Critical Security Vulnerability: Unauthenticated Access to /shipments/deleted 1 Endpoint Allows Irreversible Data Deletion

By Satyam Pawale (@hackersatty)

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About Me

Unauthenticated API Endpoint

Hello all! My name is Satyam Pawale, or simply @hackersatty within the bug bounty space. I started my cybersecurity journey in 2024, and since then, I have committed to finding and reporting responsibly vulnerabilities that might otherwise lead to significant harm.

In this blog, I’d like to talk about a real-world vulnerability that I found—a non-authenticated API endpoint where sensitive shipping records could be deleted with no type of login. No credentials, no auth, just one unauthenticated call that could delete business-critical information.

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Introduction: Why APIs Require Lock and Key

Unauthenticated API Endpoint APIs drive nearly everything in the background of today’s web applications—showing product lists, handling user accounts. The same capability can turn into a security nightmare if APIs are left unguarded.

While I was excavating a logistics platform (xyz.com), I uncovered an alarming problem: an open Unauthenticated API  Endpoint that supported unauthenticated deletion of shipment records. No login was necessary, no API key verification—just call the endpoint, and data disappeared.

A dive into how I discovered it, why it’s risky, and what needs to be done to address such a problem.

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Vulnerability Overview

Let’s break it down. Here’s what went wrong:

• A POST endpoint at /shipments/deleted was open to everyone.

• There was no authentication required.

• There were no user permission checks (RBAC).

• The endpoint carried out destructive actions with no validation.

This is an age-old example of an unauthenticated API endpoint with the potential to have severe business implications.

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Technical Breakdown

Affected Endpoint

https://xyz.com/shipments/deleted

What Was Going On

• The endpoint was accepting POST requests.

• No session or login were needed.

• No user roles were validated.

• Anyone who had this URL could delete their shipment data.

To summarize: anyone could open a terminal, enter one command, and begin deleting records.

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Proof of Concept (PoC)

That’s it. This one-liner might erase shipment records in production. The fact that an API action with such great power was not authenticated is terrifying.

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Exploit Impact: What Could Go Wrong?

Let’s dive into the impact in more detail:

1. Unauthorized Data Deletion
   No login necessary. Anyone might delete.

2. No Recovery
   The deletion was irreversible. Once a shipment was deleted, there was no “undo.”

3. Automation Threat
   Attackers would be able to automate this call with scripts and destroy whole datasets in minutes.

4. Business Disruption
   The platform might lose order tracking, shipment history, and business continuity.

5. Legal Risk
   Irreversible data loss without logs might breach data protection regulations such as GDPR.

This problem didn’t just impact data—it could bring operations to a standstill and hurt customers.

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Reproducing the Vulnerability

Here’s what I tested:

1. Open terminal

2. Enter the curl command mentioned above

3. Shipment records were wiped out in an instant without login or authentication

I also tested with a browser-based tool and validated the same outcome.

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Why This Happens: Missing Security Layers

Several developers assume that their APIs will only be requested from legitimate clients. But this is an unfounded assumption:

• Security by Obscurity doesn’t work: If an endpoint is exposed, someone will discover it.

• Forgetting Auth Checks: Developers, sometimes in staging or testing, disable auth. It should never happen in production.

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Recommended Fixes

1. Require Authentication for All Sensitive APIs
   Authenticate with tokens (JWT, OAuth2) or API keys.

2. Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
   Ensure only users of the appropriate role (e.g., admin) can delete records.

3. Include Request Validation
   Validate inputs, check CSRF tokens, and include confirmation dialogues for destructive operations.

4. Log Everything
   Log the who, what, and when for endpoint access. Add exceptions for user IPs, timestamps, and action types.

5. Remove Public Access
   Don’t leave sensitive endpoints open to public internet exposure. Utilize API Gateways, WAFs, or IP whitelisting.

6. Monitor and Alert
   Implement alerts for suspicious API access patterns, such as bulk deletion attempts.

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Responsible Disclosure Timeline

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Lessons for Security Researchers

1. Check Every Endpoint
   Even small or outdated endpoints may still be active and vulnerable.

2. JavaScript is a Goldmine
   Inspect JavaScript files for references to internal API paths.

3. Test Without Login
   Before logging in, try common endpoints unauthenticated. It may lead to surprising results.

4. Combine Tools + Manual Testing
   Use Burp Suite, FFUF, or bespoke scripts, but check manually.

5. Follow Up
   Retest always after reporting to make sure patches have been applied.

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Final Thoughts

This wasn’t some high-fancy zero-day or intricate chain of exploits. It was a humble but ruinous flaw—an unauthenticated API endpoint that supported destructive operations.

The solution? Simple too. But finding it required diligent testing, attention to detail, and inquisitiveness.

For coders, the message is clear: always lock down your Unauthenticated API Endpoint . Don’t let bad guys wreak havoc. For researchers, never take an endpoint at face value—test it.

Security doesn’t need to be complex. But it needs to be intentional.

Let’s create secure apps, bug by bug.

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Other Internal Blog Link:

• Hackersatty

Resources:

• OWASP API Security Top 10

• MDN Web Docs – HTTP Authentication

• Burp Suite – Access Control Testing

• Final Thoughts: Keep Hunting, Keep Learning

  This was one of my earliest critical bug bounty finds and taught me that Unauthenticated API Endpoint are one of the most vulnerable attack surfaces today. With tools like Swagger, Postman, and Burp Suite at your disposal, you don’t need to brute force—just observe and test logically.

  🔍Unauthenticated API Endpoint is more than headers and tokens—it’s about understanding how developers structure access and how attackers think.

  If you found this write-up helpful, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or follow my work on Twitter.

  Until next time, stay curious and stay secure! 🔐