device, Elliot gains unauthorized access to critical systems, enabling him to manipulate jail cell controls.

“And that is textbook Broken Access Control,” Nila concludes, highlighting the real-world applicability of the vulnerability (05:15).

This example underscores how Broken Access Control can be exploited to gain significant unauthorized advantages, emphasizing the need for robust access control mechanisms.

Insights and Recommendations

The episode reinforces the notion that Broken Access Control is not merely a technical issue but a fundamental flaw that can undermine an organization's entire security framework. Effective mitigation requires a comprehensive strategy encompassing policy, technology, and continuous monitoring.

Key takeaways include:

• Prioritize Access Control Integrity: Ensure that permissions are correctly defined and enforced across all systems.
• Embrace Automation and Centralization: Utilize tools and frameworks that provide visibility and control over access permissions.
• Continuous Education and Awareness: Keep development and security teams informed about the latest threats and best practices related to access control.

Conclusion

Hacking Humans effectively highlights the critical importance of addressing Broken Access Control within the broader context of cybersecurity. By leveraging historical insights, practical examples, and expert recommendations, the episode serves as a valuable resource for organizations aiming to fortify their defenses against one of the most prevalent and impactful security vulnerabilities today.

Notable Quotes:

• Nila Genoe (01:12): "Broken access control occurs when users can act outside of their intended permissions."

• Nila Genoe (01:45): "In 2021, OWASP published an updated list where broken access control jumped up from the fifth position to the number one spot."

• Nila Genoe (02:30): "Hope is not a plan; just because you don't understand it doesn't mean that the bad guys can't figure it out."

• Nila Genoe (05:15): "And that is textbook Broken Access Control."

This summary was crafted based on the transcript provided, focusing on the core content delivered by Rick Howard and Nila Genoe while omitting advertisements, intros, and outros.