Session Hijacking

What is Session Hijacking?

Session hijacking is a type of cyberattack where an attacker takes over a user’s session with a web service, often by stealing the session cookie, allowing unauthorized access to the user’s account.

How Session Hijacking Occurs?

1. Session Fixation
   • Predetermined Session ID: Forcing a user to log in with a known session ID.
2. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
   • Injected Scripts: Using XSS vulnerabilities to steal session cookies.
3. Network Sniffing
   • Intercepting Data: Capturing session cookies transmitted over unencrypted networks.
4. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks
   • Intercepted Sessions: Hijacking sessions through MitM attacks on unsecured connections.
5. Brute Force Attacks
   • Session ID Guessing: Using automated tools to guess valid session IDs.

What are the Impacts of Session Hijacking on Businesses?

1. Unauthorized Access
   • Compromised Accounts: Unauthorized access to user accounts and sensitive information.
2. Financial losses
   • Fraudulent Transactions: Financial losses from unauthorized transactions and activities.
3. Reputation damage
   • Trust Erosion: Loss of customer trust due to breaches and unauthorized access incidents.
4. Increased Security Costs
   • Mitigation Measures: Costs associated with detecting, preventing, and mitigating session hijacking attacks.
5. Legal and Regulatory Consequences
   • Compliance Challenges: Potential fines and legal repercussions for failing to protect user sessions adequately.