I will show you everything you need to know about session hijacking here.
When a visitor lands on a site, the first thing between the user and the site is session creation. The website authenticates the user, and the session is created. Sessions are an essential part of communication between two parties.
Session IDs are usually stored in the form of cookies. If the hackers can get these cookies, they can take over the user session and use the session ID on that website to do a lot of damage without being detected.
Table of Contents
What Is Session Hijacking?
Session hijacking occurs when a scammer steals the session information from HTTP cookies, URL, page header, or active session body.
In this way, the web user’s session is stolen from him by the attacker, who pretends to be the real user and can do anything the user has the privilege to do on the network.
During a single connection, the series of interactions between two communicating parties is called a session. When you log into an application, a session is generated on the webserver for other requests from the same user to manage the current interactions.
Sessions are used by these applications to keep the client’s appropriate information. For the time the user stays active on a network, the session remains alive.
The session gets destroyed once the user has logged out or has not performed any activity for a while. A session ID comprises a long random mixture of alphabets and numerals.
These are preserved in cookies, web pages, etc. The intruder typically attacks the session cookie, which is called cookie hijacking.
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How Does Session Hijacking Work?
Session hijacking is almost similar to plane hijacking. In an airplane hijacking, the attackers launch a systematic attack on the plane and take control of it. The same happens in session hijacking.
There are different ways of session hijacking, as mentioned below:
- Session Sniffing
- Cross-site Scripting (XSS)
- Session Fixation
- Man in the Browser
- Predictable Session ID
1. Session Sniffing
When the communication between the user and the webserver is insecure, and the session ID is being sent in unencrypted form, the intruder can take advantage of this and steal the session ID that they can use for malicious.
Hackers can use tools like Wireshark OWASP Zed to monitor information flow containing session IDs between the client and the server. Once they get the session ID, they can access it without authorization.
2. Cross-site Scripting (XSS)
Cross-site scripting is one of the most dangerous techniques used for session hijacking. The attacker adds the malicious code to a real website or an application to inject the user’s web browser’s spiteful scripts.
When the user visits that site or opens that application, he is attacked by the scammers. The malicious code can be messages, forums, links, etc., on a legitimate server.
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3. Session Fixation
To deceive the users, the hackers may send them a known session ID. It can be done by sending a link through email.
Users are directed to a legal login form when clicking the link. The user confirms the connection and becomes a victim of session hijacking by the scammers’ session key.
4. Man in the Browser
A man-in-the-browser attack infects the users’ computers with a Trojan (a virus often assumed to be genuine software). The attacker hijacks the session when the user installs the software and visits a target site.
The man in the browser can do anything with transactions the user can perform. They can make new transactions, but the web server cannot identify the invalid asocess because it comes from the user’s computer.
5. Predictable Session ID
Many websites use easy algorithms to create a session ID. If the hacker monitors various session IDs, he may be able to predict valid ones.
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Protection Against Session Hijacking
Here are the tips that are used to prevent session hijacking:
1. Install an SSL Certificate
Data transmission happens between the user and the server during a session. If the website does not have an SSL certificate, the information is not secure, and hackers can easily read it. So, the attacker can take over the login information shared through this non-secure connection.
If you install an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) on your website, the data transmission is encrypted and beyond scammers’. Even if someone gets to the encrypted data being exchanged, they will be unable to read and understand this, as they cannot decrypt the information.
You can buy an SSL certificate from any popular SSL certificate provider like Comodo, DigiCert, Symantec, GeoTrust, etc. However, you should consider buying an SSL certificate if your site has one domain and multiple sub-domains.
2. Security Plugins
Installing security plugins can help you stay protected from hacking. Whenever a hacker sends malware or spiteful code to your site, the plugin’s firewall will alert you about this activity, and you can block it before falling prey to it.
3. Update and Harden your Website
Keep updating your website whenever a new update is available. If you are running an outdated server software, the hacker may find any vulnerabilities in it and harm you. You should use strong usernames and passwords, block PHP execution, etc., to harden your website.
How Can Users Safeguard Themselves from Cookie Stealing?
As a user, you must take security precautions that are mentioned below while visiting a website:
1. Antivirus Installation
You should install antivirus software on your computer. This software monitors everything you download from the internet or transfer through flash drives. When you visit a suspicious website, they inform you of the alarming content present on that site.
2. Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links
The hackers can send you links through emails or comment sections on the website. Do not click on un-trusted links, especially those that woo you with prizes and rewards.
3. Do not Store Sensitive Information
It is a convenient way to save your browser passwords and auto-log into the websites. Likewise, you can save your credit card/banking details on shopping websites for faster checkouts.
It will surely save you time but can also put you in danger. There is a huge risk of your data being stolen. So, it is strongly recommended that you should not save your sensitive information on your browser.
4. Clear Cookies
If you are using Google Chrome, go to history, select “Clear browsing history,” and tick the checkbox “Clear cookies and other site data.”
Select the time range of your choice and click ‘clear data’; all the cookies in the selected period will be removed. This will remove any sensitive information stored on the browser.
Rounding Up
Managing an online business is not an easy task. You need to take care of hundreds of things while running an online trade.
It would be best to take all the security precautions to protect your website, business, clients, and customers from any attack. You cannot ignore the security aspects, as it will ruin your business.
As an internet user, you need to protect your site/computer from session hijacking risks while being online. Do not forget the above-mentioned important tips to stay safe while browsing.
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About the Author:
Gina Lynch is a VPN expert and online privacy advocate who stands for the right to online freedom. She is highly knowledgeable in the field of cybersecurity, with years of experience in researching and writing about the topic. Gina is a strong advocate of digital privacy and strives to educate the public on the importance of keeping their data secure and private. She has become a trusted expert in the field and continues to share her knowledge and advice to help others protect their online identities.
Daniel Segun is the Founder and CEO of SecureBlitz Cybersecurity Media, with a background in Computer Science and Digital Marketing. When not writing, he's probably busy designing graphics or developing websites.
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