Understanding the Dangers of a Man-in-the-Middle Attack

Recent studies are showing that more and more Canadian businesses are being targeted in cyberattacks. One specific threat of concern are Man-in-the Middle (MitM) attacks. A MITM attack may target any business, organization, or person if there is a perceived chance of financial gain by cyber criminals. The larger the potential financial gain, the more likely the attack. In this blog post, we will outline what it is, how it works and how to prevent a successful attack at your business.

What is a Man-in-the-Middle Attack?

A MitM attack is a type of cyber attack where a malicious actor secretly intercepts and potentially alters the communication between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other. The attacker positions themselves between the two parties, acting as a relay or proxy to eavesdrop, steal sensitive data, or inject malicious content without either party knowing.

How a Man-in-the-Middle Attack Works

In its most basic form, a MitM attack works by the hacker placing themselves in the connection between two parties and interacting with the data sent back and forth. In doing so, a hacker can either take the information for themselves before passing it along, or they could potentially alter the data before it reaches its intended destination (or even change the destination, if it serves their purposes). This allows a hacker to accomplish any number of shady goals.

What’s worse, these attacks can be incredibly difficult to spot if the attacker is only observing, or is actively hiding their activities by re-encrypting intercepted traffic before sending it to its original destination.

Here's the three steps hackers can use to successfully implement a MitM attack:

• Interception: The attacker intercepts the communication between the two parties (such as between a user and a website or a client and a server). This can be done by compromising a network, like a public Wi-Fi, or through various techniques such as ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) spoofing or DNS hijacking.
• Eavesdropping: Once the attacker intercepts the communication, they can monitor and capture the data being sent, including sensitive information such as login credentials, personal data, or financial details.
• Modification: In some cases, the attacker not only intercepts the data but also alters the communication. For example, they may inject malicious code into a website or redirect the victim to a fraudulent site, leading to further attacks such as phishing.

An attacker’s modus operandi can vary from another’s as well. Some will utilize SSL stripping, where they will establish a secure connection with a server, but their connection to the user won’t be, allowing them to see the information the user sends without issue. Some MitM attacks, known as Evil Twin attacks, leverage impersonated Wi-Fi access points that are controlled by the hacker. Leveraging an Evil Twin attack gives the hacker access to all information sent by a user. Attackers can leverage the Internet’s routing protocols against a user, drawing in victims through means like DNS spoofing.

If a MitM attack is being used for a particular motive, like illegitimate financial gain, an attacker could intercept a user’s money transfer and change its destination or the total funds being transferred.

Of course, users aren’t safe on mobile, either. There are MitM exploit kits specifically designed to hijack poorly secured updates, as many mobile updates are, to install malware on devices. MitM attacks can even be launched through fraudulent cell towers, known as stingrays, that can be purchased on the Dark Web.

What’s worse, these attacks often don’t require the attention of the attacker. MitM attacks are easily automated - so while they aren’t quite as common as phishing attacks or ransomware are, they are still a viable threat.

What You Can Do To Minimize Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

• When all is said and done, encrypting your data is still the best way to protect your information, despite flaws in these protocols being discovered on occasion.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions unless you're using a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
• Keep your software, browsers, and devices updated with the latest security patches.
• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.

If you would like assistance in securing your business, or with any other IT-related needs, reach out to the Digital Sky Solutions team!