The rule interface known as session management facilitates user interaction with web applications. Websites and browsers communicate with one another and share data via the HTTP communication protocol. An ongoing HTTP request is known as a session. The creation of transactions with the same user is done. A stateless protocol is HTTP. Predictable Session Tokens of the comparable web interface and interactions make up the response pair and request as a whole. The prior command is not necessary for the current command. This forces us to introduce the idea of session management, which links access control and authentication. Web apps can use both of these.
Cookies and Session Hijacking:
A hacker attack on a user session is referred to as session hijacking. When we log into any service, the session is active. The ideal scenario is when we use a web application, such as a banking application, to conduct a financial transaction. Cookie Hijacking, also known as cookie side jacking, is another name for session hijacking. A hacker’s attack is more targeted the more detailed information they have about our sessions. For web applications and browser sessions, this session hijacking is typical.
Types of Hacking Session Tokens:
The following are some ways that a session token may be compromised:
1. Predictable Session Token:
- In the browser or online application, the session ID should be random.
- To make it difficult for a hacker to identify the session token, it should be very descriptive.
- Short session keys shouldn’t be used.
2. Session Sniffing:
- To obtain the valid session ID, the attacker employs a valid sniffer.
- Unauthorized access to the web server is gained by the hacker.
3. Attacks on the client side:
- A hacker can take over a session ID by utilizing harmful software or client-side code.
- Cross-site scripting attacks to steal the session token are very common.
- Using malicious JavaScript code is possible.
Primary Session Hijacking Techniques:
- Session Fixation
- Session Side Jacking
- Cross-Site Scripting
- Malware
- Brute Force
Comparison Between Session Spoofing, Session Fixation, and Session Hijacking:
| Topic | Session Hijacking | Session Fixation | Session Spoofing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goal of attacks | Unauthorized access to a user session that is currently active | To gain unauthorized access to a user’s active session | To alter or steal the data |
| Method | Using network traffic sniffing | This is an inverted method of accessing a user’s browser using a Predefined session cookie. | It is possible to achieve this by creating false IP addresses, websites, or emails. |
| Activity | Performed on user who is currently logged in and already authenticated | The hacker already knows the session IDs for getting unauthorized access | Attackers may not be aware of the attack because they are impersonating the original user by starting a new session with stolen or fake session tokens. |
Steps After Session Hijacking:
- Any action that the user was carrying out with his credentials is now open to the attacker.
- The hacker can access a variety of web applications, including customer information systems, financial systems, and line-of-business systems that may store important intellectual property.
- In single sign-on systems, the attacker can identify authenticated users using session hijacking cookies (SSO).
Illustrations:
- Attackers can access bank accounts to transfer money.
- Hackers can shop online.
- Attackers can access sensitive information to sell it on the dark web.
- Hackers may ask the user for a ransom in exchange for the data.
Session Hijacking Prevention:
- By taking precautions on the client side, session hijacking can be avoided.
- Endpoint Security and Software Updating will be crucial from a user perspective.
- Attacks can be stopped by requiring biometric authentication for each user session.
- Secure HTTP or SSL can be used to perform end-to-end encryption between the user’s browser and the web server.
- The session cookie can be used to store the session value.
- When the session is over, an automatic logoff can be set up.
- Session ID monitors are a useful tool.
- Utilizing a VPN can stop illegal access.
- Attacks can be prevented by the web server creating lengthy, random session cookies.
- Session ID monitor use improves security.
- The user’s computer and the server’s security are enhanced by removing the session cookie.
Conclusion:
The fundamental ideas of session hijacking and the methods a hacker can use to carry out this activity have been explored in this article. We’ve talked about how hackers and attackers gain illegal access, Including their strategies for creating vulnerabilities. Both the idea of session spoofing and session fixation have been clarified. After learning about the different things, a hacker may do with access to the user session, we finally touched on session hijacking prevention.