What are CSRF attacks and how have they evolved over time?

What are CSRF attacks and how have they evolved over time?

CSRF, or Cross-Site Request Forgery, is a type of attack that tricks a user into executing unwanted actions on a web application in which they're authenticated. It has evolved significantly since its discovery.

Can you give me a brief history of CSRF attacks?

Sure! CSRF attacks were first recognized in the early 2000s. Initially, they were simple and exploited the trust a web application had in the user's browser. Over time, attackers have developed more sophisticated methods, including the use of social engineering.

What are some notable CSRF attacks that have occurred?

Some notable CSRF attacks include the 2008 attack on Facebook, where users were tricked into changing their email addresses, and the 2010 attack on Twitter that allowed unauthorized actions on user accounts.

How can websites protect against CSRF attacks?

Websites can protect against CSRF attacks by implementing anti-CSRF tokens, using the SameSite cookie attribute, and ensuring that sensitive actions require re-authentication.