Definition
Web cache poisoning is a cyberattack technique in which an attacker deliberately inserts malicious or manipulated content into the web cache to spread malware or fake information.
Web caches improve performance by storing copies of web pages, allowing them to serve cached content instead of fetching it from the primary server. So, an attacker can poison the cache to show users whatever they want. This makes it a perfect tool for malware distribution and advanced phishing attacks.
Web cache poisoning is dangerous for several reasons. First, it is very efficient, allowing attackers to target many users simultaneously with a single compromised cache. Second, it is difficult to detect because it exploits flaws in caching systems instead of directly attacking the application itself.
Preventing Web Cache Poisoning
Here are some measures you can take to enhance your web application security:
- Control caching: Control how caching is done with specific instructions to prevent malicious content from being stored.
- Validate inputs: Verify and validate data before storing it in the cache.
- Separate cache content: Store different types of content in different cache areas to reduce the impact of an attack.
- Perform security audits: Frequently assess and test the caching system for potential vulnerabilities.