Why MFA Alone Is No Longer Enough: The Rise of Session Hijacking and Info-Stealers
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) has long been seen as a cornerstone of modern cyber security. For years, it has offered a strong line of defence against stolen passwords. But here’s the problem: attackers are no longer going through the front door. They are bypassing MFA altogether, using stolen session tokens and browser data to walk right in through the side.
As a security professional, I cannot stress this enough: MFA is still important, but it is no longer sufficient on its own. If your organisation relies solely on it, your defences are out of date.
What Are Info-Stealers?
Think of info-stealers as digital pickpockets. These lightweight but highly effective malware programs run silently in the background, stealing saved passwords, cookies, autofill data and authentication tokens from browsers and devices. No pop-ups. No flashing warnings. Just quiet, efficient theft.
Once harvested, this information is sold on dark web marketplaces where buyers can use it to gain access to email accounts, business portals, cloud platforms and more. This fuels a massive underground economy and enables cyber criminals to strike quickly and quietly at scale.
Session Hijacking: The Silent Takeover
One of the most dangerous outcomes of info-stealing is session hijacking. In simple terms, attackers steal your session token, which is the digital equivalent of a visitor’s pass that says you are already logged in. With that token, an attacker can impersonate you and access systems without ever needing your password or triggering MFA again.
Traditional security tools often fail to detect this type of breach because the session looks legitimate. While the attacker is already inside your network, your team might be none the wiser. This is particularly dangerous in sectors such as finance, healthcare and critical infrastructure, where stolen access can lead to real-world harm.
Case Study: PXA Stealer Malware
PXA Stealer is one of the latest examples. Written in Python and designed to target Linux systems, this malware has already infected over 4,000 devices across more than 60 countries. It collects sensitive data from around 40 browsers and platforms, then sells it via Telegram through Vietnamese-speaking cyber crime groups.
This is not just about stolen email logins. It is about large-scale, highly organised attacks designed to infiltrate businesses and institutions from the inside.
The Role of Threat Exposure Management
To defend against these evolving threats, organisations must adopt Threat Exposure Management (TEM). Rather than waiting to respond to attacks, TEM enables you to proactively identify, prioritise and fix weaknesses before attackers exploit them.
Think of it like a radar system constantly scanning your environment. By combining visibility across identity, endpoint and network layers, TEM helps you reduce your attack surface and stay one step ahead of adversaries.
What Cyber Leaders Can Do Now
Here are five steps you can take right now to strengthen your defences:
- Limit session lifetimes to reduce how long stolen tokens are valid.
- Bind access tokens to devices and IP addresses to prevent them from being reused elsewhere.
- Monitor the dark web for credentials linked to your staff and organisation.
- Use AI-powered behavioural analytics to detect suspicious login activity.
- Run red team exercises that simulate session hijacking scenarios to test your incident response.
These steps, while straightforward, can make a real difference when implemented properly.
Final Thoughts: From Login Security to Session Security
We need to stop thinking about security as a one-time checkpoint. The future of identity protection is about securing the entire session from start to finish. That means monitoring user behaviour in real time, identifying anomalies and shutting down access before damage is done.
If your current setup only covers login protection, it is time for a serious rethink.
Need help evaluating your exposure or upskilling your security team?
At Secure Recruitment, we connect businesses with expert cyber professionals who understand how to deal with threats like session hijacking, info-stealers and identity-based attacks. We also offer access to our Cyber Connect community for insights, podcast episodes and networking with industry leaders.
Contact us now to build a modern, layered defence strategy that protects every layer of your organisation.
Listen to our latest podcast episode featuring Alistair Kennedy (ACIIS) and Chris Eastwood (The Rybec Group), where we dive deeper into how real organisations are facing – and fighting – these threats.
