CSRF
CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) is a web security vulnerability that allows an attacker to trick a user's browser into making unauthorized requests to a web application where the user is authenticated. It exploits the trust that a web application has in a user's browser, potentially leading to actions like changing account settings or making transactions without the user's consent. This attack typically occurs when malicious websites or emails cause the browser to send requests to a vulnerable site using the user's stored authentication credentials.
Developers should learn about CSRF to build secure web applications that protect user data and prevent unauthorized actions, especially for sites handling sensitive operations like banking, e-commerce, or account management. It's crucial when implementing authentication and session management, as CSRF attacks can bypass other security measures if not properly mitigated. Understanding CSRF helps in implementing defenses like anti-CSRF tokens, same-site cookies, and proper request validation to ensure application integrity.