Dynamic

Double Submit Cookies vs Anti-Forgery Tokens

Developers should implement Double Submit Cookies when building web applications that handle sensitive user actions, such as form submissions, financial transactions, or account changes, to prevent CSRF attacks meets developers should implement anti-forgery tokens in any web application that handles state-changing operations, such as form submissions, api calls, or actions that modify data. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Double Submit Cookies

Developers should implement Double Submit Cookies when building web applications that handle sensitive user actions, such as form submissions, financial transactions, or account changes, to prevent CSRF attacks

Double Submit Cookies

Nice Pick

Developers should implement Double Submit Cookies when building web applications that handle sensitive user actions, such as form submissions, financial transactions, or account changes, to prevent CSRF attacks

Pros

  • +It is particularly useful in stateless or RESTful APIs where maintaining server-side sessions is challenging, as it provides a lightweight and effective defense mechanism without requiring server-side storage of tokens
  • +Related to: csrf-protection, web-security

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Anti-Forgery Tokens

Developers should implement anti-forgery tokens in any web application that handles state-changing operations, such as form submissions, API calls, or actions that modify data

Pros

  • +This is critical for security in frameworks like ASP
  • +Related to: web-security, csrf-protection

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Double Submit Cookies if: You want it is particularly useful in stateless or restful apis where maintaining server-side sessions is challenging, as it provides a lightweight and effective defense mechanism without requiring server-side storage of tokens and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Anti-Forgery Tokens if: You prioritize this is critical for security in frameworks like asp over what Double Submit Cookies offers.

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The Bottom Line
Double Submit Cookies wins

Developers should implement Double Submit Cookies when building web applications that handle sensitive user actions, such as form submissions, financial transactions, or account changes, to prevent CSRF attacks

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev