The Real-World Failures of Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA)
In this blog, we will learn about the real-world failures of Broken Object Level Authorization(BOLA).
Introduction:
APIs drive today’s digital world, facilitating everything from mobile apps to financial transactions. However, amidst this innovation lurks a serious security risk that often goes undetected: Broken Object-Level Authorization (BOLA).
Despite its critical nature, BOLA is frequently overlooked by both security solutions and experienced developers, making it one of the most prevalent API vulnerabilities in active systems. This article sheds light on BOLA, highlights its real-world impact, and explores how Noname Security equips enterprises with tools to mitigate this risk.
Understanding BOLA: The Overlooked API Vulnerability
BOLA arises when an API neglects to verify whether a user has legitimate access to a specific resource, despite authenticating the request. In simple terms, a user could manipulate object identifiers in API calls to access unauthorized data.
Why BOLA Demands CISOs’ Attention
For Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), BOLA is a critical blind spot in API protection. Here’s why it poses a serious concern:
- Sensitive Data Exposure Attackers leveraging BOLA can gain access to personal details, financial records, and other confidential business data often without advanced hacking tools, just a slight tweak to public API requests.
- Stealthy Exploitation Unlike typical cyber threats such as DDoS or malware attacks, BOLA manipulations blend into regular API traffic, eluding detection by conventional security defenses.
- Regulatory Violations Unrestricted access to regulated information, such as that covered under GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS, can trigger compliance breaches, leading to severe penalties.
- Reputation and Trust Risks Customer confidence can be severely shaken when unauthorized access compromises user data, often resulting in legal and brand-related fallout.
Real Incidents: BOLA in Action
The impact is far from theoretical. Some notable cases include:
- Peloton (2021): Exposed user account data due to inadequate authorization checks.
- Fintech App in India (2020): Allowed users to modify account IDs and view other customers’ loan details.
- Healthcare Providers: Multiple instances of medical records and test results leaking due to improper API access controls.
These incidents highlight fundamental flaws in API security design that continue to pose threats.
How Noname Security Tackles BOLA
Traditional security solutions struggle to detect BOLA because they lack insight into API business logic. Noname Security addresses this gap with:
- AI-Driven Behavioral Analysis: Continuous monitoring of API traffic to understand normal user interactions and flag anomalies.
- Automated Authorization Gap Detection: Identifying instances where API endpoints expose data without proper access restrictions.
- Incident Scoring and Smart Detection Tracking trends over time to classify potential attacks and prioritize responses accordingly.
- Seamless Alerts and Integration Noname ensures immediate action by connecting with platforms like Jira, Slack, and SIEM, enabling teams to mitigate risks promptly.
Conclusion
BOLA is an often-overlooked yet highly dangerous API vulnerability, invisible to traditional security frameworks. With real-time detection powered by AI and behavioral analysis, Noname Security helps organizations eliminate. It risks while ensuring compliance and data protection.
For enterprises seeking a robust API security solution, Noname delivers a smarter, scalable approach.
Contact our team at sales@pronteff.com to learn how Noname can protect your APIs and your business.
