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[Home](/)[Vulnerabilities](/vulnerabilities)Broken Access Control[Back to Vulnerabilities](/vulnerabilities)Testing methodologyHow APVISO Tests for Broken Access Control
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Broken access control allows users to act outside intended permissions, including viewing other accounts, using admin functions, or bypassing tenant boundaries.

Common Locations
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- Admin routes
- Tenant resources
- Feature flags
- API actions
- File and report endpoints

APVISO Test Vectors
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- Role switching
- Forced browsing
- Method tampering
- Tenant ID manipulation

Evidence Collected
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- Expected role boundary
- Unauthorized action proof
- Affected route or API method
- Policy enforcement recommendation

Remediation Themes
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- Centralize authorization
- Deny by default
- Test every role
- Avoid trusting client-side state

Methodology
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Broken access control is broader than a single endpoint bug. APVISO tests whether users, roles, tenants, and API clients can perform actions outside the intended policy. That requires mapping the application's permission model and probing it from multiple angles.

The recon agent discovers candidate routes and API actions. The pentester agent attempts role switching, forced browsing, tenant manipulation, method changes, and object swaps. The lead agent evaluates whether the observed behavior violates the intended business rule.

Findings are written in terms developers and auditors can understand: expected permission, actual behavior, reproduction steps, affected resource, and recommended enforcement point. Retesting is important because access-control fixes often need regression coverage across many endpoints.

Frequently Asked Questions
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How is broken access control different from IDOR?▾IDOR is one common form of broken access control focused on object references. Broken access control also includes role, function, tenant, and workflow authorization failures.

Can APVISO test admin-only functionality?▾Yes, when scoped test accounts are provided. APVISO can compare low-privilege and admin behavior to find missing checks.

Related Terms
-------------

[Broken Access Control](/glossary/broken-access-control)[Privilege Escalation](/glossary/privilege-escalation)[Owasp Top 10](/glossary/owasp-top-10)

Test for Broken Access Control with APVISO
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