Under this guise, the attacker can then pose as the legitimate user and access any information or take any action that the user is authorized to do. They do so by applying the legitimate user’s session ID to their browser, which tricks the service into thinking the attacker is the legitimate user engaging in that same session. Once an attacker has the session ID and the user has logged in to the service, the attacker can then take over the session. Attackers typically gain this access by either stealing a user’s session cookie (hence the alternative name of cookie hijacking) or convince the user to click on a malicious link that contains a predicted session ID (more on this below). Session hijacking starts when an attacker gains unauthorized access to a user’s session ID. In doing so, attackers can pose as legitimate users, gain information, and take actions under the assumed identity.

Session hijacking occurs when attackers gain unauthorized access to a user’s session ID, which allows them to assume that user’s online identity. And in many instances, these session IDs are based on predictable information, like a user’s IP address. In some cases, these session IDs get encrypted, but that’s not always the case. Most services create these sessions by issuing a session ID, a string of numbers, and letters stored in temporary session cookies, URLs, or hidden fields on the website. Users can end a session by logging out of the service, or some services end a session after a pre-defined period of inactivity. Essentially, users can remain authenticated for as long as a session stays open on the server.

A session gets created on the server hosting the website or application once a user logs in and then serves as a reference for the initial authentication. As a result, if we relied solely on HTTP, users would have to re-authenticate themselves for each action they take or page they view. However, HTTP connections on their own are “stateless,” meaning that each action a user takes is viewed independently. Every time a user accesses a website or application via an HTTP connection, the service authenticates the user (for example, via a username and password) before opening the line of communication and providing access.

What is wireshark and how does it work