Scope and fit
API authentication is only one layer of protection. Authorization failures often happen after a valid user has obtained a token and begins changing identifiers or request context.
Build a role and object matrix
List user roles, object ownership, tenants, and allowed actions. Use test accounts with different privileges to check reads, updates, deletion, export, and administrative functions.
Exercise identifier and state changes
Test direct object references, nested resources, bulk endpoints, workflow transitions, and stale permissions. Verify decisions on the server for each request rather than trusting client-side filtering.
Tie findings to the API contract
Record the endpoint, role, object, expected policy, observed result, and minimal safe reproduction. OWASP API guidance helps organize common risk areas but does not replace product-specific authorization rules.
Decisions and tradeoffs
Use this table as a working review record. Replace assumptions with evidence from the target environment.
| Decision area | Working guidance |
|---|---|
| Build a role and object matrix | List user roles, object ownership, tenants, and allowed actions. Use test accounts with different privileges to check reads, updates, deletion, export, and administrative functions. |
| Exercise identifier and state changes | Test direct object references, nested resources, bulk endpoints, workflow transitions, and stale permissions. Verify decisions on the server for each request rather than trusting client-side filtering. |
| Tie findings to the API contract | Record the endpoint, role, object, expected policy, observed result, and minimal safe reproduction. OWASP API guidance helps organize common risk areas but does not replace product-specific authorization rules. |
Implementation questions
What should the team decide about build a role and object matrix?
List user roles, object ownership, tenants, and allowed actions. Use test accounts with different privileges to check reads, updates, deletion, export, and administrative functions. Use a named owner and a written acceptance check so this decision can be reviewed after deployment.
What should the team decide about exercise identifier and state changes?
Test direct object references, nested resources, bulk endpoints, workflow transitions, and stale permissions. Verify decisions on the server for each request rather than trusting client-side filtering. Use a named owner and a written acceptance check so this decision can be reviewed after deployment.
What should the team decide about tie findings to the api contract?
Record the endpoint, role, object, expected policy, observed result, and minimal safe reproduction. OWASP API guidance helps organize common risk areas but does not replace product-specific authorization rules. Use a named owner and a written acceptance check so this decision can be reviewed after deployment.
Plan, build, verify, operate
Build a role and object matrix: List user roles, object ownership, tenants, and allowed actions. Use test accounts with different privileges to check reads, updates, deletion, export, and administrative functions. Record the result and the next owner before changing the next boundary.
Exercise identifier and state changes: Test direct object references, nested resources, bulk endpoints, workflow transitions, and stale permissions. Verify decisions on the server for each request rather than trusting client-side filtering. Record the result and the next owner before changing the next boundary.
Tie findings to the API contract: Record the endpoint, role, object, expected policy, observed result, and minimal safe reproduction. OWASP API guidance helps organize common risk areas but does not replace product-specific authorization rules. Record the result and the next owner before changing the next boundary.
Deployment checks
Turn the page into a reviewable handover by assigning each check to a person and retaining its result.
Test API Authorization at the Object and Function Level: decision 1
Write down the boundary, owner, dependency, and proof required for test api authorization at the object and function level before implementation begins.
Test API Authorization at the Object and Function Level: decision 2
Write down the boundary, owner, dependency, and proof required for test api authorization at the object and function level before implementation begins.
Test API Authorization at the Object and Function Level: decision 3
Write down the boundary, owner, dependency, and proof required for test api authorization at the object and function level before implementation begins.
Handover and ownership
Before handover, name the system owner, support path, access boundary, backup or recovery responsibility, and the condition that pauses a change.
Keep a short record of what was tested, what remains outside scope, and when the review should happen again.
