Best Practices for Managing Elevated Permissions in APIs

It seems like you're tackling the symptoms instead of addressing the root issues. From what I gather, if you have an API like `view_report` that needs an admin role, and you make a user admin to give them access, you're risking too much—like if they start deleting users afterward. You should separate the API roles from the user roles. For instance, create specific roles like `reports_read` for viewing reports and `user_write` for deleting users, then just map the admin role to those. That way, you can have more control over what each role can do without giving too much power too easily.

It's crucial to separate the permissions for regular users from those required for elevated actions. You should check these permissions using the same system you use for authentication in your backend. I usually go for declarative guards, but that depends on your middleware. Also, considering temporary elevated sessions like GitHub's 'sudo mode' might be wise for risky actions.

For promoting a user to a higher role, a simple SQL command like `INSERT INTO user_roles (user_id, role_id) VALUES (@userid, @roleid)` can do the trick. This efficiently adds the role to the user without unnecessary complications.

I suggest implementing restrictions on how permissions can be propagated to prevent excessive transfers, which can be risky. You can limit how many transfers a regular admin can make. Additionally, aim for granular permission management where users only get the bare minimum privileges they need to do their tasks—following the principle of least privilege is key. Looking into the permission management systems of established CMS platforms might provide valuable insights on structuring this properly.