What is cross-site request forgery and how can I prevent it?

What is cross-site request forgery and how can I prevent it?

Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) is a type of attack that tricks a user into executing unwanted actions on a web application in which they're authenticated. To prevent it, you can implement anti-CSRF tokens, use the SameSite cookie attribute, and ensure that sensitive actions require re-authentication.

Can you explain how anti-CSRF tokens work?

Anti-CSRF tokens are unique, secret values generated by the server and sent to the client. When the client submits a form, the token is included. The server then verifies the token to ensure the request is legitimate and not forged.

What are some common signs of a CSRF attack?

Common signs of a CSRF attack include unexpected changes in user account settings, unauthorized transactions, or unusual activity in user accounts that the user did not initiate.

Are there any tools to help prevent CSRF attacks?

Yes, many web frameworks and libraries provide built-in support for CSRF protection, such as Django, Ruby on Rails, and Express.js. Additionally, security tools like OWASP CSRFGuard can help.