# Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) (CWE-352)

The web application does not, or can not, sufficiently verify whether a well-formed, valid, consistent request was intentionally provided by the user who submitted the request.

**Stack:** Python

- Prevalence: Medium 3 languages covered
- Impact: High 3 high-severity rules
- Prevention: Documented 3 fix examples

**OWASP:** Broken Access Control (A01:2021-Broken Access Control) - #1

## Description

When a web server is designed to receive a request from a client without any mechanism for verifying that it was intentionally sent, then it might be possible for an attacker to trick a client into making an unintentional request to the web server which will be treated as an authentic request.

## Prevention

Prevention strategies for Cross-Site Request Forgery based on 1 Shoulder detection rules.

### Python

Ensure CsrfViewMiddleware is enabled and never use @csrf_exempt on state-changing views

## Warning Signs

- [HIGH] View handles POST/PUT/DELETE without @csrf_protect or @ensure_csrf_cookie decorator
- [HIGH] Django views that handle POST/PUT/DELETE requests without CSRF
protection

## Consequences

- Modify Application Data
- Gain Privileges
- Execute Unauthorized Code

## Mitigations

- Use anti-CSRF tokens in all state-changing requests
- Check the Referer header
- Use SameSite cookie attribute

## Detection

- Total rules: 3
- Languages: javascript, typescript, python, go

## Rules by Language

### Python (1 rules)

- **Django Missing CSRF Protection** [HIGH]: Detects Django views that handle POST/PUT/DELETE requests without CSRF
protection. CSRF tokens prevent malicious sites from performing actions
on behalf of authenticated users.
  - Remediation: Add CSRF protection:

```python
# Option 1: Use csrf_protect decorator
from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_protect

@csrf_protect
def my_view(request):
    if request.method == 'POST':
        # Handle POST
        pass

# Option 2: Enable CSRF middleware (recommended)
# In settings.py MIDDLEWARE:
'django.middleware.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware',
```