The web application fails to adequately enforce appropriate
authorization on all restricted URLs, scripts or files.
Extended Description
Web applications susceptible to direct request attacks often make the
false assumption that such resources can only be reached through a given
navigation path and so only apply authorization at certain points in the
path.
Alternate Terms
forced browsing:
The "forced browsing" term could be misinterpreted to include
weaknesses such as CSRF or XSS, so its use is discouraged.
Time of Introduction
Architecture and Design
Implementation
Operation
Applicable Platforms
Languages
All
Demonstrative Examples
Example 1
If forced browsing is possible, an attacker may be able to directly
access a sensitive page by entering a URL similar to the
following.
Overlaps Modification of Assumed-Immutable Data (MAID), authorization
errors, container errors; often primary to other weaknesses such as XSS and
SQL injection.
Theoretical Notes
"Forced browsing" is a step-based manipulation involving the omission of
one or more steps, whose order is assumed to be immutable. The application
does not verify that the first step was performed successfully before the
second step. The consequence is typically "authentication bypass" or "path
disclosure," although it can be primary to all kinds of weaknesses,
especially in languages such as PHP, which allow external modification of
assumed-immutable variables.
Description
