pentest api-security vault aws ssm okta idor bola appsec
Vault API — Pentest Game Plan
Methodology, frameworks, guardrails, and testing flow for the Vault API engagement. Architecture detail → Vault API - Architecture. Test ideas → Vault API - Test Cases. Evidence → Vault API - Evidence Log.
Remember This
The Vault engagement is primarily about proving that authenticated identities cannot cross authorization boundaries.
Correct identity → correct team → correct operation → correct secret → correct environment.
If any of those relationships can be manipulated, it may become a meaningful finding.
Primary Frameworks
| Framework | Application to This Engagement |
|---|---|
| OWASP API Security Top 10 | Primary lens — especially BOLA (API1), broken authentication (API2), broken object property authorization (API3), unrestricted resource consumption (API4), security misconfiguration (API8) |
| OWASP ASVS | Verification baseline for authentication, session management, access control, and cryptographic/storage requirements |
| PTES / NIST SP 800-115 | Engagement structure — scoping, discovery, vulnerability analysis, exploitation, post-exploitation, reporting |
| AWS IAM / AWS Security Guidance | Evaluate backend service role scope, SSM path restrictions, and least-privilege alignment |
| OWASP WSTG | Supplementary web/API testing techniques for input validation, error handling, and information disclosure |
| MITRE ATT&CK | Map findings to techniques — credential access, discovery, collection, exfiltration |
High-Priority Testing Themes
Summary of focus areas. Detailed test ideas → Vault API - Test Cases.
| Theme | Focus |
|---|---|
| Authentication & token handling | Okta enforcement, bearer validation, expiration, replay, leakage |
| Authorization / IDOR / BOLA | Cross-team access, resource ID manipulation, Team ID manipulation |
| Function-level authorization | Read, create, update, delete, rotate, admin — tested independently |
| Team isolation | Team A vs Team B, identity-to-team association |
| Secret confidentiality | Leakage via responses, errors, logs, metadata, caching |
| Business logic | Flow abuse, replay, chaining, workflow bypass |
| Input / data handling | IDs, paths, parameter names, metadata |
| Rate / resource controls | Enumeration, excessive requests |
| Error handling & logging | Sensitive leakage, audit quality |
| AWS permission boundary | Backend role scope vs Vault authorization |
| Environment separation | Test / Staging / Production crossover |
Tip
Manual testing should not simply re-prove Snyk results. Prioritize authorization, IDOR/BOLA, runtime behavior, business logic, trust boundaries, and cross-team isolation. See GEL - Integrations > Snyk for the Snyk vs manual split.
Pre-Engagement Checklist
- Confirm target endpoints / hosts
- Confirm approved testing dates
- Confirm test / staging environment
- Confirm VPN connectivity
- Confirm SSO group membership
- Confirm Okta access
- Confirm bearer-token workflow
- Confirm Team IDs
- Confirm test identities (separate users per team if possible)
- Confirm mock secrets (no production data)
- Collect OpenAPI / Swagger documentation
- Collect architecture notes
- Review Snyk findings (note what is already covered)
- Confirm exclusions
- Confirm production restrictions
- Confirm emergency contacts
Testing Guardrails
Warning
Follow these constraints throughout the engagement.
- Primary testing happens in Test / Staging.
- Use mock secrets — never real production credentials.
- Avoid production data in requests, responses, and evidence.
- Production validation only if explicitly approved in scope.
- Production checks must be minimal, non-destructive, and low volume.
Recommended Testing Flow
1. Understand Architecture
- Map the request path: Okta → token → Vault → SSM.
- See Vault API - Architecture.
2. Understand Identities and Roles
- Catalog test users, SSO groups, and Team ID assignments.
- Resolve open items in Vault API - Kickoff Questions.
3. Define Expected Authorization
- Document who should access what — per team, per operation, per environment.
4. Build API Endpoint Inventory
- Collect endpoints from OpenAPI/Swagger or proxy traffic.
- Record in Vault API - Endpoint Inventory.
5. Establish Normal Behavior
- Execute legitimate requests for each test identity.
- Log baselines in Vault API - Evidence Log.
6. Test Negative Authorization Cases
- Swap Team IDs, resource IDs, paths, and application IDs.
- Track against Vault API - Test Cases.
7. Review Secret Handling
- Inspect responses, errors, logs, and metadata for secret exposure.
8. Review AWS / Cloud Boundary
- Understand backend IAM role scope and SSM path conventions.
- See Vault API - Architecture > AWS SSM Parameter Store.
9. Validate Findings in Staging
- Reproduce reliably; document in Vault API - Findings.
10. Report and Retest
- Retest after remediation.
- Note potential GEL gate impact → GEL - Security Model > Security Gates.
Finding Template
Use Vault API - Findings for confirmed or candidate findings. Template fields:
- Category, Severity, Environment, Endpoint/Function, User/Team Context
- Preconditions, Observed/Expected Behavior, Security Impact, Evidence
- Remediation Direction, Retest Status, GEL Gate Candidate
Relationship to GEL
Vault is a specific service being assessed. GEL is the broader application governance / security platform that may eventually consume Vault pentest status as part of security gating.
→ GEL - Overview · GEL - Security Model · Genesys Security Architecture - Overview