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Hello, hunters!

In this blog post, I’ll share the journey of uncovering a rate-limit vulnerability on multiple endpoints that ultimately enabled an account takeover. Let’s dive into the details!

Description

Rate limiting is a mechanism designed to control the volume of requests directed at a specific API endpoint within a given timeframe. Its primary purpose is to protect APIs from misuse and ensure system reliability. For instance, rate limiting can prevent brute force attacks by capping the number of login attempts made to an endpoint.

There are generally two types of rate limiters:

• Strict Rate Limiter: This approach blocks all requests once the limit is exceeded, ensuring strict adherence to the set threshold.
• Flexible Rate Limiter: This allows the threshold to be temporarily exceeded for a brief period before throttling requests, offering a more lenient solution.

Rate limiters serve multiple purposes, such as:

• Preventing Resource Exhaustion: Safeguarding systems from being overwhelmed by excessive usage.
• Controlling Costs: Avoiding overuse of pay-per-use services by enforcing request caps.
• Enhancing Security: Protecting APIs from malicious activities, such as automated attacks or spam.