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Juice-Shop Write-up: Admin Section

Challenge Overview

Title: Admin Section
Category: Broken Access Control
Difficulty: ⭐⭐ (2/6)

The "Admin Section" challenge involves accessing a restricted administrative area of a web application.

Tools Used

  • Web Browser: For accessing the application and utilizing developer tools to inspect source files.
  • Developer Tools: Specifically the source code viewer to examine the JavaScript files for route definitions.

Methodology and Solution

Exploring Application Routes

  1. Source Code Analysis:

    • Using the browser's developer tools, the main.js file was examined. This file contained definitions for various application routes (paths and components), including a path for an "administration" section.
    • The route setup indicated that the administration area could be accessed directly if the correct path was known.
    routes

  2. Direct Path Access:

    • Accessed the path 127.0.0.1:3000/#/administration directly by entering it in the browser's address bar.
    • Initially, this approach led to an access-denied page due to insufficient permissions.
    permissions

Gaining Administrative Access

  1. Role Elevation:

    • Logged in with an administrator account credentials.
    • Revisited the /administration path which now successfully displayed the administrative dashboard, demonstrating improper access control that relies solely on the obscurity of the path.
    page access

Solution Explanation

The challenge was resolved by uncovering the hidden administrative path from the JavaScript source files and then accessing it with an administrator's credentials. This shows a vulnerability in the application where sensitive areas are not adequately secured but merely hidden, assuming unauthorized users will not discover the path.

Remediation

To secure the admin section effectively, consider implementing the following:

  • Proper Access Control: Ensure robust access control measures are in place that authenticate and authorize users before granting access to sensitive parts of the application. Use server-side checks to confirm permissions.
  • Separation of Concerns: As suggested, separate the administrative functions from the main application. Ideally, host the admin panel on a different server or as a separate service that is not accessible from the public internet.
  • Use of Web Application Firewalls (WAF): Deploy a WAF to monitor and block unauthorized attempts to access restricted areas.