Is your security token really safe?
We explore how Reflectiz has helped giant retailers to publish Facebook pixels that are strickenly tracking sensitive CSRF tokens due to misunderstandings of human error. Learn about the detection processes, response strategies, and procedures that have been taken to mitigate this critical issue. Download the complete case study here.
By implementing Reflectiz recommendations, retailers have avoided:
Potential GDPR fines (up to 20 million euros or 4% of sales) data breach cost of $3.9 million [on average] 5% customer cancellation
introduction
You may not know much about CSRF tokens, but as an online retailer, you need to know enough to avoid accidental oversharing by Facebook Pixel. If you make this wrong, it could mean huge fines from data protection regulators, so the purpose of this article is to provide a brief overview of the issue and explain the best ways to protect you from your business.
This major issue can be explored in greater detail by downloading a free new case study on this subject [from here]. This goes through a real-world example when this happened to global online apparel and lifestyle retailers. While we’ll explain the issues they faced in more detail, this article is a bite-sized overview of the threats to speed up you.
Let’s take a closer look at how this issue unfolds and why it is important for online security.
What happened and why is it important?
In short, a web threat surveillance solution called Reflectiz has discovered data leaks in retailers’ systems where no one else existed. That Facebook Pixel was oversharing a security technology called CSRF tokens that were supposed to be kept under wraps.
The CSRF token was invented to stop CSRF. This is a type of cyberattack that involves tricking a web application into performing a specific action by ensuring that it comes from an authenticated user.
Essentially, web applications leverage the trust they have in their browsers.
How does this work:
The victim is logged in to a trusted website (for example, online banking). The attacker creates a malicious link or script and clicks on the victim (this can happen on email, social media, or another website). Malicious links will send requests to trustworthy websites. The victim has already been authenticated, so the browser automatically contains a session cookie or credential, so the request is legally displayed in the web application. As a result, the web application will take action on malicious requests by the attacker, such as transferring funds or changing account details, without the victim’s consent.
Developers can use a variety of tools to stop this. One of them is a CSRF token. Ensures that an authenticated user only performs the intended action, not the actions requested by the attacker.
Reflectiz recommends storing CSRF tokens in httponly cookies.
Issue of misunderstanding
Case study examples [that you can find here] Retailer Facebook pixels were misunderstood. The misunderstanding allowed pixels to inadvertently access CSRF tokens, i.e. critical security elements that prevent fraudulent actions on behalf of authenticated users. These tokens were published, creating a serious security vulnerability. This violation has put multiple security issues at risk, including potential data leaks and unauthorized actions on behalf of the user.
Like many online retailers, your website will probably use Facebook pixels to track visitor activity to optimize Facebook ads, but you will only need to do so after you have obtained the correct user permissions, simply collect and share the information you need for that purpose. That’s not possible because CSRF tokens should not be shared with third parties!
Below is how Reflectiz’s technology works to uncover such vulnerabilities before it becomes a serious security risk.
Correction
Reflectiz’s automated security platform has been adopted to monitor retailers’ web environments. During a routine scan, Reflectiz identified an abnormality in his Facebook Pixel. I found myself accessing CSRF tokens and other sensitive data and incorrectly interacting with the page. Through continuous surveillance and deep behavioral analysis, Reflectiz detected this illicit data transmission within hours of violation. This was like sharing a password with a home key or a bank account. They are actions that others can use in the future.
Reflectiz acted quickly and provided detailed reports to retailers. This report outlined the misconfiguration and recommended immediate actions such as changing the configuration of Facebook Pixel code to stop pixels from accessing sensitive data.
Data protection regulators get a dim view of their business even when they accidentally overshare this type of restricted information with fraudulent third parties. So, 10-11 minutes of reading a complete case study can be the best investment of the year.
Next Steps
Reflectiz’s recommendations were not stopped with immediate revisions. They laid the foundation for continuous security improvements and long-term protection. Here’s how you can protect your business from similar risks:
Regular Security Audit: Continuous Monitoring: Implement a continuous monitoring system to track all third-party scripts and their behavior on our website. This helps to detect potential vulnerabilities and false mining in real time, helping to prevent security risks before they escalate. Regular Security Audits: Schedule regular audits to ensure that all security measures are up to date. This includes checking vulnerabilities in third-party integrations and ensuring compliance with the latest security standards and best practices. Third Party Script Management: Evaluation and Control Third Party Scripts: Check all third party scripts on your website, including tracking pixels and analysis tools. These scripts limit the required access to sensitive data and ensure that they receive only the required data for the functionality. Using a Trusted Partner: Work only with third-party vendors who meet strict security and privacy standards. To prevent unauthorized data sharing, make sure your security practices are tailored to your business’s needs. CSRF Token Protection: httponly cookies: Store your csrf tokens in httponly cookies as recommended by rifceiz. This is an important measure of protecting tokens from unauthorized access by third-party vendors. Enforces a secure cookie attribute: Ensure that all CSRF tokens are secure and stored with SamesSite = strict attributes to protect them from being sent in origin cross requests, and reduce the risk of exposure via malicious third-party scripts. Privacy by Design: Integrate privacy into the development process: Adopt privacy by Design as part of the development and deployment process. From how your data is stored to how third-party scripts interact with your site, make sure privacy considerations are at the forefront. User consent management: Regularly update data collection practices to give users control over the data they share. Always obtain clear informed consent before sharing sensitive data with third parties. Educate your team: Security Training: Make sure your development and security teams are well trained, especially with the latest security protocols related to data privacy and CSRF protection. Awareness and understanding of security risks is the first step to preventing such problems. Cross-Department Collaboration: Make sure your marketing and security teams are consistent, especially if you use third-party tools like the Facebook Pixel. Both teams need to cooperate to ensure security and privacy concerns are considered when implementing such tools. Adopting a Zero Trust Approach: Zero Trust Security Model: Consider adopting a Zero Trust approach to security. This model assumes that both users inside and outside the network are not trusted and that each request is validated before granting access. By applying this philosophy to the exchange of data between sites and third-party services, exposure to risk can be minimized.
Implementing these next steps will help you proactively strengthen your security attitude, protect sensitive data and prevent similar issues in the future. Reflectiz’s insights provide a roadmap for building a more resilient and secure web environment. Protecting your business from new threats is a continuous effort, but with the right processes and tools in place, you can ensure that your systems remain safe and compliant.
Download the complete case study here.
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