/api-authorization-and-bola

name: api-authorization-and-bola
description: >-
  API authorization and BOLA testing playbook. Use when APIs expose object identifiers, nested resources, hidden writable fields, or weak function-level authorization.

SKILL: API Authorization and BOLA — Object Access, Function Access, and Mass Assignment

> **AI LOAD INSTRUCTION**: Use this skill when an API exposes object IDs, nested resources, or role-sensitive functions and you need a focused authorization test path: BOLA, BFLA, method abuse, and hidden field control.

1. CORE TEST LOOP

1. Create Account A and Account B. 2. As Account A, capture create, read, update, and delete flows. 3. Replay with Account B's token. 4. Test sibling endpoints, nested endpoints, and alternate HTTP verbs.

2. TEST SURFACES

| Surface | Example | |---|---| | object read | `/api/v1/orders/123` | | nested object | `/api/v1/users/1/invoices/9` | | admin or internal function | `/api/v1/admin/users` | | update path | `PUT`, `PATCH`, `DELETE` variants | | hidden JSON fields | `role`, `org`, `verified`, `tier` |

3. QUICK PAYLOADS

{"role":"admin"}
{"isAdmin":true}
{"org":"target-company"}
{"verified":true}

4. WHAT TESTERS MISS

• object IDs in headers, cookies, GraphQL args, and nested objects
• alternate methods sharing the same route but weaker authz
• parent check present, child resource check missing
• admin docs revealing extra writable fields

5. NEXT ROUTING

• For JWT or token-layer abuse: [api auth and jwt abuse](../api-auth-and-jwt-abuse/SKILL.md)
• For GraphQL and hidden parameter discovery: [graphql and hidden parameters](../graphql-and-hidden-parameters/SKILL.md)
• For broader IDOR patterns outside APIs: [idor broken object authorization](../idor-broken-object-authorization/SKILL.md)