Web applications use sessions to identify and interact with authenticated users. If user authentication and session management are not properly configured, attackers may be able to obtain passwords, keys, or session tokens to gain access to users’ accounts and impersonate their identities.
Session Management
Session management refers to the process of securely handling multiple requests to a web-based application or service from a single user or entity. Typically, a session begins when the user authenticates their identity using a password or other authentication protocol. Session management involves sharing confidential information with authenticated users, which is why secure network encryption for communication is crucial to maintain the security of session management.
Use of Frameworks
Many modern development frameworks provide tools for secure session management, but potential vulnerabilities exist in each of these solutions. Therefore, it is important for developers to ensure they are using the latest version of any framework to securely configure the session.
Below are some of the techniques outlined by OWASP, compiled as a checklist. You can implement all or part of these techniques based on your system’s needs:
- Session IDs should always be generated on the server side.
- The logout process must fully terminate the session and expire any connections.
- The logout process must be accessible from all pages where authentication occurs.
- Depending on the needs of your organization and system, choose the shortest possible session expiration time.
- Do not allow permanent sessions; expire sessions periodically.
- If a session is active before the user logs in, terminate it and create a new session after a successful login.
- Assign a new session to the user with every authentication and expire the previous one.
- Do not allow concurrent logins with a single session for users.
- Do not expose session identifiers in URLs, error messages, or logs.
- Implement appropriate access controls on the server side to protect session data from unauthorized access by other users.
- When switching from HTTP to HTTPS, create a new session identifier.
- Use HTTPS exclusively whenever possible.
- Set the “secure” flag for cookies sent via the TLS protocol.
- Set cookies with the “HttpOnly” flag unless your application specifically requires scripts to read or set the cookie values.