API › Module 1 › Lesson 4
GraphQL Authorization Risks
Nested queries, IDOR via GraphQL, and safe defaults
Opening
Nested data without nested checks
GraphQL shines at nesting: order { user { email ssn } }. If only the order resolver checks auth, nested user fields may still leak. Authorization must run in every sensitive resolver.
1. Authorization failures
Dangerous client queryquery { user(id: 1) { id email isAdmin } }
query {
user(id: 1) { id email isAdmin }
}If the API returns admin email for id=1 while you are a normal user, that is GraphQL IDOR / broken object auth. Cyberlium Academy lab_graphql_idor_1 practices this pattern safely.
2. Hardening GraphQL
Disable introspection in production
Or restrict it to admin roles.
Depth & complexity limits
Stop nested denial-of-service and huge alias batches.
Per-field authorization
Never rely on the UI to hide fields.
CSRF protections
SameSite cookies + anti-CSRF for cookie-based GraphQL.
Knowledge Check
GraphQL IDOR typically means:
Multiple choice