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Gavin Johnson-Lynn

Learn how to protect your code from access control issues. You will gain an understanding of how an attacker might find and attack those vulnerabilities before building defenses into your code.

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Learn how to protect your code from access control issues. You will gain an understanding of how an attacker might find and attack those vulnerabilities before building defenses into your code.

Broken access controls can expose information and functionality in your service to unauthorized users and is currently one of the top vulnerabilities found in software. You need to understand those vulnerabilities in order to defend against potential attackers. In this course, Secure Coding: Preventing Broken Access Control, you will gain the ability to protect your code from access control vulnerabilities. First, you will learn to understand vulnerabilities and potential attacks against them. Next, you will discover some of the key principles associated with defensive code. Finally, you will explore how to write clean, readable, defensive code. When you are finished with this course, you will have the skills and knowledge needed to protect your code from access control vulnerabilities.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview
Defining Access Controls
Forced Browsing to Find Hidden Functionality
Traversing Directories for Unauthorized File Access
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Focuses on a topic that is currently a top vulnerability in software
Begins with learning about vulnerabilities and potential attacks on them
Develops knowledge and skills needed to protect code from access control vulnerabilities
Provides principles for writing clean, readable, and defensive code
Covers various techniques used by attackers like forced browsing, directory traversing, parameter manipulation, and insecure direct object references
Taught by instructors recognized for their work in security

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Reviews summary

Practical guide to preventing broken access control

According to students, this course provides a strong foundation (positive) in understanding and preventing broken access control vulnerabilities (neutral). Learners found the content to be clear and digestible (positive), particularly concerning topics like Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR) (neutral) and directory traversal (neutral). The practical examples (positive) and focus on defensive coding principles (positive) are frequently highlighted as highly relevant and immediately applicable to real-world development. While it's considered invaluable for developers new to security (positive), some experienced professionals noted it might be too basic (negative) for advanced insights. A few also wished for more extensive hands-on coding exercises (warning) beyond the provided demos.
Provides essential understanding for secure coding practices.
"Good overview of access control vulnerabilities. The explanations were clear... a solid foundation for secure coding practices."
"This course provided a strong foundation in secure coding. The practical insights on defending against attacks were valuable."
"I gained invaluable understanding for identifying and mitigating common vulnerabilities. This is a must-take for any dev team."
Effectively breaks down complex topics for immediate application.
"Absolutely essential course for any developer. The instructor breaks down complex topics like IDOR and directory traversal into easily digestible modules."
"The practical examples were incredibly helpful in understanding how these vulnerabilities are exploited and, more importantly, how to prevent them. I immediately applied the concepts to my ongoing projects."
"This course delivers exactly what it promises. The section on 'Guiding Principles for Access Controls' was particularly insightful. It's concise yet comprehensive. The real-world examples really cemented the concepts."
Learners desire more interactive coding exercises for deeper understanding.
"My main feedback would be that some parts felt a bit theoretical and I wished for more hands-on coding exercises beyond the demos."
"Some demos were not fully clear to follow without pausing frequently."
"I would have liked more advanced topics or case studies for deeper understanding."
Best for developers new to security, not for advanced practitioners.
"Found this course to be too basic. As someone with several years in cybersecurity, I was hoping for more advanced techniques or novel attack vectors."
"The course covers the basics of access control vulnerabilities... I felt it lacked the depth needed for experienced developers. It's a good starting point..."
"Good for getting started, but don't expect to become an expert solely from this. For someone new to security, it might be challenging without additional research."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Secure Coding: Preventing Broken Access Control with these activities:
Review Fundamental Access Control Concepts
Strengthen your foundation by reviewing the core concepts and principles of access control.
Browse courses on Access Control
Show steps
  • Read articles and tutorials on access control fundamentals
  • Review notes or materials from previous courses on access control
  • Complete practice exercises to test your understanding
Explore Case Studies of Broken Access Control Vulnerabilities
Gain insights into real-world examples of broken access control vulnerabilities and how they were exploited.
Browse courses on Broken Access Control
Show steps
  • Research case studies of broken access control vulnerabilities
  • Analyze the vulnerabilities and their impact
  • Identify lessons learned and best practices
Design a Secure Access Control System
Deepen your comprehension of access control principles by designing your own secure access control system.
Browse courses on Secure Coding
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  • Identify the security requirements and constraints
  • Design the architecture of the access control system
  • Implement the system using secure coding practices
  • Test and evaluate the effectiveness of the system
Five other activities
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Show all eight activities
Compile a List of Resources on Access Control Best Practices
Create a valuable resource for yourself and others by compiling a comprehensive list of best practices and resources on access control.
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Show steps
  • Research and collect articles, tutorials, and white papers on access control best practices
  • Organize and categorize the collected resources
  • Create a document or online repository to share the compilation
Attend a Workshop on Secure Coding Practices
Deepen your knowledge and skills through a workshop focused on practical application of secure coding practices.
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  • Register for and attend a relevant workshop
  • Participate actively in the hands-on exercises and discussions
  • Network with experts and professionals in the field
Practice Defense Mechanisms
Reinforce your understanding of common access control vulnerabilities by practicing scenarios where attackers exploit these weaknesses.
Show steps
  • Review common access control vulnerability types
  • Simulate attacks leveraging these vulnerabilities
  • Implement defensive measures to prevent these attacks
Discuss Best Practices for Writing Secure Code
Exchange knowledge and experiences with peers to enhance your understanding of secure coding principles and best practices.
Browse courses on Secure Coding
Show steps
  • Share and discuss effective secure coding techniques
  • Review and critique code samples for potential access control vulnerabilities
  • Develop strategies for writing more robust and secure code
Contribute to Open Source Projects Related to Access Control
Make practical contributions to the field of access control by participating in open source projects.
Browse courses on Access Control
Show steps
  • Identify open source projects related to access control
  • Review the project's code and documentation
  • Contribute code, report bugs, or improve documentation

Career center

Learners who complete Secure Coding: Preventing Broken Access Control will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Security Engineer
Security Engineers protect computer networks and systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course covers how to protect code from access control issues. Gaining an understanding of these issues and how to defend against them is a key skill for Security Engineers.
Software Developer
Software Developers build and maintain software systems, and a key part of this is ensuring that the systems are secure. This course provides a foundation for understanding how to protect code from access control issues. Understanding and defending against these issues is a core skill for Software Developers.
Penetration Tester
Penetration Testers evaluate the security of computer networks and systems by attempting to exploit vulnerabilities. This course provides a foundation of how to identify and defend against access control vulnerabilities, a key skill for Penetration Testers.
Software Architect
Software Architects design and build complex software systems. This course helps build a foundation for understanding how to protect those systems from vulnerabilities. Broken access controls is currently one of the top vulnerabilities found in software. As a Software Architect, it's critical to understand these vulnerabilities and how to defend against them.
Software Quality Assurance Engineer
Software Quality Assurance Engineers test and evaluate software to ensure that it meets quality standards, including security requirements. This course provides a foundation of how to identify and defend against access control vulnerabilities, a key skill for Software Quality Assurance Engineers.
Security Analyst
Security Analysts identify and assess security risks and vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. This course helps build a foundation of how to identify and defend against access control vulnerabilities.
Information Security Analyst
Information Security Analysts plan and implement security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. This course provides a foundation of how to identify and defend against access control vulnerabilities, a key task for Information Security Analysts.
Security Consultant
Security Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on how to protect their computer networks and systems from security risks and vulnerabilities. This course provides a foundation of how to identify and defend against access control vulnerabilities, a key skill for Security Consultants.
Incident Responder
Incident Responders investigate and respond to security breaches and incidents. This course may be useful for Incident Responders as it provides a foundation of how to identify and defend against access control vulnerabilities.
Security Auditor
Security Auditors evaluate the effectiveness of an organization's security controls and make recommendations for improvements. This course may be useful for Security Auditors as it provides a foundation of how to identify and defend against access control vulnerabilities.
Computer Forensics Analyst
Computer Forensics Analysts investigate and analyze computer systems and networks to find evidence of criminal activity. This course may be useful for Computer Forensics Analysts as it provides a foundation of how to identify and defend against access control vulnerabilities.
Risk Manager
Risk Managers identify, assess, and manage risks to an organization's assets, including computer networks and systems. This course may be useful for Risk Managers as it provides a foundation of how to identify and defend against access control vulnerabilities, a key risk to an organization's systems.
IT Manager
IT Managers plan, implement, and manage an organization's IT systems and infrastructure, including security systems. This course may be useful for IT Managers as it provides a foundation of how to identify and defend against access control vulnerabilities.
Network Administrator
Network Administrators manage and maintain an organization's computer networks and systems. This course may be useful for Network Administrators as it provides a foundation of how to identify and defend against access control vulnerabilities.
Systems Administrator
Systems Administrators manage and maintain an organization's computer systems and networks. This course may be useful for Systems Administrators as it provides a foundation of how to identify and defend against access control vulnerabilities.

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Secure Coding: Preventing Broken Access Control.
Provides a comprehensive overview of secure coding principles and practices. It covers a wide range of topics, including access control, input validation, and error handling. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to write more secure code.
Provides a practical guide to software security. It covers a wide range of topics, including threat modeling, secure coding, and security testing. It valuable resource for developers who want to learn how to write more secure code.
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer security. It covers a wide range of topics, including cryptography, network security, and operating system security. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn the basics of computer security.
Provides a comprehensive overview of cryptography and network security. It covers a wide range of topics, including encryption, authentication, and network protocols. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn the basics of cryptography.
Provides a comprehensive overview of web application security. It covers a wide range of topics, including web application architecture, attack techniques, and security countermeasures. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn the basics of web application security.
Provides a set of secure coding guidelines for C. It covers a wide range of topics, including memory management, input validation, and error handling. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to write more secure C code.
Provides a set of secure coding guidelines for C++. It covers a wide range of topics, including object-oriented programming, input validation, and error handling. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to write more secure C++ code.
Provides a set of secure coding guidelines for Python. It covers a wide range of topics, including object-oriented programming, input validation, and error handling. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to write more secure Python code.
Provides a set of secure coding guidelines for Ruby. It covers a wide range of topics, including object-oriented programming, input validation, and error handling. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to write more secure Ruby code.
Provides a set of secure coding guidelines for JavaScript. It covers a wide range of topics, including object-oriented programming, input validation, and error handling. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to write more secure JavaScript code.

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