Definition:
Session hijacking occurs when an attacker intercepts or takes over an active session between a user and a service, allowing the attacker to gain unauthorized access to the user's account or data.
Use Cases:
- Used by attackers to gain access to a user's account by stealing session cookies or tokens.
- Employed in web-based attacks where sessions are inadequately protected or encrypted.
Related Terms:
Questions and Answers:
- How do attackers perform session hijacking?
Attackers intercept session cookies or session tokens transmitted over insecure channels, allowing them to take control of a user's active session.
- What are the risks of session hijacking?
Session hijacking can lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, enabling attackers to steal data, perform transactions, or impersonate users.
- How can session hijacking be prevented?
Session hijacking can be mitigated by using strong encryption (e.g., HTTPS), securing session tokens, and implementing short session expiration times.