What are some potential security risks associated with storing session IDs and keys in PHP for user authentication?

Storing session IDs and keys in PHP for user authentication can pose security risks if they are not properly protected. One potential risk is session hijacking, where an attacker steals a user's session ID and gains unauthorized access to their account. To mitigate this risk, it is important to store session IDs and keys securely, such as using encryption and secure storage methods. 

// Implementing secure session handling in PHP

// Start a secure session
session_start([
    'cookie_lifetime' => 86400, // 1 day
    'cookie_secure' => true, // Only send cookies over HTTPS
    'cookie_httponly' => true, // Prevent JavaScript access to cookies
]);

// Set a session variable
$_SESSION['user_id'] = 123;

// Verify session on each page load
if (!isset($_SESSION['user_id'])) {
    // Redirect to login page or handle unauthorized access
}

Keywords

Session hijacking Cross-site scripting (XSS) SQL injection Secure cookie Encryption.

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