Understanding Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

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Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is a type of malicious exploit where an attacker tricks a user into performing actions they did not intend to on a web application where they are authenticated. It targets state-changing requests, not data theft, since the attacker can't see the response.

This video provides an example of a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attack and compares it to a scenario where a bad kid sneaks into a candy shop party using a good kid's ticket

This video demonstrates how a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attack can exploit a web application that uses a GET request to change the user's password

How Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Works

1. Victim Authentication: The user logs into a trusted website and receives an authentication token in their browser.

2. Malicious Request: The attacker tricks the victim into visiting a malicious site or clicking on a crafted link. This site sends a request to the trusted site using the victim’s credentials.

3. Action Execution: The trusted site processes the request because it comes with the user’s authentication token, thinking it's a legitimate action by the user.

This video explores a CSRF attack, how it works, and the steps you can take to prepare for one.s video explores a CSRF attack, how it works, and the steps you can take to prepare for one.

Impact of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks can lead to unauthorized actions such as:

• Changing account settings

• Transferring funds

• Posting unauthorized content

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Preventing Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

To mitigate Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks, developers can implement:

• Anti-CSRF Tokens: Unique tokens embedded in forms and verified on submission.

• SameSite Cookies: Cookies that are only sent in a first-party context, blocking cross-site requests

• User Interaction: Requiring re-authentication or confirmation for sensitive actions. For Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) specific protection, it's best to rely on web application security measures such as anti-CSRF tokens and SameSite cookies.

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks continue to be a significant threat to web applications. They exploit the trust that a web application has in an authenticated user by tricking them into performing unintended actions.