Lab: Method-based access control can be circumvented

PRACTITIONER

This lab implements access controls based partly on the HTTP method of requests. You can familiarize yourself with the admin panel by logging in using the credentials administrator:admin.

To solve the lab, log in using the credentials wiener:peter and exploit the flawed access controls to promote yourself to become an administrator.

ACCESS THE LAB

Solution

Log in using the admin credentials.
Browse to the admin panel, promote carlos, and send the HTTP request to Burp Repeater.
Open a private/incognito browser window, and log in with the non-admin credentials.
Attempt to re-promote carlos with the non-admin user by copying that user's session cookie into the existing Burp Repeater request, and observe that the response says "Unauthorized".
Change the method from POST to POSTX and observe that the response changes to "missing parameter".
Convert the request to use the GET method by right-clicking and selecting "Change request method".
Change the username parameter to your username and resend the request.

Community solutions

Rana Khalil

Michael Sommer (no audio)

Register for free to track your learning progress

The benefits of working through PortSwigger's Web Security Academy

Practise exploiting vulnerabilities on realistic targets.
Record your progression from Apprentice to Expert.
See where you rank in our Hall of Fame.

Already got an account? Login here