Sign Up Now!
If you use social login to sign in to websites with your Facebook, Google, or Apple accounts, you might want to think twice.
A critical security flaw in the popular feature could let hackers steal your credentials, access your personal data, and take over your accounts on various platforms.
Social login is a convenient and secure way for users to authenticate themselves on websites without creating separate passwords for each site.
Instead, they can use their existing accounts on social platforms like Facebook, Google, or Apple to sign in with a single click.
Social login works by using a protocol called Single Sign-On (SSO), which enables users to log in to multiple websites with one identity.
SSO relies on an exchange of information between the website (the relying party), the social platform (the identity provider), and the user (the subject).
When a user clicks on a social login button on a website, they are redirected to the social platform’s website, where they are asked to grant permission to share some of their data with the website.
If the user agrees, the social platform sends an authorization code to the website, which then uses it to obtain an access token from the social platform.
The access token is a key that grants access to the user’s account and personal data on the social platform and any other website that uses social login.
What is the flaw and how does it affect users?
The flaw, dubbed LoginSPF, affects the way SSO verifies the origin of the login request.
SSO relies on a parameter called state that is supposed to be unique and random for each login session.
However, researchers found that many websites use predictable or static values for the state parameter, which can be easily guessed or forged by hackers.
By creating a malicious website that uses the same state value as a legitimate one, hackers can trick users into logging in with their social accounts and then redirect them to the original site.
In the process, the hackers can intercept the authorization code that is sent by the social platform and use it to obtain the user’s access token.
The access token is a key that grants access to the user’s account and personal data on the social platform and any other website that uses social login.
The researchers tested over 600 websites that use social login and found that more than 90% of them were vulnerable to LoginSPF attacks.
They also demonstrated how they could use the flaw to take over user accounts on popular platforms such as Airbnb, Amazon, Booking.com, Dropbox, Kickstarter, LinkedIn, Spotify, Uber, and more.
How can users protect themselves from this vulnerability?
The researchers reported their findings to the affected websites and social login providers and suggested some countermeasures to prevent LoginSPF attacks.
They recommended that websites should use cryptographically secure values for the state parameter and validate them before accepting the login request.
They also advised users to be careful when using social login and avoid logging in to unfamiliar or suspicious websites.
If you are concerned about your online security and privacy, you might want to consider using a password manager instead of social login.
A password manager is a tool that helps you create and store strong and unique passwords for each website you use.
It also autofills your passwords when you log in, so you don’t have to remember them or type them manually.
Some of the best password managers available are LastPass, Dashlane, 1Password, and Bitwarden.
They offer various features such as encryption, synchronization, backup, sharing, and more.
You can compare them and choose the one that suits your needs best.
Social login is a convenient and secure way to sign in to websites with your existing accounts on social platforms.
However, it also comes with some risks that could expose your user accounts and personal data to hackers.
By being aware of these risks and taking some precautions, you can enjoy the benefits of social login without compromising your online security and privacy.
Sign Up Now!
Leave a Reply