What does CSRF stand for in information security?

CSRF stands for Cross-Site Request Forgery, which is a significant security vulnerability in web applications. It occurs when an attacker tricks a user into unknowingly submitting a request to a different site on which the user is authenticated. This type of attack can exploit the trust that a web application has in the user's browser, allowing unauthorized actions to be carried out on behalf of the user without their consent.

Understanding CSRF is crucial for web developers and security professionals because it highlights the need for implementing mechanisms such as anti-CSRF tokens, same-site cookies, and user validation techniques to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability. By preventing CSRF attacks, developers can protect sensitive user data and maintain the integrity of their web applications, ensuring that actions are intentionally performed by users rather than malicious entities.