title: Session Security Guide

Session Security Guide

This guide covers advanced session security features including session binding, concurrent session management, session rotation, timeouts, and hijacking detection.

Overview

The ArtisanPack Security package provides comprehensive session security through:

• Session Binding: Tie sessions to specific client attributes (IP, user agent, device)
• Concurrent Session Management: Limit simultaneous active sessions
• Session Rotation: Automatically rotate session IDs
• Session Timeouts: Configure idle and absolute timeouts
• Hijacking Detection: Detect and respond to session hijacking attempts

Configuration

Configure session security in config/artisanpack/security.php:

'advanced_sessions' => [
    'enabled' => env('SECURITY_ADVANCED_SESSIONS_ENABLED', true),

    'binding' => [
        'enabled' => true,
        'ip_address' => [
            'enabled' => true,
            'strictness' => 'subnet',  // 'none', 'subnet', 'exact'
        ],
        'user_agent' => [
            'enabled' => true,
            'strictness' => 'exact',   // 'none', 'browser_only', 'exact'
        ],
        'bind_to_device' => true,      // Requires device fingerprinting
    ],

    'concurrent_sessions' => [
        'enabled' => true,
        'max_sessions' => 5,
        'strategy' => 'oldest',        // 'oldest', 'newest'
    ],

    'rotation' => [
        'enabled' => true,
        'interval_minutes' => 15,
        'on_privilege_change' => true,
    ],

    'timeouts' => [
        'idle_minutes' => 30,
        'idle_warning_minutes' => 25,
        'absolute_minutes' => 480,     // 8 hours
        'extend_on_activity' => true,
    ],

    'hijacking_detection' => [
        'enabled' => true,
        'action' => 'terminate',       // 'terminate', 'require_reauth', 'notify'
    ],
],

Session Encryption

Enforcing Encrypted Sessions

The package can enforce session encryption in production:

// In config/artisanpack/security.php
'encrypt' => env('SESSION_ENCRYPT', true),

Apply the middleware to routes:

Route::middleware(['auth', 'session.encrypted'])->group(function () {
    // These routes require encrypted sessions
});

Checking Session Encryption

php artisan security:check-session

This command verifies:

• Session encryption is enabled
• Session driver is secure (not file in production)
• Cookie settings are secure

Session Binding

Session binding ties a session to specific client attributes, preventing session hijacking by token theft.

IP Address Binding

'ip_address' => [
    'enabled' => true,
    'strictness' => 'subnet',  // Options below
],

Strictness Levels:

User Agent Binding

'user_agent' => [
    'enabled' => true,
    'strictness' => 'exact',
],

Strictness Levels:

Device Binding

When device fingerprinting is enabled, sessions can be bound to specific devices:

'bind_to_device' => true,

This requires the HasDevices trait on your User model and device fingerprint collection during login.

Applying Session Binding

Route::middleware(['auth', 'session.binding'])->group(function () {
    Route::get('/dashboard', [DashboardController::class, 'index']);
});

Handling Binding Violations

When a binding violation is detected:

use ArtisanPackUI\Security\Events\SessionHijackingAttempted;

Event::listen(SessionHijackingAttempted::class, function ($event) {
    Log::warning('Session binding violation', [
        'user_id' => $event->userId,
        'session_id' => $event->sessionId,
        'violation_type' => $event->violationType,
        'expected' => $event->expectedValue,
        'actual' => $event->actualValue,
    ]);
});

Concurrent Session Management

Limit the number of simultaneous active sessions per user.

Configuration

'concurrent_sessions' => [
    'enabled' => true,
    'max_sessions' => 5,
    'strategy' => 'oldest',
],

Strategies:

User Model Setup

use ArtisanPackUI\Security\Concerns\HasAdvancedSessions;

class User extends Authenticatable
{
    use HasAdvancedSessions;
}

Managing Sessions Programmatically

// Get all active sessions for a user
$sessions = $user->activeSessions();

// Get session details
foreach ($sessions as $session) {
    echo $session->ip_address;
    echo $session->user_agent;
    echo $session->last_activity;
    echo $session->getLocationDisplay();  // "San Francisco, US"
}

// Terminate a specific session
$user->terminateSession($sessionId);

// Terminate all other sessions (keep current)
$user->terminateOtherSessions();

// Terminate all sessions
$user->terminateAllSessions();

Session Management Commands

# Terminate all sessions for a user
php artisan session:terminate 1

# Terminate sessions by email
php artisan session:terminate user@example.com

# Terminate all sessions except current
php artisan session:terminate 1 --except-current

# Clean up expired sessions
php artisan session:cleanup

Livewire Component

Display and manage sessions in the UI:

<livewire:session-manager />

This component shows:

• Active sessions with device/location info
• Current session indicator
• Ability to terminate individual sessions
• Terminate all other sessions button

Session Rotation

Automatic session ID rotation prevents session fixation attacks.

Configuration

'rotation' => [
    'enabled' => true,
    'interval_minutes' => 15,      // Rotate every 15 minutes
    'on_privilege_change' => true, // Rotate after login, role change, etc.
],

Manual Rotation

use ArtisanPackUI\Security\Authentication\Session\SessionSecurityService;

public function sensitiveAction(SessionSecurityService $sessionService)
{
    // Rotate session before sensitive action
    $sessionService->rotateSession();

    // Perform action...
}

Rotation Triggers

Sessions are automatically rotated on:

• Login (always)
• Password change
• Role/permission changes
• Two-factor authentication
• Privilege escalation
• Time-based interval

Session Timeouts

Configure idle and absolute session timeouts.

Configuration

'timeouts' => [
    'idle_minutes' => 30,           // Expire after 30 min of inactivity
    'idle_warning_minutes' => 25,   // Warn 5 minutes before expiry
    'absolute_minutes' => 480,      // Max 8-hour session
    'extend_on_activity' => true,   // Reset idle timer on activity
],

Idle Timeout Warning

Show a warning before the session expires:

// Listen for the warning event
window.addEventListener('session-expiring', (event) => {
    const minutesLeft = event.detail.minutes;
    showModal(`Your session expires in ${minutesLeft} minutes. Continue?`);
});

// Extend session on user action
async function extendSession() {
    await fetch('/session/extend', { method: 'POST' });
}

Server-side endpoint:

Route::post('/session/extend', function () {
    session()->regenerate();
    return response()->json(['extended' => true]);
})->middleware('auth');

Absolute Timeout

The absolute timeout ensures sessions don't last indefinitely, even with activity:

// In a middleware or listener
if ($session->created_at->diffInMinutes(now()) > 480) {
    Auth::logout();
    return redirect('/login')->with('message', 'Session expired. Please log in again.');
}

Hijacking Detection

Detect and respond to potential session hijacking attempts.

Configuration

'hijacking_detection' => [
    'enabled' => true,
    'action' => 'terminate',
],

Actions:

Detection Triggers

The system monitors for:

• IP address changes (based on binding strictness)
• User agent changes
• Device fingerprint changes
• Impossible travel (login from distant location too quickly)
• Concurrent access from multiple IPs

Custom Hijacking Response

use ArtisanPackUI\Security\Events\SessionHijackingAttempted;

Event::listen(SessionHijackingAttempted::class, function ($event) {
    // Custom response logic
    if ($event->severity === 'critical') {
        // Lock the account
        $event->user->lockAccount('suspicious_activity');

        // Alert security team
        Notification::route('slack', config('services.slack.security_channel'))
            ->notify(new SecurityAlertNotification($event));
    }
});

Step-Up Authentication

Require re-authentication for sensitive actions.

Configuration

'step_up_authentication' => [
    'enabled' => env('SECURITY_STEP_UP_ENABLED', true),
    'timeout_minutes' => 15,

    'methods' => [
        'password' => true,
        '2fa' => true,
        'webauthn' => true,
        'biometric' => true,
    ],

    'protected_actions' => [
        'password_change',
        'email_change',
        'two_factor_disable',
        'delete_account',
    ],
],

Applying Step-Up Authentication

Route::middleware(['auth', 'step-up'])->group(function () {
    Route::post('/account/password', [AccountController::class, 'updatePassword']);
    Route::post('/account/email', [AccountController::class, 'updateEmail']);
    Route::delete('/account', [AccountController::class, 'destroy']);
});

Programmatic Check

use ArtisanPackUI\Security\Authentication\Session\SessionSecurityService;

public function sensitiveAction(SessionSecurityService $session)
{
    if (!$session->hasRecentVerification(15)) {
        return redirect()->route('verify.identity')
            ->with('intended', url()->current());
    }

    // Proceed with sensitive action
}

Livewire Component

<livewire:step-up-authentication-modal />

Events

The session security system emits these events:

Best Practices

Production Configuration

// Recommended production settings
'advanced_sessions' => [
    'enabled' => true,

    'binding' => [
        'enabled' => true,
        'ip_address' => [
            'enabled' => true,
            'strictness' => 'subnet',  // Balance security/usability
        ],
        'user_agent' => [
            'enabled' => true,
            'strictness' => 'browser_only',  // Allow updates
        ],
        'bind_to_device' => true,
    ],

    'concurrent_sessions' => [
        'enabled' => true,
        'max_sessions' => 5,
        'strategy' => 'oldest',
    ],

    'rotation' => [
        'enabled' => true,
        'interval_minutes' => 15,
        'on_privilege_change' => true,
    ],

    'timeouts' => [
        'idle_minutes' => 30,
        'idle_warning_minutes' => 25,
        'absolute_minutes' => 480,
        'extend_on_activity' => true,
    ],

    'hijacking_detection' => [
        'enabled' => true,
        'action' => 'terminate',
    ],
],

Session Driver

Use a secure session driver in production:

SESSION_DRIVER=database
# or
SESSION_DRIVER=redis

Avoid file driver in production for:

• Better performance
• Easier session management
• Cross-server compatibility

Secure Cookie Settings

SESSION_SECURE_COOKIE=true
SESSION_SAME_SITE=lax
SESSION_HTTP_ONLY=true

Troubleshooting

Sessions Expiring Too Quickly

1. Check idle_minutes configuration
2. Verify extend_on_activity is enabled
3. Ensure AJAX requests include session cookies

Binding Violations on Mobile

Mobile users may experience IP changes. Consider:

'ip_address' => [
    'strictness' => 'none',  // Disable for mobile
],

Too Many Session Terminations

If legitimate users are being logged out:

1. Increase concurrent_sessions.max_sessions
2. Relax binding strictness
3. Check for proxy/CDN IP changes

See the Troubleshooting Guide for more solutions.

Related Documentation

• Advanced Authentication Guide
• Implementation Guide
• Configuration Reference