> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ganesha-hk.gitbook.io/cybersecurity-writeups/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://ganesha-hk.gitbook.io/cybersecurity-writeups/port-swigger-access-control-labs/lab-1.md).

# lab-1

## Unprotected Admin Functionality

**Difficulty:** Apprentice

### Lab Description

This lab has an admin panel with no access control protecting it.

**Objective:** Delete the user `carlos`.

### Solution

**Step 1 — Discover the admin panel via robots.txt**

Capture the main lab page request in Burp Suite and send it to Repeater. Change the URL path to `/robots.txt` and send the request. The file discloses a hidden endpoint — the URL of the admin panel.

**Step 2 — Access the admin panel and delete carlos**

Navigate to the disclosed admin panel URL in the browser. No authentication or privilege check is enforced. From the admin panel, delete the user `carlos` to complete the lab.

### Conclusion

The admin panel was completely unprotected — no authentication, no session verification, no role check. `robots.txt` is a public file intended to instruct search engine crawlers; sensitive paths should never be listed there. This is a straightforward example of **vertical privilege escalation**: a low-privileged (or unauthenticated) user accessing functionality intended only for administrators.


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