What are common session security issues and how can I prevent them?

What are common session security issues and how can I prevent them?

Common session security issues include session hijacking, fixation, and cross-site scripting. To prevent them, use secure cookies, implement session timeouts, and validate user sessions.

Can you explain session hijacking in more detail?

Session hijacking occurs when an attacker steals a user's session token, allowing them to impersonate the user. This can happen through methods like packet sniffing or cross-site scripting.

What are secure cookies and how do they help?

Secure cookies are only transmitted over HTTPS, preventing interception by attackers. They also have attributes like HttpOnly, which restricts access to the cookie from JavaScript.

How often should I implement session timeouts?

It's recommended to implement session timeouts based on the sensitivity of the application. For high-security applications, consider timeouts of 5-15 minutes of inactivity.