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What is Man-in-the-Middle Attack?

A Man-in-the-Middle Attack intercepts and manipulates communication between two parties without their knowledge, risking data theft.

Explain Like I'm 5

Think of it like passing secret notes to a friend in class. You expect only your friend to read them, but a sneaky classmate intercepts each note, reads it, and might even change the message before giving it to your friend. This sneaky behavior is similar to a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack, where a cyber 'eavesdropper' secretly listens to or alters the messages between two people or computers.

Why is this important? If someone can read or change your secret notes, they might steal your lunch money or spread rumors. In the digital world, this could mean stealing passwords, private information, or even pretending to be you online. Keeping your digital 'notes' private and accurate is crucial for your safety and privacy.

Technical Definition

Definition

A Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack is a type of cyberattack where a malicious actor intercepts and potentially alters the communication between two parties without their knowledge, often to steal information or manipulate data.

How It Works

  1. 1Interception: The attacker inserts themselves between the victim and their intended destination, often through methods like ARP spoofing or DNS spoofing.
  2. 2Decryption: If the communication is encrypted, attackers may use SSL stripping to remove encryption, rendering the data readable.
  3. 3Manipulation: Attackers may alter the communication before forwarding it or simply listen in to gather sensitive information.

Key Characteristics

  • Invisibility: Victims are typically unaware of the interception.
  • Data Manipulation: Attackers can alter data in transit.
  • Encryption Bypass: Techniques like SSL stripping allow attackers to intercept encrypted data.

Comparison

Attack TypeDescription
Man-in-the-MiddleIntercepts and potentially alters communication
PhishingTricks users into revealing sensitive information
Denial of ServiceOverloads systems to disrupt service

Real-World Example

A notable tool used for MITM attacks is mitmproxy, which allows attackers to examine and manipulate HTTP/HTTPS traffic. The CVE-2016-2107 vulnerability in OpenSSL allowed MITM attackers to read encrypted traffic by exploiting a flaw in the encryption protocol.

Detection & Prevention

  • TLS/SSL: Use TLS/SSL to encrypt communication, ensuring data cannot be easily intercepted.
  • Certificate Pinning: Implement certificate pinning to prevent attackers from using fraudulent certificates.
  • Public Wi-Fi Caution: Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions, as these are common targets for MITM attacks.
  • Tools: Use Wireshark and Bettercap to detect unusual network activity that may indicate an MITM attack.

Common Misconceptions

  • All Encryption is Safe: Not all encryption is immune to MITM; SSL stripping can expose vulnerabilities.
  • Only Public Wi-Fi is Risky: While public Wi-Fi is more vulnerable, MITM attacks can occur on any network without proper defenses.

Keywords

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