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Breaking Boundaries: Next Level Strategies for 2FA Authentication Bypass
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Breaking Boundaries: Next level strategies for 2FA Authentication Bypass
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is designed to add an extra layer of security, but it is not foolproof. This article explores cutting-edge strategies used to bypass 2FA, shedding light on vulnerabilities and the dynamic between improving security measures and the techniques that undermine them.
Social Engineering
Social engineering entails deceiving a target into disclosing sensitive information that may be used in a cyber attack. This attack approach is typically used when the attacker has already obtained a victim’s login and password and wants to bypass other authentication requirements.
Phishing is one of the most frequent social engineering strategies to gain authentication credentials. In a phishing attack, a cybercriminal pretends to be a reliable source. It deceives an email recipient into disclosing personal information or clicking a malicious link in the email, resulting in their account being hacked.
Consent Phishing
Many apps utilize open authorization (OAuth) to seek restricted access to user account data. For example, a third-party app may utilize OAuth to request access to a user’s Google calendar without requiring the user’s password or complete access to their Google account.
Hackers may pretend to be legal OAuth login pages and seek any degree of access from a user using a contemporary attack tactic known as consent phishing. The hacker can update any MFA verification if given this access, allowing for a complete account takeover.
Brute Force
Hackers use brute force attacks to attempt various password combinations until they succeed. The effectiveness of these attacks on MFA is based on using simple password combinations as authentication factors, such as a temporary 4-digit PIN, which is simpler to break than a complicated alphanumeric combination.
If successful, the hacker has breached one authentication factor, bringing them closer to breaching the account.
Exploiting Generated Tokens
Many online sites use authentication tools like Microsoft Authenticator and Google Authenticator to produce temporary tokens that may be used as authentication factors.
These systems often provide users with a list of manual authentication codes as a backup to prevent account lockouts.
Suppose this list is printed or kept in an insecure digital area. In that case, the cybercriminal may get it via physical theft or by leveraging weak data security procedures to gain access to the victim’s account.
Session Hijacking
Session hijacking (cookie snatching) happens when a cybercriminal steals a user’s login session via a man-in-the-middle attack. Session cookies are necessary for the user experience of online services.
When a user connects to an online account, the session cookie stores the user’s login credentials and tracks their session activities. The cookie stays active until the user logs out.
Session hijacking is possible when a web server does not mark session cookies as secure. If users do not return cookies to the server over HTTPS, attackers may steal them and hijack the session, circumventing MFA.
SIM Hacking
SIM hacking is when a hacker gains unauthorized access to a victim’s SIM card and compromises their phone number. SIM switching, cloning, and SIM jacking are all common tactics.
With complete control over the victim’s phone number, the hacker may receive and intercept SMS-generated one-time passwords (OTPs) used as an authentication element during a hacking attempt.
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