Browser Event Listener Session Locking for CSRF Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computer systems are vulnerable to Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks, which can result in unauthorized access to private data or unauthorized changes on web servers, leading to monetary loss and identity theft.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a protected webpage with event listeners that detect user changes in a browser and send a lock request to the server when navigating to a potentially malicious website, preventing execution of malicious commands by locking the session.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the browser maintains a continuous logged-on session with the web server, then user convenience and access speed are improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to CSRF attacks allowing unauthorized commands to be executed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic session state management by introducing multiple session states (unlocked, locked, committing) that transition based on user activity and detected navigation events. The session locks automatically when the browser navigates to a different website and unlocks when returning, creating a dynamic security mechanism that adapts to user behavior patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an event listener as an intermediary component that monitors browser navigation events and mediates between the user's browsing activity and the session security state. This intermediary detects when the browser navigates to external websites and triggers appropriate session locking/unlocking actions, acting as a security gatekeeper.
2Reliability
If the session is locked to prevent CSRF attacks, then security against unauthorized commands is improved, but legitimate user actions may be blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic session state evaluation by continuously monitoring for navigation events and automatically transitioning the session state between locked and unlocked based on detected browser activity. This periodic checking ensures that the session is locked only when necessary (when navigating to external sites) and unlocked when the user returns, preventing both CSRF attacks and legitimate access issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms through event listeners that monitor browser navigation events and provide feedback to the session management system. When the event listener detects a navigation event, it triggers a session lock; when the user returns to the original site, the event listener detects this and triggers an unlock, creating a closed-loop feedback system that adapts security based on actual user behavior.
3Measurement precision
If event listeners continuously monitor browser navigation, then detection of malicious website transitions is improved, but system resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by setting up event listeners that are pre-configured to monitor specific navigation events. Rather than continuously scanning all browser activity, the event listeners are established in advance to detect only the specific events that indicate potential CSRF risks (navigation to external websites), enabling efficient monitoring with reduced resource consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
In one implementation, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium may store instructions that upon execution cause a processor to: receive a request for a webpage from a client device; in response to the received request, provide the webpage to a browser of the client device, the provided webpage including at least one event listener to detect a user change in the browser; receive a lock request from the at least one event listener on the client device; and in response to the received lock request, lock a session of the webpage on the client device.