**Broken Authentication and Session Management** refers to vulnerabilities in managing user authentication and session lifecycle, which can lead to unauthorized access or user impersonation. A specific issue in this category is **Failure to Invalidate Session** during events like **password reset** or **password change**.
### What It Means:
When a user changes or resets their password, all existing sessions should ideally be invalidated. This ensures that anyone who might have been logged in with the old credentials loses access immediately. If the session is not invalidated, an attacker or unauthorized user who has access to an old session token can continue interacting with the application, even after the password has been changed.
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### **Steps to Identify the Vulnerability:**
1. **Log in with a User Account:**
- Authenticate with a valid username and password.
2. **Simulate a Stolen Session:**
- Capture the session token using tools like a browser developer console, proxy tools (e.g., Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP), or interceptors.
- Note the token used for the active session.
3. **Perform a Password Reset/Change:**
- Reset or change the password of the account.
4. **Test the Old Session Token:**
- Use the captured session token after the password reset/change to attempt interactions with the application (e.g., accessing sensitive data, submitting forms).
5. **Expected Secure Behavior:**
- The old session token should no longer work, forcing the attacker to re-authenticate.
6. **Vulnerable Behavior:**
- The old session token remains valid and allows further actions without requiring re-authentication.
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### **Implications of the Vulnerability:**
- **Data Theft:** An attacker can continue accessing sensitive data.
- **Unauthorized Actions:** An attacker may perform actions as the user, such as transferring money, making purchases, or altering account details.
- **Reputational Damage:** Loss of user trust due to poor security.
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### **Best Practices to Mitigate:**
1. **Session Token Invalidations:**
- Invalidate all active sessions upon password change or reset.
- Reissue a new session token for the user logging in after the password change.
2. **Global Logout Mechanism:**
- Provide an option for users to log out from all devices and active sessions.
3. **Track User Sessions:**
- Maintain a session database and flag tokens to invalidate when passwords are changed.
4. **Use Short-Lived Tokens:**
- Implement refresh tokens with short expiration times to minimize session exposure.
5. **Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):**
- Add an additional layer of security during critical actions like password changes.
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