Stealing authentication tokens inside HTTP cookies can occur in various scenarios due to improper security configurations, vulnerabilities, or malicious activities. Below is a list of 30 scenarios where this can happen:
1. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
- Malicious script injected into a webpage reads cookies and sends them to an attacker’s server.
2. Cookie Injection via HTTP Response Splitting
- Manipulating the HTTP response to include malicious cookies that overwrite existing session tokens.
3. Insecure Transmission (No HTTPS)
- Tokens are sent over HTTP, making them vulnerable to network sniffing.
4. Insecure Cookie Attributes
- Missing
Secureattribute allows cookies to be sent over unsecured connections.
5. Missing HttpOnly Flag
- Without
HttpOnly, cookies are accessible to JavaScript, making them easier to steal with XSS.
6. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
- Exploiting a lack of proper CSRF tokens protection to perform unauthorized actions.
7. Clickjacking
- Embedding the target website in an iframe to trick users into performing actions that expose cookies.
8. Cookie Replay Attacks
- Reuse of stolen session cookies to impersonate users.
9. Social Engineering
- Tricking users into sharing cookie data through phishing or other deceptive tactics.
10. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks
- Intercepting and reading cookies on unencrypted connections.
11. Session Fixation
- Attacker sets a known session ID and forces the user to use it, gaining control when they log in.
12. Weak Cookie Encryption
- Poor encryption practices allow attackers to decrypt cookie contents.
13. Browser Vulnerabilities
- Exploiting flaws in the browser to access cookie data.
14. Open Redirect Vulnerabilities
- Redirecting users to malicious domains to steal cookies.
15. Reflected XSS
- Immediate execution of a script that reads cookies and transmits them.
16. Stored XSS
- Persistent script injection that continuously steals cookies when a page is accessed.
17. DNS Spoofing
- Redirecting traffic to a malicious server that mimics a legitimate site.
18. Subdomain Takeover
- Controlling a subdomain of a target site and stealing cookies shared across subdomains.
19. Insecure SameSite Attribute
- Misconfigured
SameSiteattribute, allowing CSRF or cookie theft.
20. Cache Poisoning
- Poisoning cache to serve malicious pages that steal cookies.
21. Malicious Browser Extensions
- Extensions with permissions to read cookies.
22. Public Wi-Fi Attacks
- Intercepting cookies on unsecured Wi-Fi networks.
23. Session Hijacking
- Taking control of an active session using stolen cookies.
24. Cookie Domain Attribute Misconfiguration
- Sharing cookies across unintended domains.
25. Cookie Path Attribute Misconfiguration
- Cookies accessible by unintended paths or subdirectories.
26. Phishing Emails
- Redirecting users to a malicious page that reads cookies.
27. Local File Inclusion (LFI)
- Including sensitive files that contain cookie data.
28. Third-Party Script Inclusion
- Malicious third-party scripts injected into trusted domains.
29. Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) Misconfiguration
- Allowing unauthorized domains to access cookies.
30. Timing Attacks
- Using timing differences to infer cookie values or authentication tokens.
Preventative Measures
To mitigate these risks, implement best practices:
- Always use HTTPS.
- Set
Secure,HttpOnly, andSameSiteattributes on cookies. - Use Content Security Policy (CSP) to prevent XSS.
- Implement proper CSRF protection.
- Avoid sharing sensitive tokens with third-party scripts or domains.
Each scenario represents a vector for potential token theft if appropriate countermeasures are not in place.