Description
The referer field in HTTP requests can be easily modified and, as such, is not a valid means of message integrity checking.
The referer field in HTML requests can be simply modified by malicious users, rendering it useless as a means of checking the validity of the request in question.
Modes of Introduction:
– Architecture and Design
Likelihood of Exploit: High
Related Weaknesses
Consequences
Access Control: Gain Privileges or Assume Identity
Actions, which may not be authorized otherwise, can be carried out as if they were validated by the server referred to.
Potential Mitigations
Phase: Architecture and Design
Description:
In order to usefully check if a given action is authorized, some means of strong authentication and method protection must be used. Use other means of authorization that cannot be simply spoofed. Possibilities include a username/password or certificate.