Server Side Request Forgery
Server Side Request Forgery (SSRF) is a web security vulnerability that allows an attacker to induce a server-side application to make HTTP requests to an arbitrary domain of the attacker's choosing. This typically occurs when an application fetches a remote resource without properly validating user-supplied URLs, enabling attackers to access internal systems, interact with backend services, or bypass firewalls. It can lead to sensitive data exposure, remote code execution, or network reconnaissance.
Developers should learn about SSRF to build secure applications that validate and sanitize all user inputs, especially URLs used for server-side requests. This is critical in microservices architectures, cloud environments, or applications that integrate with third-party APIs, where uncontrolled requests can expose internal infrastructure. Understanding SSRF helps prevent attacks like accessing metadata services (e.g., AWS IMDS) or internal admin panels.