Session Side Hijacking Vulnerability in Ethical Hacking Last Updated : 04 Oct, 2025 Comments Improve Suggest changes Like Article Like Report The rule interface known as session management facilitates user interaction with web applications. Websites and browsers communicate with one another and share data via the HTTP communication protocol. An ongoing HTTP request is known as a session. The creation of transactions with the same user is done. A stateless protocol is HTTP. Predictable Session Tokens of the comparable web interface and interactions make up the response pair and request as a whole. The prior command is not necessary for the current command. This forces us to introduce the idea of session management, which links access control and authentication. Web apps can use both of these. Cookies and Session Hijacking:A hacker attack on a user session is referred to as session hijacking. When we log into any service, the session is active. The ideal scenario is when we use a web application, such as a banking application, to conduct a financial transaction. Cookie Hijacking, also known as cookie side jacking, is another name for session hijacking. A hacker's attack is more targeted the more detailed information they have about our sessions. For web applications and browser sessions, this session hijacking is typical. Types of Hacking Session Tokens:The following are some ways that a session token may be compromised: 1. Predictable Session Token: In the browser or online application, the session ID should be random.To make it difficult for a hacker to identify the session token, it should be very descriptive. Short session keys shouldn't be used.2. Session Sniffing: To obtain the valid session ID, the attacker employs a valid sniffer.Unauthorized access to the web server is gained by the hacker.3. Attacks on the client side: A hacker can take over a session ID by utilizing harmful software or client-side code.Cross-site scripting attacks to steal the session token are very common.Using malicious JavaScript code is possible. Primary Session Hijacking Techniques:Session FixationSession Side JackingCross-Site ScriptingMalwareBrute ForceComparison Between Session Spoofing, Session Fixation, and Session Hijacking:TopicSession HijackingSession FixationSession SpoofingGoal of attacksUnauthorized access to a user session that is currently activeTo gain unauthorized access to a user's active sessionTo alter or steal the dataMethodUsing network traffic sniffingThis is an inverted method of accessing a user's browser using a Predefined session cookie.It is possible to achieve this by creating false IP addresses, websites, or emails.ActivityPerformed on user who is currently logged in and already authenticatedThe hacker already knows the session IDs for getting unauthorized accessAttackers may not be aware of the attack because they are impersonating the original user by starting a new session with stolen or fake session tokens.Steps After Session Hijacking:Any action that the user was carrying out with his credentials is now open to the attacker. The hacker can access a variety of web applications, including customer information systems, financial systems, and line-of-business systems that may store important intellectual property.In single sign-on systems, the attacker can identify authenticated users using session hijacking cookies (SSO).Illustrations:Attackers can access bank accounts to transfer money.Hackers can shop online.Attackers can access sensitive information to sell it on the dark web.Hackers may ask the user for a ransom in exchange for the data.Session Hijacking Prevention:By taking precautions on the client side, session hijacking can be avoided. Endpoint Security and Software Updating will be crucial from a user perspective.Attacks can be stopped by requiring biometric authentication for each user session.Secure HTTP or SSL can be used to perform end-to-end encryption between the user's browser and the web server.The session cookie can be used to store the session value.When the session is over, an automatic logoff can be set up.Session ID monitors are a useful tool.Utilizing a VPN can stop illegal access.Attacks can be prevented by the web server creating lengthy, random session cookies.Session ID monitor use improves security.The user's computer and the server's security are enhanced by removing the session cookie.Conclusion:The fundamental ideas of session hijacking and the methods a hacker can use to carry out this activity have been explored in this article. We've talked about how hackers and attackers gain illegal access, Including their strategies for creating vulnerabilities. Both the idea of session spoofing and session fixation have been clarified. After learning about the different things, a hacker may do with access to the user session, we finally touched on session hijacking prevention. Create Quiz Comment E earlylearning515 Follow 0 Improve E earlylearning515 Follow 0 Improve Article Tags : Ethical Hacking Ethical Hacking - Session Hijacking Explore Introduction to Ethical HackingWhat is Hacktivism ? 11 min read The Hackers Methodology 4 min read Remote Access in Ethical Hacking 5 min read Information Gathering Tools for Kali Linux 5 min read ARIN in Ethical Hacking 3 min read Characteristics of Computer Networks 5 min read Foot Printing and ReconnaissanceWhat is DNS Footprinting? 6 min read Footprinting Through Search Engines 5 min read What is Whois Footprinting? 4 min read Footprinting Using Social Engineering Method 4 min read Scanning NetworksWhat is Credentialed Vulnerability Scan? 4 min read What are Scanning Attacks? 7 min read Malware Scan in Ethical Hacking 5 min read What is Running of a Malware Scan? 5 min read WAScan - web application security scanner in Kali Linux 2 min read What is TCP-ACK Scanning? 2 min read Port Scanning Techniques By Using Nmap 5 min read What is SYN Scanning? 3 min read What is UDP Scanning? 2 min read EnumerationCyber Security - Types of Enumeration 13 min read What is DNS Enumeration? 3 min read SMTP Enumeration 2 min read LDAP Enumeration 6 min read What is NTP Enumeration? 4 min read What is IPsec Enumeration? 4 min read What is NetBIOS Enumeration? 5 min read SNMP Enumeration 7 min read What is Security Testing in Enumeration? 4 min read System HackingWhat is System Hacking in Ethical Hacking? 2 min read What is Windows Hacking ? 6 min read Importance of Physical Security in Ethical Hacking 3 min read What is Non-Electronic Password Attack on a System? 3 min read Password Guessing Attack 5 min read Credential Stuffing in Ethical Hacking 2 min read Reverse Brute Force Attack in System Hacking 4 min read Brute Force Attack 2 min read What is a Default Password Attack Threat? 3 min read USB Drop Attack in System Hacking 5 min read What is Sniffing Attack in System Hacking? 4 min read How to Prevent Man In the Middle Attack? 5 min read How To Generate Rainbow Table Using WinRTGen? 4 min read What is Elcomsoft Distributed Password Recovery? 4 min read pwdump7 in System Hacking 3 min read FGDUMP in System Hacking 5 min read Password Auditing With L0phtcrack 7 Tool 5 min read What is Salted Password Hashing? 4 min read How to Defend Against Password Cracking of Systems? 6 min read How to Defend Against Wi-Fi Pineapple? 6 min read What is DLL Hijacking? 8 min read How to Prevent Privilege Escalation? 4 min read Malware AnalysisMost Popular Methods Used By Hackers to Spread Ransomware 3 min read What is Malvertising? 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