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?
- Session Fixation
- Predetermined Session ID: Forcing a user to log in with a known session ID.
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
- Injected Scripts: Using XSS vulnerabilities to steal session cookies.
- Network Sniffing
- Intercepting Data: Capturing session cookies transmitted over unencrypted networks.
- Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks
- Intercepted Sessions: Hijacking sessions through MitM attacks on unsecured connections.
- Brute Force Attacks
- Session ID Guessing: Using automated tools to guess valid session IDs.
What are the Impacts of Session Hijacking on Businesses?
- Unauthorized Access
- Compromised Accounts: Unauthorized access to user accounts and sensitive information.
- Financial losses
- Fraudulent Transactions: Financial losses from unauthorized transactions and activities.
- Reputation damage
- Trust Erosion: Loss of customer trust due to breaches and unauthorized access incidents.
- Increased Security Costs
- Mitigation Measures: Costs associated with detecting, preventing, and mitigating session hijacking attacks.
- Legal and Regulatory Consequences
- Compliance Challenges: Potential fines and legal repercussions for failing to protect user sessions adequately.