Pass the Cookie Attack—an insidious cyber threat exploiting website vulnerabilities through manipulated cookies. This tactic compromises user privacy and digital security. Stay informed, fortify defenses, and guard against this covert threat. Elevate your cybersecurity knowledge to ensure a resilient defense against evolving online risks

1. ATTACK
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PASS-THE
Threats and Defense Strategies
COOKIE

2. A Pass-the-Cookie attack involves
stealing a user's session cookie to
impersonate them without a password.
The attacker then gains unauthorized
access to the user's accounts,
risking data compromise.
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What is
Pass-the-Cookie Attack?

3. Extracting the Session Cookie
01
Hackers use cross-site scripting, phishing,
MITM, and trojan attacks to steal user session
cookies. These stolen cookies are sold on
the dark web for malicious use.
Passing the Cookie
02
The attacker injects the stolen session cookie
into the user's web browser, creating a
seemingly legitimate session to gain
unauthorized access to their
web application.
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How
Pass-the-Cookie Works?

4. Implement Client Certificates
01
Employ persistent user tokens with
client certificates for identity
verification in server connection
requests. Effective for smaller
user bases but challenging at scale.
Add More Context to Connection Requests
02
Add extra elements like requiring a
user's IP address for web
application access to enhance
verification. But this approach may
allow both attackers and legitimate
users to share the same public space
for access.
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Mitigating
Pass-the-Cookie Attacks?

5. Use Browser Fingerprinting
03
In connection requests, use browser
fingerprinting with specific
browser details (version, OS,
device, language, extensions).
This aligns user identity with
context, boosting security.
Leveraging Threat Detection Tools
04
Proactive network scanning alerts for
unusual activities and identifies malicious
account use, thus preventing
significant damage.
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