Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Attack

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Attack: An Overview

Introduction

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is a type of security vulnerability where an attacker tricks a user into performing unintended actions on a web application in which they are authenticated. CSRF attacks exploit trust between the user and the web application by sending unauthorized requests that appear legitimate.

How CSRF Works

A CSRF attack typically follows these steps:

1. User Authentication: The user logs into a trusted web application.

2. Attacker Setup: The attacker crafts a malicious request to that web application.

3. User Interaction: The user unknowingly clicks a malicious link or visits a site containing hidden CSRF attack code.

4. Execution: The malicious request is sent to the web application with the user’s authenticated session, allowing the attacker to perform unauthorized actions.

Real-World Examples

Common CSRF attack scenarios include:

• Changing a victim's account password.

• Transferring funds from the victim’s account.

• Posting unwanted content on a social media account.

Prevention Techniques

Organizations and developers can mitigate CSRF attacks using various methods:

1. CSRF Tokens: Generate unique tokens for each user session to validate requests.

2. SameSite Cookies: Configure cookies to restrict cross-site usage.

3. Referrer & Origin Validation: Check request headers to ensure they come from trusted sources.

4. User Authentication Controls: Require additional authentication for sensitive actions.

Conclusion

Cross-Site Request Forgery is a serious web security threat that exploits user trust in web applications. Implementing preventive measures such as CSRF tokens and SameSite cookies can effectively reduce the risk of attacks.