# Cross-site request forgery (CSRF)

A browser can be induced to perform a protected state change using ambient credentials.

**Candidate CWE:** [CWE-352](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/352.html)

## Test hypothesis

Capture a normal reversible setting change. Reproduce it from a controlled other site using browser-deliverable data, without inserting a victim bearer token. Compare an invalid proof and logged-out control.

## Evidence required

The actual browser sends required credentials and commits the unauthorized setting change. Save the initiating page, cookie behavior, request, and independent before/after state.

## Rule out false positives

A missing token, manual proxy replay, preflight-blocked JSON request, or request sent without the required cookies is not enough.

## Playbook and command references

- [Browser execution, cross-origin reads, and forged actions](https://bug-bounty-field-manual.kmahshooq.chatgpt.site/modules/browser-trust.html) — Use real browser behavior to distinguish XSS, CSRF, CORS, and messaging failures from header-only leads.

[Find the associated command snippets](https://bug-bounty-field-manual.kmahshooq.chatgpt.site/commands.html?q=Browser%20execution%2C%20cross-origin%20reads%2C%20and%20forged%20actions)

## Referenced by these target playbooks

[Web & API](https://bug-bounty-field-manual.kmahshooq.chatgpt.site/web-api.html) · [OSS & self-hosted](https://bug-bounty-field-manual.kmahshooq.chatgpt.site/oss.html) · [Mobile](https://bug-bounty-field-manual.kmahshooq.chatgpt.site/mobile.html) · [Desktop & extensions](https://bug-bounty-field-manual.kmahshooq.chatgpt.site/desktop.html)

## Report checklist

- [ ] Capture the affected version, configuration, identities, and object ownership.
- [ ] Preserve a valid baseline and a negative control.
- [ ] Reproduce the forbidden data access, action, or state change on controlled fixtures.
- [ ] Explain the intended security rule and why the observed behavior violates it.
- [ ] State prerequisites, uncertainty, cleanup, and the smallest demonstrated impact.

## Conditional ATT&CK mapping

No direct ATT&CK mapping selected. Record the weakness and demonstrated impact without forcing an adversary-behavior classification. See the [mapping guide](https://bug-bounty-field-manual.kmahshooq.chatgpt.site/attack.html).

## Primary references

- [PortSwigger CSRF](https://portswigger.net/web-security/csrf)

[Back to the complete vulnerability catalog](https://bug-bounty-field-manual.kmahshooq.chatgpt.site/vulnerabilities.html)