Insecure direct object references

IDOR

In the world of cybersecurity, many vulnerabilities are well-known and heavily guarded against. However, one of the most insidious and often overlooked vulnerabilities is Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR). IDOR vulnerabilities can have catastrophic consequences, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, modify data, or perform actions they are not entitled to. Despite its simplicity, IDOR is one of the most dangerous flaws found in web applications.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into what IDOR is, how attackers exploit it, the potential damage it can cause, and, most importantly, how to protect your applications from this critical flaw.

Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) occurs when an application exposes internal objects (such as database records, user files, or session data) directly to the user and fails to properly enforce access controls. This vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate object references in a URL or request to gain unauthorized access to data or perform actions they shouldn’t be allowed to.