Fixing Broken Access Control in Laravel: A Step-by-Step Guide with Coding Example

Broken Access Control is a critical security vulnerability that occurs when users can access resources or actions they shouldn't. According to the OWASP Top 10, it remains one of the most common security risks for web applications. In this blog post, we’ll explain how broken access control occurs in Laravel, provide a coding example, and show you how to mitigate this issue effectively.

Don’t forget to check out our free Website Security Checker tool to identify vulnerabilities like broken access control on your website.

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What Is Broken Access Control?

Broken Access Control refers to a failure to enforce restrictions on authenticated users, allowing them to perform unauthorized actions. In Laravel, poorly implemented middleware, routes, or policies can lead to such vulnerabilities.

Common Examples:

• Accessing admin-only routes without authentication.
• Modifying another user’s data by exploiting ID-based endpoints (Insecure Direct Object References).
• Elevating privileges by manipulating role-based access.

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Why It’s Dangerous

Broken access control can lead to severe consequences, including:

• Data leaks or modifications.
• Unauthorized access to sensitive features.
• Complete takeover of user accounts.

Using tools to detect these vulnerabilities is essential. Below is a screenshot of our tool to test website security free, where you can scan your website for issues like these:

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Coding Example: Fixing Broken Access Control in Laravel

Let’s dive into a practical coding example.

The Problem

Consider the following route in a Laravel application:

Route::get('/user/{id}/edit', [UserController::class, 'edit']);

If this route lacks proper authorization, any authenticated user could potentially access another user’s data by changing the {id} in the URL.

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The Solution: Implementing Middleware and Policies

Step 1: Define Middleware

Create middleware to restrict access based on roles or permissions.

php artisan make:middleware CheckUserAccess

Inside CheckUserAccess:

public function handle($request, Closure $next)  
{  
    if ($request->user()->id !== $request->route('id')) {  
        abort(403, 'Unauthorized action.');  
    }  
    return $next($request);  
}

Register the middleware in Kernel.php under $routeMiddleware.

'checkUserAccess' => \App\Http\Middleware\CheckUserAccess::class,

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Step 2: Use Policies

Laravel provides policies to manage authorization logic.

Generate a policy:

php artisan make:policy UserPolicy

Inside UserPolicy:

public function update(User $user, User $model)  
{  
    return $user->id === $model->id;  
}

Register the policy in AuthServiceProvider:

protected $policies = [  
    User::class => UserPolicy::class,  
];

Apply the policy in the controller:

public function edit(User $user)  
{  
    $this->authorize('update', $user);  
    return view('edit', compact('user'));  
}

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Validate Your Fix

After implementing these changes, test your website using our free Website Security Checker tool to ensure no broken access control remains.

Below is an example of a vulnerability assessment report generated by our tool:

Conclusion

Broken access control is a serious vulnerability that can expose your application to unauthorized access. By implementing proper middleware and policies in Laravel, you can safeguard your application effectively.

Try It Now!

Scan your website today using our free Website Security checker tool to uncover vulnerabilities and ensure your website is secure.

Do you have questions or want to share your experience? Let us know in the comments!