Definition

A Man-in-the-Middle ("MitM") attack is a type of cyber attack where a malicious third party intercepts and can manipulate communication between two parties without their knowledge. This allows them to eavesdrop and collect sensitive information that can be leveraged for future malicious acts, such as login credentials, financial data, or other personal information.

According to Verizon (2020), "35% of [enterprise network] exploitation activity saw man-in-the-middle attacks playing a role in the breach."

Different Forms of MitM Attacks

MitM attacks can take various forms, each taking advantage of a different exploit to gain access to sensitive data. Some of these exploits include:

• Packet Sniffing - The attacker intercepts unencrypted packets (units of transmitted data) as they travel between two parties. 
• DNS Spoofing - The attacker manipulates the Domain Name System (DNS) to redirect the target to a malicious website or server, where they are able to further manipulate the target.
• Wi-Fi Eavesdropping - The attacker intercepts data passing through a poorly-secured Wi-Fi network.
• Session Hijacking - The attacker steals or gains access to an established session between two parties, allowing them hijack this connection and impersonate one or both of the parties. 

Vulnerability and Prevention

Though anyone using networked devices and engaging in wireless communication can be a target of MitM attacks, those that are most vulnerable often lack secure methods of communication. This may be a result of:

• Unencrypted Networks
• Weak Authentication
• Outdated Security Protocols
• Unpatched Software
• Malware

Therefore, to protect you and your business against MitM attacks, consider implementing security measures like MFA integration, HTTPS (website) and WPA2 (Wi-Fi) encryption, as well as routine software updates and security audits.