type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--544b0346-29ad-41e1-a808-501bb4193f47
created: 2018-01-16T16:13:52.465Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1185
external_id: T1185
source_name: Wikipedia Man in the Browser
description: Wikipedia. (2017, October 28). Man-in-the-browser. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-in-the-browser
source_name: Cobalt Strike Browser Pivot
description: Mudge, R. (n.d.). Browser Pivoting. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
url: https://www.cobaltstrike.com/help-browser-pivoting
source_name: ICEBRG Chrome Extensions
description: De Tore, M., Warner, J. (2018, January 15). MALICIOUS CHROME EXTENSIONS ENABLE CRIMINALS TO IMPACT OVER HALF A MILLION USERS AND GLOBAL BUSINESSES. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
url: https://www.icebrg.io/blog/malicious-chrome-extensions-enable-criminals-to-impact-over-half-a-million-users-and-global-businesses
source_name: cobaltstrike manual
description: Strategic Cyber LLC. (2017, March 14). Cobalt Strike Manual. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20210825130434/https://cobaltstrike.com/downloads/csmanual38.pdf
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-10-24T17:48:48.383Z
name: Browser Session Hijacking
description: Adversaries may take advantage of security vulnerabilities and inherent functionality in browser software to change content, modify user-behaviors, and intercept information as part of various browser session hijacking techniques.(Citation: Wikipedia Man in the Browser)

A specific example is when an adversary injects software into a browser that allows them to inherit cookies, HTTP sessions, and SSL client certificates of a user then use the browser as a way to pivot into an authenticated intranet.(Citation: Cobalt Strike Browser Pivot)(Citation: ICEBRG Chrome Extensions) Executing browser-based behaviors such as pivoting may require specific process permissions, such as SeDebugPrivilege and/or high-integrity/administrator rights.

Another example involves pivoting browser traffic from the adversary's browser through the user's browser by setting up a proxy which will redirect web traffic. This does not alter the user's traffic in any way, and the proxy connection can be severed as soon as the browser is closed. The adversary assumes the security context of whichever browser process the proxy is injected into. Browsers typically create a new process for each tab that is opened and permissions and certificates are separated accordingly. With these permissions, an adversary could potentially browse to any resource on an intranet, such as [Sharepoint](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1213/002) or webmail, that is accessible through the browser and which the browser has sufficient permissions. Browser pivoting may also bypass security provided by 2-factor authentication.(Citation: cobaltstrike manual)
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: collection
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.2.0
x_mitre_contributors: Justin Warner, ICEBRG
x_mitre_deprecated: no
x_mitre_domains: enterprise-attack
x_mitre_is_subtechnique: no
x_mitre_modified_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
x_mitre_platforms: Windows
x_mitre_version: 2.1