"The Ultimate Vulnerability Playbook: A Hacker's Worst

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INADEQUATE ENCRYPTION
Brief Inadequate encryption refers to the use of weak or outdated
Description encryption algorithms that fail to protect sensitive data
of effectively. This vulnerability allows attackers to intercept,
Inadequate decrypt, or manipulate data during transmission or storage,
Encryption leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information such
as passwords, financial details, or personal data. Common
causes include outdated encryption standards, weak
encryption keys, and failure to use encryption in sensitive
areas.

Detailed • Weak Encryption Algorithms: Use of algorithms with

Parameters known vulnerabilities, such as MD5 or SHA-1, which can
be broken relatively quickly by modern hardware.

• Short Encryption Keys: Short or weak keys make

encryption easier to crack. For example, keys below 128
bits are considered inadequate for protecting sensitive
data.

• Lack of Transport Layer Security (TLS): Failure to

implement HTTPS/TLS for data in transit leaves it
vulnerable to interception or tampering during
transmission over a network.

• Improper Key Management: Poor handling of

encryption keys, including inadequate rotation, insecure
storage, and lack of separation between keys and
encrypted data, makes keys vulnerable to unauthorized
access.

• Lack of End-to-End Encryption: Absence of end-to-end

encryption (E2EE) for sensitive data means that data
may be decrypted on servers, leaving it vulnerable to
exposure.

Step-by- Step 1: Identify the Encryption Protocol Used

Step
Exploitation • Use tools like Wireshark or Burp Suite to analyse the
Guide encryption protocol. Look for the use of outdated
protocols, such as SSL or weak ciphers like MD5, SHA-1,
or RC4.

Step 2: Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attack to Intercept

Encrypted Data

• If the data is being transmitted without TLS, initiate a

MITM attack using tools like Ettercap or dsniff to
capture the data in transit
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Step 3: Attempt to Decrypt Captured Data

• If weak encryption is identified, use brute-force

techniques or rainbow tables with tools like John the
Ripper or Hashcat to decrypt passwords, personal data,
or sensitive information.

Step 4: Exploit Insecure Key Management

• Look for ways to access or extract encryption keys from

vulnerable locations, such as hard-coded keys in code,
configuration files, or key management systems with
weak access controls.

Step 5: Test Weak Encryption Algorithms and Key Sizes

• Run tests to see if the encryption strength is below

recommended standards (e.g., less than AES-128 for
sensitive data) and assess the vulnerability to cracking.

Detailed • Use Strong Encryption Standards:

Remediation
Implement strong, industry-standard encryption algorithms
Guide for
such as AES-256 for data at rest and TLS 1.2+ for data in transit.
Inadequate
Avoid outdated algorithms like DES, 3DES, MD5, and SHA-1.
Encryption
• Enforce Minimum Key Length:

Require at least 128-bit keys for basic encryption and 256-bit

keys for sensitive data. This will ensure that the encryption is
resistant to brute-force attacks.

• Implement HTTPS/TLS for Data in Transit:

Always use TLS to secure data transmitted over networks.

Obtain and regularly update SSL/TLS certificates and disable
SSLv2 and SSLv3, which have known vulnerabilities.

• Secure Key Management Practices:

Follow best practices for key management, including secure

key storage, rotation, and access control. Avoid hard-coding
keys in code or storing them in publicly accessible locations.
Use hardware security modules (HSMs) for key storage when
possible.

• Implement End-to-End Encryption (E2EE):

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For highly sensitive data, use E2EE so that data remains

encrypted from the sender to the intended recipient without
being decrypted in between, even on the server.

• Regularly Update and Patch Cryptographic Libraries:

Keep cryptographic libraries, such as OpenSSL or Bouncy

Castle, up to date to ensure protection against vulnerabilities
and weaknesses.

• Enable Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS):

Configure encryption protocols to use Perfect Forward Secrecy,

which ensures that even if the encryption keys are
compromised, past sessions remain secure.

• Conduct Regular Encryption Audits and Testing:

Regularly test encryption configurations and conduct security

audits to identify and address weaknesses. Penetration tests
and vulnerability scans can help uncover weak encryption and
ensure compliance with security standards.

• Educate Developers on Secure Encryption Practices:

Train development teams to avoid insecure practices, such as

reusing keys, hard-coding encryption keys, or using
deprecated encryption standards.

• Implement Logging and Monitoring for Encryption-

Related Events:

Log and monitor encryption-related activities, such as key

access and changes to encryption configurations, to detect
and respond to potential threats.

DATA LEAKAGE
Brief Description Data leakage occurs when sensitive or confidential
of Data Leakage information is exposed unintentionally, often due to weak
security practices, improper data handling, or lack of
access control. Data leakage can lead to exposure of
personal data, intellectual property, financial records, or
other sensitive information, making it a serious risk for
organizations. Common causes include misconfigured
servers, public storage access, lack of encryption, and
inadvertent sharing through email or APIs.
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Detailed • Publicly Accessible Storage or Servers: Data in

Parameters unsecured cloud storage or misconfigured servers
accessible via the internet can be discovered and
exploited by attackers.

• Unencrypted Sensitive Data: Data that is stored or

transmitted without encryption is vulnerable to
interception or unauthorized access, making it
easily readable if exposed.

• Insufficient Access Controls: Lack of strong access

controls or role-based access limits may
inadvertently allow unauthorized users access to
sensitive information.

• Exposed Sensitive Information via APIs: APIs that

lack access control or do not mask sensitive data
can expose private information to unauthorized
users or applications.

• Insecure or Accidental Data Sharing:

Unintentional sharing of sensitive files or
information via email, file-sharing platforms, or
printed material can lead to exposure.

• Verbose Error Messages and Logs: Detailed error

messages and logs that contain sensitive
information (e.g., system paths, user details) can
unintentionally leak data.

Step-by-Step Step 1: Identify Publicly Accessible Storage

Exploitation
Guide • Use tools like Google Dorks or Shodan to identify
open buckets on cloud platforms like AWS, Azure,
and Google Cloud, or other misconfigured
resources that may contain sensitive files.

Step 2: Examine API Responses for Sensitive

Information

• Use Burp Suite or Postman to inspect API

responses, looking for sensitive data such as
usernames, email addresses, tokens, or other
personal information.

Step 3: Check URL Parameters for Leaked Data

• Analyze URL parameters or query strings in HTTP

requests for sensitive data that may be
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unintentionally exposed, such as personal

identifiers or financial information.

Step 4: Access Logs and Error Messages

• Review application logs and error messages for

unintentional data exposure. Check if error
messages reveal information such as database
names, file paths, or user data.

Step 5: Test File Permissions and Access Control

• Attempt to access files or directories directly by

manipulating URLs or file paths, checking if access
control policies prevent unauthorized viewing of
sensitive files.

Detailed
Remediation • Implement Strict Access Controls:
Guide for Data Restrict access to sensitive data based on roles and apply
Leakage least privilege principles. Regularly audit and review
access permissions to ensure only authorized users have
access.

• Configure Secure Storage Policies:

For cloud storage, enforce policies that make data private

by default. Use tools and configurations to prevent public
access to storage buckets and databases.

• Encrypt Sensitive Data at Rest and in Transit:

Use strong encryption standards (e.g., AES-256) for storing

sensitive data and TLS for transmitting data. This protects
data even if unauthorized access is obtained.

• Apply Strong Access Controls on APIs:

Ensure that APIs require authentication and have role-

based access controls. Implement token-based
authentication (e.g., OAuth) to restrict access to sensitive
information.

• Limit Data in API Responses:

Avoid exposing unnecessary data through APIs. Use data

filtering to send only the required information and mask
or redact sensitive information when possible.
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• Sanitize and Limit Error Messages:

Remove sensitive data from error messages and ensure

that only minimal details are provided to end users.
Detailed error messages should be limited to internal
logs.

• Regularly Scan for Sensitive Data Exposure:

Perform regular vulnerability scans and penetration tests

to identify data leakage risks. Use automated tools to scan
for sensitive data in public repositories and web resources.

• Use Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Solutions:

Deploy DLP software that can monitor and prevent

sensitive data from leaving the network or being
uploaded to unauthorized destinations.

• Implement Logging and Monitoring:

Enable logging to track access and sharing of sensitive

data, and use monitoring solutions to detect and alert on
potential data leakage incidents in real-time.

• Train Employees on Data Handling Practices:

Educate staff about secure data handling practices, such

as verifying the permissions before sharing files, using
encryption, and avoiding sending sensitive data via email
or other unsecured methods.

• Regularly Review Cloud and Server

Configurations:

Conduct frequent audits of cloud and server

configurations to ensure there are no public permissions,
open storage buckets, or other misconfigurations that
could lead to data exposure.

UNENCRYPTED DATA STORAGE

Brief Description of Unencrypted data storage is a vulnerability where
Unencrypted Data sensitive data is stored in plaintext or without
Storage sufficient encryption, making it accessible to anyone
with physical or digital access to the storage medium.
This exposes sensitive information, such as personal
data, passwords, or financial details, to unauthorized
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access or compromise, especially in cases of data

breaches or system access by attackers.

Detailed Parameters
• Sensitive Data Stored in Plaintext:

Storing sensitive information, such as passwords,

personal details, or financial data, in plaintext without
encryption leaves it directly readable if accessed.

• Absence of Encryption on Removable Media

and Backups:

Data stored on USB drives, external hard drives, and

backups without encryption is vulnerable to theft or
loss, potentially exposing sensitive data.

• Lack of Disk or Database Encryption:

Data not encrypted at the database or disk level (e.g.,

full disk encryption, database encryption) is accessible
to attackers who gain unauthorized access to these
storage locations.

• Insufficient Key Management:

Encryption without proper key management (e.g.,

hard-coded keys, insufficient key rotation) weakens
security and allows attackers to decrypt data if they
access the keys.

• Use of Weak or Deprecated Encryption

Standards:

Using weak or outdated encryption standards, such

as DES, 3DES, or unvalidated custom algorithms,
makes data susceptible to decryption attacks.

Step-by-Step Step 1: Locate Storage Sources

Exploitation Guide
• Identify potential locations for unencrypted
data, such as databases, files on servers,
backup storage, removable media, and cloud
storage.

Step 2: Access the Storage Medium

• If you have physical or network access to the

storage device, use tools like WinHex or
Forensic Explorer to browse and search for
plaintext data files.
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Step 3: Search for Sensitive Data Patterns

• Use search tools to look for sensitive data

patterns (e.g., Social Security numbers, credit
card numbers, email addresses). Strings and
data with recognizable patterns are often
indicators of unencrypted sensitive data.

Step 4: Extract and Review Data

• Extract files, databases, or directories

containing potential sensitive information.
Open and analyze the contents to confirm the
presence of unencrypted data.

Step 5: Review Database Tables for Plaintext

Sensitive Fields

• If working within a database, examine tables

and columns that may store sensitive data
without encryption (e.g., user_password,
credit_card_number). Check for plaintext
values or weakly encoded fields.

Detailed • Output Encoding:

Remediation Guide
Encode all user-supplied input before displaying it in
for Unencrypted HTML. Use functions like htmlentities() (PHP) or
Data Storage HTML-encoded characters to ensure that input is not
interpreted as HTML code.

• Encrypt Sensitive Data at Rest:

Use strong encryption (e.g., AES-256) for all sensitive

data at rest, including data stored on databases, file
systems, and backups. This ensures that data remains
secure even if physical or digital access is gained.

• Apply Disk Encryption:

Use full disk encryption for all devices storing sensitive

data, such as servers, laptops, and removable media.
Operating systems offer native disk encryption tools
(e.g., BitLocker for Windows, FileVault for macOS).

• Implement Database-Level Encryption:

Encrypt sensitive columns in databases. Many

databases (e.g., MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL)
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support built-in encryption functions for protecting

data at the column level.

• Enforce Encryption on Backup Data:

Ensure all backup data is encrypted before storage,

whether on cloud services, external media, or tape
storage. Backup encryption should be part of the
organization’s backup strategy and regularly tested.

• Adopt Strong Key Management Practices:

Use secure methods for key storage and

management. Avoid hard-coded keys, rotate keys
regularly, and store them in a Hardware Security
Module (HSM) or a secure key management solution
to reduce the risk of unauthorized decryption.

• Avoid Weak Encryption Standards:

Use only well-vetted, modern encryption standards

(e.g., AES-256 for data encryption and RSA-2048 for
key exchanges). Avoid weak or deprecated algorithms,
such as DES, MD5, and SHA-1.

• Enable Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)

for Databases:

Many databases support TDE (e.g., Microsoft SQL

Server, Oracle Database). Enable TDE to protect the
entire database storage without requiring column-
level changes in the application code.

• Use File and Folder-Level Encryption:

Apply encryption at the file or folder level for specific

files containing sensitive information. This additional
layer protects files individually, even if full disk
encryption is compromised.

• Conduct Regular Encryption Audits:

Regularly audit encryption policies, algorithms, and

key management practices to ensure compliance
with security standards and identify unencrypted
data or outdated encryption methods.

• Implement Secure Coding Practices:

Train developers to recognize the importance of data

encryption and use secure coding practices, ensuring
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that all data storage layers incorporate encryption for

sensitive information.

• Educate Employees on Secure Data

Handling:

Conduct training sessions to raise awareness about

the risks of unencrypted data storage. Ensure
employees understand the importance of encryption
for removable media, email attachments, and
sensitive files.

• Enable Access Logging and Monitoring:

Log and monitor access to sensitive data to detect

and respond to unauthorized access attempts.
Anomalies in access logs can help identify data
leakage or unauthorized data exposure.

MISSING SECURITY HEADERS

Brief Description of Missing security headers is a vulnerability where web
Missing Security applications lack HTTP headers that enhance security
Headers and protect against common web-based attacks,
such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Clickjacking, MIME-
type sniffing, and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF).
Proper security headers help control browser
behaviour, reduce the risk of content injection, and
enforce secure transport.

Detailed Parameters • User Authentication Fields:

The attack typically targets user login interfaces,

password reset mechanisms, or any field requiring
authentication, such as usernames, passwords, or
PINs.

• X-Content-Type-Options: Prevents browsers

from MIME-sniffing a response away from the
declared Content-Type, which helps prevent
XSS attacks. The recommended setting is
nosniff.

• X-Frame-Options: Protects against

Clickjacking by controlling whether the
content of a page can be embedded in an
<iframe>. Common settings are DENY (no
embedding allowed) and SAMEORIGIN
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(embedding allowed only from the same

origin).

• Content-Security-Policy (CSP): Mitigates XSS,

data injection, and other content-based attacks
by controlling sources of content that can be
loaded. CSP allows developers to specify
trusted domains for resources like scripts,
styles, and images.

• Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS): Forces

browsers to communicate over HTTPS only,
preventing man-in-the-middle attacks. The
header includes a max-age parameter that
defines how long HTTPS-only communication
should be enforced.

• Referrer-Policy: Controls the amount of

referrer information sent when navigating to a
different URL. Recommended settings include
strict-origin or no-referrer to limit data leakage
through referrer headers.

• Permissions-Policy (formerly Feature-Policy):

Specifies which browser features (e.g.,
geolocation, camera, microphone) are allowed
for the site. It reduces the attack surface by
limiting available browser features to trusted
origins.

• X-XSS-Protection: Enables the browser’s built-

in XSS filter. Though older, it can still prevent
some reflective XSS attacks. The setting 1;
mode=block is recommended to stop
rendering pages if an XSS attack is detected.

Step-by-Step Step 1: Inspect HTTP Headers Using Browser Dev

Exploitation Guide Tools

• Open Developer Tools in your browser, go to

the Network tab, and reload the page. Inspect
the headers for each HTTP request to identify
any missing security headers.

Step 2: Use Security Scanning Tools

• Use tools like Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, or

online scanners (e.g., SecurityHeaders.io) to
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analyze missing headers and evaluate the

existing security configurations.

Step 3: Manually Check Header Configurations

• For critical headers, such as X-Frame-Options

and Content-Security-Policy, verify their values
and configurations. Ensure that settings are
adequate for the application and do not
contain overly permissive rules.

Step 4: Test Header Impact on Application Security

• Try injecting scripts or using Clickjacking

techniques in the application to test the effects
of missing headers. For example, if X-Frame-
Options is missing, create a test page with an
<iframe> embedding the target URL to check if
it’s allowed.

Step 5: Review Header Policies Against Best

Practices

• Compare current header policies with security

best practices and check for any headers
missing or misconfigured based on the specific
use case and threat model.

Detailed • Implement Strong Password Policies:

Remediation Guide
Enforce a policy that requires long, complex
for Brute Force passwords. Use at least 12 characters with a mix of
Attack upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special
characters to increase the difficulty of brute force
attacks.

• Add X-Content-Type-Options:

Set the X-Content-Type-Options header to nosniff to

prevent browsers from MIME-type sniffing, which
reduces the risk of XSS attacks from incorrectly
interpreted files.

• Implement X-Frame-Options:

Use DENY to prevent the page from being embedded

in any frame, or SAMEORIGIN to allow only pages
from the same origin. This mitigates the risk of
Clickjacking attacks.
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• Define a Strong Content-Security-Policy

(CSP):

Set a restrictive Content-Security-Policy that specifies

trusted sources for scripts, styles, images, and other
resources. A typical CSP may look like default-src 'self';
script-src 'self'; style-src 'self' and should be
customized to balance security and functionality.

• Enforce HTTPS with Strict-Transport-Security

(HSTS):

Add the Strict-Transport-Security header with a

setting such as max-age=31536000;
includeSubDomains to enforce HTTPS. This prevents
accidental access over HTTP and mitigates man-in-
the-middle attacks.

• Set a Conservative Referrer-Policy:

Use no-referrer or strict-origin for the Referrer-Policy

header to limit data leakage by controlling how much
referrer information is sent when navigating away
from the site.

• Apply Permissions-Policy:

Implement a Permissions-Policy header to restrict

browser features such as geolocation, camera, and
microphone. For example, Permissions-Policy:
geolocation=(), microphone=() denies access to these
features
.
• Enable X-XSS-Protection (for Legacy
Browsers):

Although some modern browsers ignore this header,

enable it as an additional layer for older browsers: X-
XSS-Protection: 1; mode=block. This tells the browser
to stop rendering pages if an XSS attack is detected.

• Monitor Header Implementation:

Use automated security testing tools as part of your

CI/CD pipeline to ensure security headers remain in
place and are correctly configured with each release.

• Regularly Review and Update Headers:

Security needs evolve, so regularly review and update

headers to reflect best practices, especially for
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headers like CSP which can be fine-tuned as the

application grows.

• Educate Development Teams on Security

Headers:

Conduct training to help developers understand the

importance and configuration of security headers.
Ensuring that headers are set correctly early in
development can save time and reduce risks.

INSECURE DIRECT OBJECT REFERENCE (IDOR)

Brief Description of Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR) is a type of
Insecure Direct access control vulnerability that occurs when an
Object References application provides direct access to objects (such as
(IDOR) files, database records, or URLs) based on user-
supplied input without proper authorization checks.
This allows attackers to manipulate the input values
to gain unauthorized access to data that doesn’t
belong to them, leading to data leaks, privacy issues,
and unauthorized modifications.

Detailed Parameters • User-Supplied Identifiers: IDOR vulnerabilities

occur when user-controlled input values, such
as numeric IDs, usernames, or other identifiers,
are used to directly access resources without
sufficient authorization checks.

• Lack of Authorization Checks: Applications

that do not verify if the user has permission to
access or modify a specific object are
vulnerable to IDOR.

• Predictable Object References: Easily

guessable or sequential object references, such
as incrementing user IDs or file numbers, make
it easier for attackers to manipulate and predict
references.

• Endpoints Without Role-Based Access

Control (RBAC): APIs and endpoints lacking
RBAC allow any user to access resources
without the proper roles or permissions.

• Improper Error Handling: Error messages that

reveal details about resource availability or
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missing permissions can provide attackers with

clues to explore further.

Step-by-Step Step 1: Identify Direct Object References

Exploitation Guide
Guide • Use a tool like Burp Suite to analyze HTTP
requests and find parameters that seem to
directly reference objects, such as user IDs, file
IDs, order numbers, etc.

Step 2: Manipulate the Reference Parameter

• Try changing the value of the parameter to

another valid or predicted identifier. For
example, if the request is
https://example.com/user/profile?id=123, try
changing 123 to other numbers (e.g., 124, 125)
and observe the response.

Step 3: Check for Unauthorized Access

• Look for sensitive information, such as private

data from another user’s profile or resources
that should be inaccessible. If you receive data
for other users, the application is vulnerable to
IDOR.

Step 4: Test Different Object Types and Access

Methods

• Experiment with other identifiers, such as

document IDs, order numbers, or file paths,
and attempt to access or modify objects owned
by other users.

Step 5: Explore API Endpoints

• In applications using APIs, examine all

endpoints for IDOR vulnerabilities. Try altering
parameters that refer to objects and monitor
for unauthorized access or modifications to
data.

Detailed • Input Validation and Sanitization:

Remediation Guide
Whitelist Approach: Validate all user inputs against a
for Insecure Direct strict whitelist of allowed characters and inputs. If
Object References input should only be numeric, restrict it to numbers
(IDOR) only.
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• Implement Strong Access Controls:

Ensure proper access control checks are enforced for

every object and resource. Implement both horizontal
and vertical access controls to prevent users from
accessing unauthorized data.

• Use Indirect References:

Replace direct object references (e.g., user IDs) with

indirect references (such as unique, temporary tokens
or hash values). Use mapping techniques to link these
indirect references to actual objects without exposing
them to the user.

• Enforce Role-Based Access Control (RBAC):

Implement RBAC to ensure that users only access

resources based on their roles and permissions. This is
especially important in multi-user applications and
systems with different user levels.

• Validate User Authorization on Every

Request:

Ensure that each request checks if the requesting

user has the right to access or modify the specific
resource. This can include checking session tokens,
access levels, and roles.

• Use Object Ownership Checks:

Verify that the current user is the owner of the

resource they are attempting to access or modify.
Implement server-side checks that confirm object
ownership before providing access.

• Avoid Predictable Identifiers:

Avoid using sequential or easily predictable IDs for

resources. Instead, use UUIDs or other randomized
identifiers to make it harder for attackers to guess
valid object references.

• Implement Logging and Monitoring:

Log access attempts to sensitive resources, including

unauthorized attempts. Regularly monitor logs for
patterns that indicate potential IDOR exploitation,
such as multiple attempts to access incrementally
numbered object references.
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• Minimize Error Message Detail:

Avoid providing specific error messages when access

is denied, as these can reveal information about the
existence or non-existence of certain resources.

• Conduct Regular Security Testing:

Perform regular penetration testing and code reviews

focused on identifying and eliminating IDOR
vulnerabilities. Automated tools and manual tests
should verify that access controls are enforced
properly
.
• Educate Developers on Secure Coding
Practices:

Train development teams to recognize and prevent

IDOR vulnerabilities by following secure coding
standards and guidelines for implementing access
controls.
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