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Man in the middle attack

Cybersecurity Awareness Month begins in October, and corporations are more focused than ever on protecting digital assets. As new cloud and generative AI solutions help businesses grow, it’s crucial to understand how they’ve complicated security dangers and how to handle them. As a major global security, cloud, AI, and business service provider, IBM encourages its worldwide clients to proactively embed security into all elements of their organization.

For that reason, the 2024 IBM X-Force Cloud Threat Landscape Report examines the biggest threats enterprises face today and why cloud security mitigation measures are crucial to success. The IBM X-Force team provides unique insights on how adversaries are compromising cloud infrastructure through adversary-in-the-middle (AITM) attacks, business email compromise (BEC), and other approaches based on threat intelligence, incident response, and partnerships with Cybersixgill and Red Hat Insights.

What is man in the middle attack?

A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack involves a hacker listening on internet interactions between a user and a web application to collect sensitive data.

MITM attackers capture credit card numbers, account information, and login credentials by sneaking into two-party conversations. Hackers then exploit the information to commit identity theft, fraudulent purchases, and financial account hijacks.

An MITM attacker may eavesdrop on private conversations between two persons as well as user-application interactions. For control, the attacker diverts and redirects messages between the two people, occasionally changing them.

Some cybersecurity experts and organizations are abandoning the term “man-in-the-middle” due to bias. It may also miss cases where a bot, gadget, or virus is in the middle.

This sort of cyberattack is also known as machine-in-the-middle, on-path attack, AITM, and manipulator-in-the-middle.

How to detect man in the middle attack?

Man in the middle attack exploit network, browser, email, user behavior, and security protocol vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities allow cybercriminals to intercept and control communications between users and trusted programs in real time.

MITM attackers often come in via phishing. A man-in-the-browser attack might be launched accidentally by clicking on a malicious email link. Man in the middle attack use this method to infect a user’s web browser with malware that lets them modify web pages, control transactions, and track user activity.

Public wifi hotspots also host MITM attacks. Home and corporate wifi routers offer more security protocols than public ones. Nearby users can connect to the network more easily. It also makes it easier for criminals to hack routers , eavesdrop on internet traffic and steal user data.

MITM attackers establish fake public WiFi networks to steal user data.

MITM attacks may also use bogus websites to steal login credentials. These credentials allow hackers to log into real website user accounts. They may even utilize the bogus website to trick people into paying or transferring money.

The man-in-the-middle attack stages

Man in the middle attacks require thieves to intercept and decrypt data between their targets.

Interception

Attackers must intercept data between two targets, such as a user and a web application, to get in between them. To avoid suspicion, the attacker sends redirected information between targets as if normal conversations are ongoing.

Decryption

Most internet communications are encrypted, thus MITM attackers must decrypt data before using it. Stealing encryption keys, brute-force assaults, or MITM attacks can decode data (see next section).

MITM attacks

Many methods are used to intercept and decode data during MITM attacks. Methods include:

IP spoofing: IP addresses help identify websites, devices, and emails. MITM attackers ‘spoof’ their IP addresses to seem as a legitimate host when sending data to a malicious source.

ARP spoofing or ARP cache poisoning: An IP address is connected to a local area network’s Media Access Control (MAC) address by the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). ARP spoofing allows an attacker to route this connection to their MAC address and steal data.

Domain name spoofing: DNS links website domain names to IP addresses. An MITM attacker can redirect users to a phony website by altering DNS records.

HTTPS spoofing: HTTPS encrypts communication between users and websites. To obtain unprotected data, MITM attackers discreetly send visitors to an unencrypted HTTP page.

SSL hijacking: SSL allows web browsers and servers to authenticate and encrypt each other. False SSL certificates allow MITM attackers to intercept data before encryption.

SSL stripping: When a website accepts HTTP connections before redirecting them to HTTPS, it strips SSL. MITM attacks intercept this transition to read unencrypted data before it switches to HTTPS.

Common man-in-the-middle attacks types

Hijacking email

Cybercriminals take over business email accounts in these attacks. For MITM attacks, banks and credit card firms are common targets.

Communications, personal data, and transaction intelligence are monitored by hackers. They sometimes impersonate firm email addresses to get clients or partners to deposit or transfer money into a fake account.

Hijacking sessions

The browser briefly retains website data when it interfaces with it.

Session cookie details. MITM attackers utilize these cookies to impersonate users or steal passwords, credit card numbers, and other account information.

Hackers must act swiftly before the cookie expires with the session.

WiFi snooping

Public wifi networks and hot spots are sometimes created by MITM attackers in airports, cafés, and city centers. These fake networks often resemble local companies or trusted public wifi networks. Hackers can compromise legally utilized public wifi hot spots.

Both ways, attackers steal credit card details, usernames, and passwords from unwary users.

Example of man in the middle attack

Equifax

Unpatched web application framework vulnerabilities allowed Equifax to be man-in-the-middle attacked in 2017. This assault revealed over 150 million people’s financial data.

Equifax also found mobile app security holes that could expose users to more MITM attacks. Equifax pulled the apps from Apple and Google Play.

DigiNotar

The 2011 DigiNotar MITM attack was effective because hackers used bogus websites to steal passwords.

DigiNotar issued more than 500 compromised security certificates to Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft after the incident. DigiNotar went bankrupt after losing its security certificate business.

Tesla

Security researchers found a flaw in 2024 that let hackers to unlock and steal Tesla automobiles via Man in the middle attack.

A faked wifi hotspot at a Tesla charging station could steal a Tesla owner’s credentials. The attacker might then create a new “phone key” that unlocks and starts the vehicle without the owner’s awareness, researchers say.

How to avoid MITM attacks

Businesses and individuals may prevent man-in-the-middle attacks via cybersecurity. Focus on these methods, say experts:

HTTPS: Visitors should only visit websites with “HTTPS” and a padlock icon in the browser address bar. Avoid HTTP-only sites. Applications can also avoid spoofing and malicious web traffic with SSL and TLS protocols.

Endpoint security: MITM attackers target computers, cellphones, workstations, and servers. Preventing attackers from putting malware on endpoints requires the latest updates and antivirus software.

Virtual private networks: By encrypting network communication, VPNs protect against MITM attacks. Even in a breach, hackers cannot access login credentials, credit card numbers, or account information.

Multifactor authentication (MFA): MFA requires more than a password to access accounts, devices, and network services. Even if an MITM attacker gets login credentials, multifactor authentication can prevent account takeover.

Encryption: For network security and Man in the middle attack protection, encryption is essential. Some MITM attacks can be prevented by encrypting all network traffic and resources, including email content, DNS records, chat apps, and access points.

Public wifi networks: Avoid public wifi networks while making sensitive data-based purchases.

Next step

Since flexible work arrangements are now the standard, workers must continue to be productive even when working remotely on any device in a secure manner. IBM Security MaaS360 offers a comprehensive UEM solution, encompassing endpoint management and native security.