Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What vulnerability does repeated invalid session ID attempts take advantage of?

1. Strong password policies

2. Account lockout mechanisms

3. Persistent cookies

4. Session expiration settings

The correct answer is: Account lockout mechanisms

Repeated invalid session ID attempts exploit account lockout mechanisms by overwhelming the system with failed login attempts for the same session ID. When an account lockout mechanism is in place, it is designed to temporarily disable an account after a certain number of failed login attempts, helping to mitigate brute force attacks. However, if a user or an attacker repeatedly tries invalid session IDs, they might trigger the lockout, unintentionally hindering legitimate users from accessing their accounts. This situation poses a risk for organizations, as attackers can use automated tools to continuously attempt various session IDs, leading to a denial-of-service scenario for the legitimate users. In essence, the exploitation occurs by overwhelming the authentication system, indicating potential weaknesses in how these mechanisms are implemented or configured against repeated access attempts. Thus, invalid session ID attempts can effectively take advantage of flaws in the account lockout process, showcasing a critical area of concern for system security.