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Application & OT Security · Intermediate

Authentication Bypass

Gaining access to protected functions without valid credentials due to flaws in authentication logic.

Definition

Causes include missing checks on some routes, trusting client-side flags, default credentials, SQL injection in login forms and alternate paths such as debug endpoints. Defenses include centralized authentication middleware, deny-by-default routing and testing all entry points.

Example

An admin page checks for a cookie isLoggedIn=true that users can set themselves.

Exam tip

Look for authentication decisions made from client-controlled data.

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