diff --git a/client/coral-framework/actions/user.js b/client/coral-framework/actions/user.js
index 69f4882bb..0ee8659d8 100644
--- a/client/coral-framework/actions/user.js
+++ b/client/coral-framework/actions/user.js
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export const saveBio = (user_id, formData) => dispatch => {
 export const fetchCommentsByUserId = userId => {
   return (dispatch) => {
     dispatch({type: actions.COMMENTS_BY_USER_REQUEST});
-    return coralApi(`/comments?user_id${userId}`)
+    return coralApi(`/comments?user_id=${userId}`)
       .then(({comments, assets}) => {
         comments.forEach(comment => dispatch(addItem(comment, 'comments')));
 
diff --git a/routes/api/comments/index.js b/routes/api/comments/index.js
index 8f21a9488..a14b6bba0 100644
--- a/routes/api/comments/index.js
+++ b/routes/api/comments/index.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ const _ = require('lodash');
 
 const router = express.Router();
 
-router.get('/', authorization.needed('admin'), (req, res, next) => {
+router.get('/', (req, res, next) => {
 
   const {
     status = null,
@@ -18,6 +18,18 @@ router.get('/', authorization.needed('admin'), (req, res, next) => {
     user_id = null
   } = req.query;
 
+  // everything on this route requires admin privileges besides listing comments for owner of said comments
+  if (!authorization.has(req.user, 'admin') && !user_id) {
+    next(authorization.ErrNotAuthorized);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // only return comment lists for the owner of the comments
+  if (req.user.id !== user_id) {
+    next(authorization.ErrNotAuthorized);
+    return;
+  }
+
   /**
    * This adds the asset_id requirement to the query if the asset_id is defined.
    */
@@ -31,10 +43,13 @@ router.get('/', authorization.needed('admin'), (req, res, next) => {
 
   let query;
 
-  if (status) {
-    query = assetIDWrap(Comment.findByStatus(status === 'new' ? null : status));
-  } else if (user_id) {
+  // the check for user_id MUST be first here.
+  // otherwise this will be a vulnerability if you pass user_id and something else,
+  // the app will return admin-level data without the proper checks
+  if (user_id) {
     query = Comment.findByUserId(user_id);
+  } else if (status) {
+    query = assetIDWrap(Comment.findByStatus(status === 'new' ? null : status));
   } else if (action_type) {
     query = Comment
       .findIdsByActionType(action_type)