What Are Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks and How Do They Affect Identity Verification

If you fear or aim to avoid digital attacks like Man-in-the-Middle (MitM), this article is for you.

In recent years, cyberattacks have been on the rise, with an estimated growth of 25% to 30% in 2024 alone, according to various studies. In this context, one of the most dangerous and sophisticated attacks is the Man-in-the-Middle (MitM). Here, attackers insert themselves into communications between two parties to intercept, alter, or steal information.

This type of attack poses a serious threat to identity verification and authentication systems, as they rely on secure communication channels. Understanding how these cyberattacks operate and their implications is crucial for protecting both businesses and users.

In this article, we will explore how MitM attacks can compromise identity verification and what measures can be taken to prevent them.

What is a Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attack?

A Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack occurs when an attacker stealthily inserts themselves into the communication between two parties. The attacker intercepts and, at times, modifies the data being transmitted between them without the victims noticing. This type of attack is particularly dangerous in contexts like public Wi-Fi networks or unsecured connections, where protections are minimal and information can be stolen more easily.

How MitM Attacks Work

• Data Interception → Attackers position themselves between two parties who believe they are interacting privately, taking control of the information flow.
• Data Manipulation → They can alter transmitted data, such as credentials or messages, to steal information or manipulate communication.
• Invisible Transmission → All of this occurs without the victim or the system involved realizing the intervention, making the attack difficult to detect.

Common Types of MitM Attacks

• Insecure Public Wi-Fi → On unencrypted public networks, attackers can easily intercept user communications.
• DNS Spoofing → Manipulating DNS queries to redirect users to malicious websites.
• ARP Spoofing → Poisoning the ARP table in local networks to intercept network traffic.
• SSL Stripping → Forcing users to navigate through HTTP instead of HTTPS, allowing attackers to intercept sensitive data.

MitM attacks pose a significant risk, especially in identity verification processes, where the integrity of communication is crucial to ensuring user security.

How a Man-in-the-Middle Attack Affects Identity Verification

👤 Credential Theft During Authentication

In a MitM attack, attackers intercept credentials such as usernames, passwords, or authentication tokens while they are being transmitted. This enables them to impersonate identities and gain access to sensitive accounts undetected, exposing and compromising the security of identity verification.

👤 Manipulation of Identity Data

Attackers can also alter verification data during a MitM attack, causing the system to approve false identities. This is especially dangerous in biometric or document-based verifications, where data transmission can be tampered with, undermining security.

👤 Impact on System Security and Trust

These attacks lead to fraud, compromise systems, and erode trust among both businesses and users, exposing them to identity theft and financial fraud.

5 Methods to Prevent a Man-in-the-Middle Attack in Identity Verification  

🔴 End-to-End Encryption

End-to-end encryption is essential to protect communications between the user and the server. By using encryption protocols such as SSL / TLS, data exchanged is encrypted and cannot be read by third parties. Digital certificates validate the authenticity of identity verification sites and platforms, ensuring users connect to legitimate sources.  

🔴 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Adding multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an effective measure to complicate MitM attacks. MFA combines something the user knows (password) with something they have (authentication code or biometric data), making access more secure. Even if an attacker intercepts credentials, MFA adds an extra layer of protection to the authentication process.  

🔴 Advanced Biometric Verification

Using biometric technologies (e.g., facial recognition or fingerprints) adds a layer of security that is difficult to forge. Unlike passwords, biometric data is unique and much harder to manipulate in a MitM attack. This type of verification ensures that only the legitimate user can complete the authentication process.  

🔴 Real-Time Monitoring and Verification

Continuous monitoring with AI tools can detect anomalous patterns and alert about potential interceptions in real-time. Additionally, continuous authentication verifies the user’s identity throughout the session, not just at the start, reinforcing security against any attempted attacks.  

🔴 Network and Connection Security  

Avoiding the use of public or unprotected Wi-Fi networks is essential to prevent MitM attacks. Using secure networks along with a VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts all traffic between the user and the server, significantly reducing the risk of interception. VPNs are indispensable tools to ensure connection security in vulnerable environments. 

Examples of Man-in-the-Middle Attacks that Compromised Identity Verification

Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks have impacted various sectors, from financial services to insurance platforms, putting identity verification at risk. Here are some notable examples:

🟢 Attack on a Banking Platform

A MitM attack on a banking platform can compromise user authentication. Attackers intercept credentials during identity verification, impersonating legitimate users to gain access to accounts and execute unauthorized transactions. This jeopardizes the financial security of hundreds of customers.

🟢 Identity Theft in an Insurance Service

On an insurance platform, attackers can intercept verification data during authentication, enabling them to impersonate multiple users. They can then use this information to conduct fraudulent transactions, undermining the integrity of the system and eroding user trust in digital verification processes.

🟢 Real-World Examples of MitM Attacks

• Lenovo Case (Superfish, 2015):
  Between 2014 and 2015, the preinstalled Superfish adware on Lenovo devices compromised SSL traffic security. This software implanted fake certificates, allowing third parties to intercept and modify secure traffic while injecting ads into encrypted pages. This vulnerability violated user privacy and exposed them to identity theft.
  
• Vulnerability in Banking Apps (2017):
  Several mobile banking apps for iOS and Android exposed customers to MitM attacks due to a flaw in certificate pinning technology, designed to prevent the use of fake certificates. Insufficient hostname verification allowed attackers to intercept communications and access sensitive data undetected.

🟢 Lessons Learned

These examples highlight the importance of implementing robust security measures such as end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits. Companies handling sensitive data must remain vigilant and continuously update their systems to prevent vulnerabilities that could be exploited in MitM attacks.

How Silt Helps Prevent Man-in-the-Middle Attacks in Identity Verification

At Silt, security is our top priority. We implement advanced encryption across all communications to protect sensitive data, such as biometric information and credentials. This ensures that data remains secure during transmission and prevents interception by attackers.

Additionally, we leverage multi-factor authentication (MFA) and biometric verification to add extra layers of security to our KYC and KYB solutions. This ensures that even if an attacker intercepts credentials, they cannot access the information without additional verification.

Our real-time monitoring uses artificial intelligence to detect unusual patterns, allowing us to identify and neutralize threats before they compromise identity verification.

Our solutions comply with international regulations such as GDPR and PSD2, ensuring a high level of protection in the handling of personal data.

Ready to Protect Your Business Against MitM Attacks?

With Silt, we help you strengthen your identity verification processes with advanced and secure solutions to protect your business.

Contact us today and ensure the security of your company and users! 💙🌍