How do you test for broken authentication and session management in web applications?

Broken authentication recon techniques should also include enumerating which protections exist against brute force attacks, such as CAPTCHAs and Rate Limits, which include their own unique set of issues. - An example of weak CAPTCHA implementation could include naming the CAPTCHA's image file with letters that match the CAPTCHA answer. This could be easily discovered by reading the source code and bypassed with simple scripting or macros. - Rate Limits are often coded to track users based on cookies, IP addresses, User-Agents, Header values or many other variables. If the client has control over what is being tracked, then changing that value sporadically allows the protection to be bypassed and controlled by the client.

Additionally, you can perform recon techniques to make it easier to identify endpoints and documentation that could be useful when trying to exploit a vulnerability. Tools like Wfuzz, nuclei and wordlist from seclist are excellent.

To map authentication and session mechanisms, use tools like Burp Suite or ZAP to inspect HTTP requests, responses, cookies, headers, and parameters. Examine the application's authentication flow and session handling to understand how user identity is verified and maintained. Look for documentation or error messages for additional insights into the underlying technologies.

Begin by understanding how the web application handles authentication and session management. Authentication verifies a user's identity, while session management maintains user state across requests. Use tools like Burp Suite, ZAP, or Nmap to analyze HTTP requests and responses, including cookies 🍪, headers 📑, and hidden fields 🔑 involved in authentication. Look for documentation, comments, or error messages 💬 that reveal the underlying technologies or frameworks.

* Understand how the application handles user authentication and session management. Identify where user credentials are validated and how sessions are established. * Look for relevant code paths, configuration files, and database tables related to authentication and session handling.

To spot broken authentication, assess web apps for weak or default credentials. Utilize tools like Hydra for brute force attacks, checking for common credentials (admin/admin or root/root). This approach exposes vulnerabilities, guiding towards enhancing security protocols.

Check for weak or default credentials that could allow bypassing authentication or accessing privileged accounts. Use tools like Hydra, Ncrack, or Medusa for brute force or dictionary attacks 🔓 on login forms and HTTP authentication. Test common usernames and passwords, such as admin/admin, root/root, or guest/guest, as these are often overlooked by developers.

* Attempt to log in using common default usernames and passwords (e.g., “admin/admin,” “root/root,” etc.). * Test for weak passwords by using common password lists or tools like Hydra or Burp Intruder. * Check if the application enforces strong password policies (length, complexity, etc.)

Many applications are deployed with default usernames and passwords, which are often publicly known. Testing for these default credentials is essential to prevent unauthorized access to the application. Automated tools can be used to systematically test for weak passwords or easily guessable combinations. These tools can employ techniques such as dictionary attacks or brute-force attacks to uncover weak authentication credentials.

Brute Force Attack: Attempt to brute force login with common passwords and usernames. Default Credentials: Check if default credentials (e.g., admin/admin) are in use for any accounts. Password Policy: Evaluate the strength of the password policy (e.g., minimum length, complexity requirements).

Test for session hijacking and fixation vulnerabilities, which exploit session management flaws. Session hijacking involves stealing a valid session identifier, while session fixation forces a user to use a predetermined session identifier controlled by an attacker. Use tools like Burp Suite, ZAP, or Cookie Cadger to intercept and manipulate session identifiers (cookies 🍪, tokens, URL parameters). Ensure session identifiers are securely transmitted (use HTTPS 🌐), stored, and generated without predictable algorithms 🔒.

Session hijacking and fixation related to session management in web applications:Session Hijacking:Definition: Stealing a valid session identifier (e.g., a session cookie).Attack Scenario: Intercepted session ID used for unauthorized access.Testing Approach: Use tools like Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, or Cookie Cadger. Verify secure transmission and uniqueness.Session Fixation:Definition: Forcing a predetermined session ID on a user.Attack Scenario: User logs in with attacker-controlled session ID.Testing Approach: Check external session ID setting, dynamic changes, and secure ID generation.

Usually the session hijacking is caused with XSS, CSRF or similar attack. Firstly, designer should implement Content Security Policy to avoid external script could be run at the client browser. CSRF token is also a common solution to against CSRF. However I see some implementation (including Google Oauth) will send the same value in the body and in the cookie hence anyone can break the control easily. Although in theory CSRF attacker does not know the CSRF cookie, it may be a potential loophole. A better approach is encrypting the body value and storing it in the cookie. Of course there is other way to avoid session hijacking but it needs carefully consideration to balance the user friendly level and security.

Session hijacking occurs when an attacker steals a valid session token and uses it to impersonate a legitimate user. Session fixation involves an attacker forcing a known session ID onto a victim, effectively allowing the attacker to take control of the victim's session. To test for these vulnerabilities, security testers often use interception proxies like Burp Suite or OWASP ZAP to intercept and manipulate session tokens during transmission. By doing so, they can identify any weaknesses in the session management process.

Session Hijacking: Cookie Theft: Capture and reuse session cookies using tools like Burp Suite or OWASP ZAP to test if the session can be hijacked. Network Sniffing: Use tools like Wireshark to intercept session cookies in transit (ensure SSL/TLS is enforced). Session Fixation: Fixed Session ID: Attempt to set a predefined session ID via URL parameters or cookies and see if the application accepts it. Session Regeneration: Ensure that session IDs are regenerated upon login and privilege changes.

Finally, evaluate logout and timeout issues that can compromise session termination. Logout issues arise when the application fails to invalidate the session identifier or clear the browser cache 🧹 after logout, allowing an attacker to reuse the identifier or access cached data. Timeout issues occur when the session identifier remains active after a period of inactivity. Use tools like Burp Suite or a browser extension to monitor and modify HTTP requests related to logout and timeout functions. Look for inconsistencies or errors in the logout and timeout logic ⚠️.

Many Tokens have a high expiration time, this can be useful in an exploration, especially if you can exploit a vector to obtain the token as an XSS or collect through unencrypted requests such as HTTP. Thus, you can even with the token permissions you have, maintain the persistence of the environment by renewing the authorization token through the compromised API.

To test for logout and timeout issues, verify that the web application invalidates the session identifier and clears the browser cache upon logout. Ensure that the session expires after a period of inactivity. Use tools like Burp Suite or ZAP to monitor and analyze HTTP requests and responses related to these functions.

* Check if the application properly logs users out after a specified idle time or when they explicitly log out. * Verify that session timeouts are set appropriately (e.g., 15-30 minutes) to prevent unauthorized access due to inactive sessions. * Test session expiration by waiting for the timeout period and then attempting to access protected resources.

Proper logout and session timeout mechanisms are critical for maintaining the security of user sessions. Users should be automatically logged out after a period of inactivity to prevent unauthorized access to their accounts. During testing, it's important to verify that the application effectively logs users out after a specified period of inactivity. Additionally, testers should ensure that sessions are properly invalidated upon logout, preventing attackers from reusing session tokens to gain unauthorized access.

In my experience, brute forcing directories of the application some time reveals sub-pages that should not be directly accessed without previous authentication. In addition to that, some vulnerabilities like IDOR (that may fit both in the authentication and/or authorization category) can be found by Googling for the application domain name.

* Review the application’s handling of forgotten passwords and password reset functionality. * Investigate how the application handles failed login attempts (e.g., account lockout, CAPTCHA). * Assess whether the application leaks session tokens in URLs, logs, or error messages. Remember that automated tools can help, but manual testing is essential to identify nuanced issues. Regular security testing and auditing play a crucial role in uncovering and mitigating broken authentication vulnerabilities

CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery): Ensure CSRF tokens are implemented and validated properly to protect against CSRF attacks. Secure Transmission: Verify that authentication and session management data are always transmitted over HTTPS to prevent interception. Cookie Security Flags: Secure Flag: Ensure cookies are only sent over HTTPS. HttpOnly Flag: Prevent client-side scripts from accessing cookies. SameSite Attribute: Mitigate CSRF by restricting how cookies are sent with cross-site requests. Password Storage: Confirm that passwords are hashed using strong algorithms (e.g., bcrypt) and salted before storage.

Beyond the basic tests, it's important to consider additional factors that may impact authentication and session management security. This includes reviewing the configuration of authentication mechanisms to identify any misconfigurations that could lead to security vulnerabilities, such as insecure storage of credentials. Multi-factor authentication implementations should also be thoroughly tested to ensure they effectively mitigate the risk of unauthorized access. Finally, error messages should be reviewed to ensure they do not leak sensitive information that could aid attackers in bypassing authentication controls.