At its core, SSRF arises when an attacker can manipulate a server to send HTTP requests to arbitrary destinations, often bypassing firewalls, access controls, and other security measures. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of user-supplied URLs or inputs that dictate server-side request behaviour.
SSRF vulnerabilities occur when an API fetches a remote resource using a user-supplied Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) without adequate validation. This oversight allows attackers to manipulate the request, coercing the server to interact with unintended destinations. These attacks bypass traditional network controls like firewalls and VPNs, making them particularly insidious.
SSRF occurs when an attacker exploits a server-side vulnerability to send crafted requests from a vulnerable web server to unintended locations. These requests can be directed to internal services, cloud metadata APIs, or other network resources that would otherwise be inaccessible to external users. Essentially, SSRF enables attackers to leverage the server’s trust in internal resources and APIs to bypass firewalls, access private services, and gather sensitive data.
OWASP’s Top 10 is more than just a list; it’s a guiding light for secure software development and security testing. For executives and business owners, ignoring these risks can lead to catastrophic breaches, impacting reputation, customer trust, and profitability. The OWASP Top 10 addresses these risks, serving as an essential framework for developers and security professionals to build and maintain secure systems.