Fix Broken Access Control in Laravel: Best Practices with Example

Broken Access Control is one of the most critical security issues, often listed in the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities. In this blog, we’ll explore how to identify and fix broken access control in Laravel, using a coding example to demonstrate solutions.

By the end, you’ll also learn how tools like our free Website Security checker can help you identify vulnerabilities.

What Is Broken Access Control?

Broken Access Control occurs when users can access restricted areas or perform unauthorized actions. This can lead to unauthorized data access, account takeover, or even system compromise.

Common Symptoms:

1. Unauthorized access to admin dashboards.

2. Privilege escalation attacks.

3. Modifying resources not owned by the user.

A Real-World Example: Securing a Laravel Application

Consider a Laravel-based application where users can view and edit their profiles. If access control is misconfigured, an attacker could modify another user’s profile by simply changing the user ID in the URL.

Here’s an insecure route:

// Insecure route  

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

The Problem:
The route above doesn’t validate whether the logged-in user owns the id. An attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting a URL like:
http://example.com/edit-profile/2

Secure Fix:
Always validate user ownership before allowing sensitive actions. Update the route and controller logic as follows:

// Secure route  

Route::middleware(['auth'])->group(function () {  

    Route::get('/edit-profile/{id}', [UserController::class, 'edit'])->where('id', '[0-9]+');  

});  

// Controller fix  

public function edit($id) {  

    $user = Auth::user();  

    if ($user->id != $id) {  

        abort(403, 'Unauthorized action.');  

    }  

    return view('edit-profile', compact('user'));  

}  

Preventive Best Practices

1. Use Middleware: Implement auth and can middleware for user-specific actions.

2. Validate Input: Validate IDs and ensure they match the authenticated user.

3. Follow Least Privilege Principle: Grant minimum necessary permissions.

How to Identify Broken Access Control Vulnerabilities

Using automated tools like our free Website Security Scanner, you can quickly detect broken access control flaws. The tool provides detailed reports on identified vulnerabilities.