What does CSRF stand for?

CSRF stands for Cross-Site Request Forgery, which is a type of security vulnerability that allows an attacker to induce a user to execute unwanted actions on a web application in which they are currently authenticated. Essentially, CSRF exploits the trust that a web application has in the user's browser, enabling attackers to perform actions without the user's consent, such as submitting forms or changing account details.

This attack is particularly concerning because it can occur without the victim's knowledge, potentially compromising sensitive information or leading to unauthorized transactions simply due to the user's active authentication session. Understanding CSRF is crucial for implementing effective security measures, such as using tokens that validate requests, thereby ensuring that the requests originate from authenticated users and not from a malicious source. This solidifies the importance of web application security in protecting users and preserving the integrity of online interactions.