Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Attacks

Introduction

Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) is a type of attack that occurs when a malicious web request is sent to a web application that a user is already authenticated to. This type of attack exploits the trust that a user has for a particular site in order to perform unwanted actions on their behalf. CSRF attacks are often used to steal sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, or to perform actions without the user’s knowledge, such as transferring funds or changing account settings. In this article, we will discuss the various types of CSRF exploits, how they are performed, and how to prevent them.

What is CSRF?

Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) is an attack technique that exploits the trust that a user has for a particular website in order to perform unwanted actions on their behalf. It is a type of attack that occurs when a malicious web request is sent to a web application that a user is already authenticated to. This type of attack is commonly used to steal sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, or to perform actions without the user’s knowledge, such as transferring funds or changing account settings.

How Does CSRF Work?

A CSRF attack works by sending a malicious web request to a web application that a user is already authenticated to. The malicious request is designed to exploit the trust that a user has for the website in order to perform unwanted actions on their behalf. The attacker will typically use a combination of HTML, JavaScript, and other web technologies to craft a malicious web request that is sent to the web application. The malicious request will typically include a form or an image tag, which will cause the web application to perform the desired action without the user’s knowledge or consent.

Types of CSRF Exploits

There are several types of CSRF exploits that can be used to exploit a website. The most common type of CSRF exploit is an HTML form or an image tag. These types of exploits allow an attacker to craft a malicious web request that is sent to the web application. The malicious request will typically include a form or an image tag, which will cause the web application to perform the desired action without the user’s knowledge or consent.

Another type of CSRF exploit is a link. This type of exploit is used to send a malicious web request to a web application without the user’s knowledge or consent. The link is typically disguised as a legitimate link, such as a link to a website or a link to a file. When the user clicks on the link, the malicious web request is sent to the web application, which will then perform the desired action without the user’s knowledge or consent.

Examples of CSRF Exploits

In order to better understand how CSRF exploits work, let’s take a look at some examples of CSRF exploits.

Example 1: HTML Form

The following example shows a simple HTML form that can be used to exploit a web application. The form contains a hidden field that contains a malicious web request. When the form is submitted, the malicious web request is sent to the web application, which will then perform the desired action without the user’s knowledge or consent.

<form action="http://example.com/action" method="post">
  <input type="hidden" name="csrf_token" value="malicious_web_request">
  <input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>

Example 2: HTML Form Submitting JSON

The following example shows a simple HTML form that can be used to exploit a web application that expects JSON data structures in the HTTP POST body. The form contains a hidden field that with a malicious JSON payload. When the form is submitted, the malicious JSON payload in the POST body is sent to the web application, which will then perform the desired action without the user’s knowledge or consent.

<form name='csrf_form' method='POST' enctype='text/plain' action='scheme:/domain/path'>
  <input type="hidden" name='{"secret": 1337, "trash": "' value='AAA"}'>
</form>

Example 3: Image Tag

The following example shows an image tag that can be used to exploit a web application. The image tag contains a malicious web request. When the image tag is loaded, the malicious web request is sent to the web application, which will then perform the desired action without the user’s knowledge or consent.

<img src="http://example.com/image.jpg?csrf_token=malicious_web_request" />

Example 4: Link

The following example shows a link that can be used to exploit a web application. The link contains a malicious web request. When the link is clicked, the malicious web request is sent to the web application, which will then perform the desired action without the user’s knowledge or consent.

<a href="http://example.com/link?csrf_token=malicious_web_request">Click Here</a>

Preventing CSRF Exploits

There are several steps that can be taken to prevent CSRF exploits. The first step is to ensure that any web application is using up-to-date security measures, such as using a secure connection (HTTPS) and validating user input. Additionally, web applications should use anti-CSRF tokens, which are randomly generated strings of characters that are used to verify that a request is legitimate. Finally, web applications should use CAPTCHA systems to verify that a user is human and not a malicious bot.

Conclusion

Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) is a type of attack that exploits the trust that a user has for a particular website in order to perform unwanted actions on their behalf. CSRF attacks are often used to steal sensitive information or to perform actions without the user’s knowledge. In this article, we discussed the various types of CSRF exploits, how they are performed, and how to prevent them. By following the steps outlined in this article, web applications can protect themselves from CSRF attacks and keep their users safe.