Digital Forensic Certification Practice Exam

What attack allows an attacker to decode user credentials by using a local proxy?

1. Cookie snooping

2. Session fixation

3. Unvalidated input

4. Cross-site scripting

The correct answer is: Cookie snooping

The attack that enables an attacker to decode user credentials using a local proxy is cookie snooping. This technique involves intercepting and analyzing cookie data, which can contain sensitive information such as session identifiers and authentication tokens. When a local proxy is employed, it acts as an intermediary between the user's browser and web servers. This positioning allows the attacker to capture and inspect the HTTP requests and responses, revealing cookies being transmitted. By analyzing these cookies, the attacker can extract user credentials or session identifiers, which can then be used to impersonate the user or gain unauthorized access to their accounts. Cookie snooping is particularly effective if the site does not implement secure configurations, such as using HTTPS to encrypt cookies during transmission, making the data vulnerable to exposure. Understanding this attack is crucial for recognizing the need for robust security practices in web applications, particularly in managing user sessions and securing cookies against unauthorized access.