GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies Practice Test

Which method is most effective in mitigating a Session Guessing attack?

1. Using predictable session tokens

2. Implementing session tokens that expire and are truly random

3. Using a single session token for all users

4. Restricting sessions to specific IP addresses

The correct answer is: Implementing session tokens that expire and are truly random

The most effective method in mitigating a Session Guessing attack is implementing session tokens that expire and are truly random. Session Guessing attacks involve an attacker attempting to guess session identifiers to hijack user sessions. When session tokens are predictable or expose patterns, it becomes easier for attackers to exploit them. By using session tokens that are truly random, the likelihood of an attacker guessing the correct token decreases significantly. These tokens should be long enough to provide a secure level of randomness. Additionally, setting an expiration time for these tokens means that even if a token is guessed, it will only be valid for a limited duration, reducing the window of opportunity for the attacker to exploit the session. This combination of randomness and expiration greatly enhances the security of user sessions, making it considerably more difficult for unauthorized users to successfully carry out a session hijacking attack.