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Web Pentesting Session Fixation

Session fixation is a type of attack that exploits a vulnerability in web applications' session management process. The attacker sets a session ID for the victim user and then tricks them into using it, allowing the attacker to access the victim's session.

The following steps outline how a session fixation attack works:

1. The attacker identifies a web application that is vulnerable to session fixation. This vulnerability typically arises when a web application accepts user-defined session IDs or does not regenerate session IDs after a user has logged in.

2. The attacker logs into the web application using their own account or a fake account and captures the session ID that the web application assigns to them.

3. The attacker sends the captured session ID to the victim, typically by embedding it in a URL or email.

4. The victim clicks on the URL or follows the email link and logs into the web application using the session ID provided by the attacker.

5. The attacker now has access to the victim's session and can perform actions on their behalf, such as accessing sensitive data or performing unauthorized transactions.

To prevent session fixation attacks, web application developers should follow best practices for session management. These include generating a new session ID for each user upon login, using secure random number generators for session IDs, and invalidating session IDs upon logout or after a period of inactivity.

Penetration testers can use tools such as Burp Suite to test for session fixation vulnerabilities in web applications. They can also perform manual testing by attempting to manipulate session IDs and observing the web application's response.

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Web Pentesting Session Fixation