1. Authentication Testing
Objective: Ensure that the authentication mechanisms are secure and that unauthorized users cannot gain access.
Common Authentication Mechanisms:
- Password-based Authentication: Most common, relies on something the user knows (e.g., password).
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Combines two or more of the following: something you know (password), something you have (token), and something you are (biometric).
- Token-based Authentication: Uses tokens (e.g., JWT, OAuth tokens) to verify identity without sending credentials repeatedly.
Technical Steps in Authentication Testing:
- Testing for Weak Passwords:
Tools: Hydra, Burp Suite Intruder.
Example: Use a brute-force attack with a password dictionary to test if common or weak passwords can be used to gain access.
Testing for Account Lockout Mechanism:
- Tools: OWASP ZAP.
- Example: Test if the system locks out a user after a predefined number of failed login attempts. If not implemented, it may lead to brute-force attacks.
Testing for Credential Exposure:
- Tools: Wireshark, Burp Suite.
- Example: Intercept network traffic to verify if credentials are transmitted over a secure channel (e.g., HTTPS). If credentials are transmitted in plain text, this is a significant security vulnerability.
Session Management Testing:
- Tools: Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP.
- Example: Test for issues like session fixation and session hijacking by manipulating session tokens (cookies) to ensure they are secure, non-predictable, and have proper expiration times.
2. Authorization Testing
Objective: Ensure that users can access only the resources and actions they are authorized to, based on their role and permissions.
Common Authorization Models:
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Access is granted based on roles assigned to users.
- Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC): Access is based on user attributes (e.g., department, clearance level).
- Discretionary Access Control (DAC): Users can control access to their resources.
Technical Steps in Authorization Testing:
- Testing for Direct Object Reference (IDOR):
- Tools: Burp Suite, Postman.
- Example: Manually manipulate parameters in a request to access objects/resources (like user profiles or files) that should be restricted. For example, changing user_id=1001 to user_id=1002 in a request to see if unauthorized data can be accessed.
Testing for Horizontal and Vertical Privilege Escalation:
- Tools: Burp Suite, Postman.
- Example:
- Horizontal Privilege Escalation: Test if a normal user can perform actions (like modifying another user's data) that they shouldn’t be able to.
- Vertical Privilege Escalation: Test if a low-privileged user (like a standard user) can perform actions reserved for higher-privileged users (like administrators).
Testing Access Control Lists (ACLs):
- Tools: Custom scripts, OWASP ZAP.
- Example: Test whether ACLs are correctly implemented by trying to access resources that should be restricted based on the ACLs.
Testing API Authorization:
- Tools: Postman, OWASP ZAP.
- Example: Verify that API endpoints enforce proper authorization by attempting to access them with different user roles. For instance, check if a standard user can access admin-specific API endpoints.
Advanced Tools and Techniques:
- Burp Suite Pro: For advanced testing, including automated scanning and manual testing of authentication and authorization.
- Metasploit Framework: For testing and exploiting known vulnerabilities in authentication mechanisms.
- OWASP ZAP: A widely used tool for finding vulnerabilities in web applications, including issues in authentication and authorization.
- Custom Scripts: Often written in Python, to automate specific test cases or to simulate complex attack scenarios.
Examples of Real-World Vulnerabilities:
- LinkedIn Data Breach: Exposed 700 million records due to poor authentication and authorization practices, demonstrating the critical importance of robust testing in these areas.
- Facebook IDOR Vulnerability: Allowed attackers to view private photos of any user by exploiting IDOR, emphasizing the need for thorough authorization testing.
