Web Security Experts Emphasize 'Secure' Cookie Attribute to Prevent Attacks
Web security experts are highlighting the importance of a simple yet crucial attribute for cookies: 'secure'. Qualys Web Application Scanning is helping organizations ensure this attribute is set, protecting cookies from potential attacks.
Cookies are a common feature of modern web applications, used for tasks like authentication and session management. However, they can pose risks if not properly secured. The 'secure' attribute ensures cookies are only sent over encrypted (HTTPS) connections, shielding them from network traffic sniffing.
Qualys Web Application Scanning (WAS) plays a vital role in maintaining this security. It scans websites and reports when it finds cookies delivered over HTTPS without the 'secure' attribute. While some cookies may not be sensitive, Qualys WAS reports them all to ensure no risks are overlooked.
Setting the 'secure' attribute is straightforward. Examples are provided in PHP, JSP, and ASP.Net. Organizations can use Qualys to assist with EU Cookie Directive compliance and detect missing 'secure' cookie attributes, using detections like QID 150122, 150161, and 150120.
If an attacker obtains a user's session cookie, they could potentially hijack the user's session, leading to unauthorized access or harmful actions. Setting the 'secure' attribute forces browsers to send the cookie only over HTTPS, preventing such attacks.
Organizations are urged to ensure all cookies are sent over secure channels by setting the 'secure' attribute. Qualys Web Application Scanning is a valuable tool in achieving this, helping maintain robust web security.
