.NET Broken Access Control Guide: Examples and Prevention

Access control, often referred to as authorization, is a critical security mechanism that determines user access to resources within a system, distinguishing it from authentication, which verifies a user's identity. The article delves into the intricacies of access control, highlighting common vulnerabilities such as insecure IDs, path traversal, file permission issues, and client caching. These vulnerabilities can lead to significant security breaches if not properly addressed. To mitigate these risks, the article suggests implementing robust authentication mechanisms using third-party solutions like Auth0, alongside other strategies such as using GUIDs for IDs, validating user inputs, and managing file permissions securely. Emphasizing the importance of tackling broken access control, the article notes that it was the highest-ranked vulnerability in OWASP's top 10 of 2021, underscoring the need for developers to prioritize effective access control to ensure platform stability and user data security. The piece concludes by acknowledging the complexity of implementing secure systems but asserts that with the right knowledge and tools, delivering effective access control can be straightforward.