What is CSRF and how can I prevent it in my web application?

What is CSRF and how can I prevent it in my web application?

CSRF stands for Cross-Site Request Forgery. It's an attack that tricks the user into executing unwanted actions on a web application where they're authenticated. To prevent it, you can use anti-CSRF tokens, validate the HTTP referer header, and implement same-site cookies.

Can you explain how anti-CSRF tokens work?

Sure! 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.

Are there any libraries or frameworks that help with CSRF protection?

Yes, many frameworks have built-in CSRF protection. For example, Django, Ruby on Rails, and Express.js offer middleware to handle CSRF tokens automatically.

What are some common mistakes developers make regarding CSRF?

Common mistakes include not using anti-CSRF tokens, failing to validate the referer header, and not educating users about the risks of CSRF.