Skip to main content

BOLA

Overview: Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA) in API Security​

What is BOLA?​

Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA) is one of the most critical API security vulnerabilities, where an attacker can manipulate API requests to gain unauthorized access to other users' data. This occurs when an API does not properly validate whether the authenticated user has permission to access a specific resource, allowing attackers to enumerate and access objects belonging to other users.

BOLA is ranked as the #1 vulnerability in the OWASP API Security Top 10 because it often leads to data breaches, unauthorized modifications, and exposure of sensitive user information.

Why is BOLA a Security Concern?​

  • Unauthorized Data Access: Attackers can manipulate user identifiers in API requests to access data they shouldn't.
  • Sensitive Information Exposure: APIs that handle personally identifiable information (PII) or financial records are especially vulnerable.
  • Privilege Escalation Risks: If not properly secured, attackers could gain admin-level access by modifying API parameters.

BOLA Mitigation with APIsec​

To help organizations detect and prevent BOLA attacks, APIsec provides an automated 3-step workflow that simplifies BOLA configuration and testing.

Step 1: Define API Endpoints & Object Identifiers​

  • Users specify which API endpoints handle user-specific objects (e.g., user profiles, orders, transactions).
  • The system maps object identifiers used in API requests.

Step 2: Configure Authorization Rules​

  • Define expected access control behavior, specifying which users should have permission to access particular data objects.
  • Set validation rules to enforce user-level and role-based access controls.

Step 3: Execute BOLA Attack Scenarios​

  • The platform automatically generates test cases to simulate unauthorized access attempts.
  • The system flags endpoints where BOLA vulnerabilities exist, providing remediation recommendations.

Benefits of APIsec’s BOLA Detection​

  1. Automated BOLA Testing – No manual test case creation needed.
  2. Configurable & Scalable – Works for APIs of any complexity, from simple user profiles to multi-tenant systems.
  3. Actionable Insights – Identifies misconfigured access controls with step-by-step remediation guidance.

Next Steps​

To begin securing your APIs against BOLA:

  1. Navigate to the BOLA Configuration Section in APIsec.
  2. Follow the guided 3-step workflow to define, configure, and execute attack scenarios.
  3. Review findings and apply the recommended security fixes.

By incorporating BOLA testing into API security workflows, teams can proactively prevent unauthorized access and protect user data from exploitation.