Man-in-the-Middle Attack:
* Objective: To intercept and potentially modify communication between two parties.
* Method: The attacker positions themselves between the two communicating parties, acting as a proxy. They intercept all messages, read their content, potentially modify them, and forward them to the intended recipient.
* Example: A MitM attacker could intercept a secure connection between a user and a website, stealing the user's login credentials or injecting malicious code into the website.
Replay Attack:
* Objective: To repeat a previously recorded communication to gain unauthorized access or disrupt normal operations.
* Method: The attacker captures a valid communication exchange (e.g., a password authentication request) and replays it at a later time to impersonate the original sender.
* Example: A replay attacker could record a user's valid login attempt and then replay it later to gain access to their account.
Key Differences:
| Feature | Man-in-the-Middle Attack | Replay Attack |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | Interception and potential modification | Repetition of captured data |
| Method | Acting as a proxy between parties | Capturing and replaying valid communication |
| Data Modification | Possible | Not required |
| Impact | Data theft, malicious code injection, unauthorized access | Unauthorized access, denial of service |
In short:
* MitM attacks intercept and potentially modify communications.
* Replay attacks reuse captured communications.
Examples:
* MitM: A hacker sets up a fake Wi-Fi hotspot in a public place. Users unknowingly connect to the hacker's hotspot, allowing the hacker to intercept their traffic, including login credentials and sensitive data.
* Replay Attack: A hacker captures a valid password authentication request and replays it multiple times to exhaust the account's lockout threshold, making the account inaccessible.
Mitigation Techniques:
Both attacks can be mitigated through:
* Strong authentication mechanisms: Multi-factor authentication, public key cryptography, and secure protocols like TLS/SSL can help prevent unauthorized access.
* Data encryption: Encrypted communications are difficult to intercept and understand, making MitM attacks less effective.
* Security awareness: Educating users about these threats can help them avoid falling victim to them.