Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Which attack allows an unauthorized user to gain access by stealing a session token from an end-user machine?

1. Brute-force attack

2. Pass the ticket

3. Cross-site scripting

4. Spoofing attack

The correct answer is: Pass the ticket

The scenario described pertains to a specific type of attack where an unauthorized user gains access by stealing a session token. In this context, "pass the ticket" refers to a technique that enables an attacker to misuse session tokens or authentication tickets to impersonate a legitimate user. These tokens are typically provided to users upon successful authentication and are used to maintain the user's session with a service. By capturing this token—often through methods like network sniffing or exploiting weaknesses in the app—an attacker can effectively authenticate as the user without needing their password. This is why the "pass the ticket" method is closely associated with session hijacking tactics, as it allows for unauthorized access by leveraging valid credentials that have already been issued. While other options describe different types of attacks, they do not directly involve the theft and reuse of session tokens in the same way. Brute-force attacks focus on guessing credentials, cross-site scripting involves injecting malicious scripts into web pages, and spoofing attacks revolve around impersonating another entity. Each of these situations has its own mechanics, which differ significantly from the session token theft exemplified in "pass the ticket."