Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) Practice Exam 2026 – The Complete All-in-One Guide to Exam Mastery!

A hash injection attack is a specific type of attack where an attacker is able to manipulate the hash values used within a session or authentication process. By injecting a compromised hash into a session, the attacker can potentially bypass security mechanisms that rely on the integrity of these hash values. This can grant them unauthorized access to systems, applications, or sensitive data without needing to perform a full authentication process.

The focus on injecting a compromised hash highlights the nature of this method, as it exploits existing vulnerabilities in how hashes are stored or validated. For instance, if the application does not adequately validate the integrity or authenticity of the hash, an attacker can manipulate it to gain access.

While encrypting data, monitoring network traffic, and accessing physical devices are critical aspects of cybersecurity, they do not directly relate to the mechanics of a hash injection attack. Encryption is meant to protect data, monitoring is an observation without direct intrusion, and remote access to physical devices typically involves different vulnerabilities and methods, such as unauthorized remote administration or exploitation of network weaknesses. Thus, the essence of a hash injection attack lies solely in its ability to manipulate session hashes to gain unauthorized access.