Broken Access Control (BAC) and Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA) remain the top security risks in OWASP rankings because they are logical vulnerabilities that automated scanning tools cannot detect. Unlike technical vulnerabilities with recognizable patterns, access control flaws require understanding business context and intent. The problem persists due to distributed authorization complexity in microservices, confusion between authentication and authorization, identity sprawl with non-human identities, and ad-hoc evolution of controls. Solutions include centralizing authorization code using Policy Decision Point/Policy Enforcement Point patterns, implementing Policy as Code with tools like OpenFGA or OPA, using fine-grained authorization, scoping database access to user context, and applying schema-based validation to prevent mass assignment attacks.
Table of contents
The Persistence of Logical VulnerabilitiesWhy Is Fixing Broken Access Control So Complex?Guidelines for Better Access ControlLet’s Build a More Secure FutureSort: