Analyzing Session Management

Session Management Detection

Detection Workflow

1. Identify session operations: Find session creation code, locate session validation checks, identify session destruction, map session lifecycle
2. Analyze session ID generation: Review session ID generation algorithm, check randomness and entropy, assess predictability, test for collision resistance
3. Check transmission security: Verify SSL/TLS usage, check for session ID in URLs, assess cookie security flags, review transmission methods
4. Assess session lifecycle: Verify session expiration, check logout behavior, assess session invalidation, review concurrent session handling

Key Patterns

• Session fixation: predictable session IDs, session IDs not regenerated after login, accepting attacker-provided session IDs, weak session ID generation
• Session hijacking: session IDs exposed in URLs, session IDs transmitted insecurely, missing SSL/TLS, weak session ID entropy
• Session timeout issues: missing session expiration, excessive session timeout, no session invalidation on logout, persistent sessions across devices
• Cookie security: missing HttpOnly flag, missing Secure flag, cookie accessible via JavaScript, cookie path/domain misconfiguration

Output Format

Report with: id, type, subtype, severity, confidence, location, vulnerability, session_generation (method, predictability, entropy), attack_scenario, bypass_steps, exploitable, impact, mitigation.

Severity Guidelines

• CRITICAL: Session fixation allowing account takeover
• HIGH: Session hijacking with weak session IDs
• MEDIUM: Excessive session timeout or missing logout
• LOW: Minor cookie security issues

See Also

• patterns.md - Detailed detection patterns and exploitation scenarios
• examples.md - Example analysis cases and code samples
• references.md - CWE references and mitigation strategies

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