What is Clickjacking, its Type and How to prevent it?
Clickjacking, one must be thinking, what does it mean, and what is the primary goal of its attack? Fortunately, you have come to the right place. In this article, we are going to talk about clickjacking attacks and clickjacking prevention techniques.
What is clickjacking?
Clickjacking is a type of cyber attack in which users are tricked into believing something that they are seeing is real, but in reality, it is not. For instance, the attacker may create a duplicate interface just like the original interface or even make a fake HTML element and then run it inside an iframe over the original page.
This creates a perfect environment for a clickjacking attack to cheat the user and take advantage of the user’s vulnerability. Its attack is also known as a UI redress attack or user interface redressing.
That being said, let us discuss some of the techniques of it.
Types of clickjacking:
1. Cropping: This occurs when the attacker changes the layout of the legitimate page as per their liking. For instance, they can change the controls of the page by adding a redirect link for the user that takes them to the attacker’s desired location or simply changing the content or the layout of the website to confuse the user.
2. Click event dropping: As the name suggests, in this approach, the user will feel that the website is not responding after they have clicked on the desired section, but in reality, the clicks are been accepted and running their programmed steps on the malicious page.
3. Transparent overlay: This method is one of the most common clickjacking techniques to trick the user. In this technique, the attacker makes an overlay of a completely legitimate webpage or a web application over their malicious page. Due to this, the user is not able to differentiate between the legitimate page and the fake page.
4. Hidden overlay: The attacker creates a small 1×1 pixel iframe to position it under the mouse cursor. As soon as the user clicks anywhere on the page, the command will go directly to the malicious page that the attacker has set up.
5. Scrolling: In this approach, the attackers create a legitimate pop-up or dialog box. Once the user clicks on the particular pop-up button, it directly activates the malicious webpage, which was portrayed as a harmless prompt to the user.
One drawback of this is that the user might be using an ad blocker that might block the whole attack.
How to prevent clickjacking:
There are some techniques that can be used in clickjacking attack prevention, and they are as follows:
1. Preventing clickjacking using JavaScript:
You might be thinking about how to prevent it in React JavaScript. Well, the answer to that is quite easy: server-side protection and a JavaScript frame-busting technique are one of the most commonly used methods to fight against this cyber threat.
2. Clickjacking protection using frame ancestors:
When it comes to preventing vulnerabilities, it is one of those tools that can be used without a doubt.
Some of the frequently asked questions and answers:
1. How can clickjacking attacks be mitigated?
Ans: Mitigation for clickjacking can be done by following the steps. The X-Frame-Options header can be used for the server side while implementing the frame-ancestors directive on the content security policy in order to control the embedding of the website on other sites.
2. What is a clickjacking attack?
Ans: Clickjacking is when an attacker tricks users into clicking on something that they are not supposed to do or intend to do in order to extort the user’s confidential pieces of information, transfer money, or download malware on their device for various reasons.
3. What is clickjacking in cyber security?
Ans: Clickjacking is a type of malicious attack done on the user by the attacker to get hold of confidential information, download malware, or authorize an unauthorized purchase.
4. What is a clickjacking vulnerability?
Ans: Attackers can trick the user into clicking on certain links that they need the user to click in order to give them access to the attackers to perform various tasks, such as transferring money, confidential pieces of information, passwords, or downloading malware on the user’s device for further processes. Thus, it is safe to say there are many vulnerabilities to clickjacking.
5. What does clickjacking mean?
Ans: In layman’s terms, Clickjacking is a type of attack technique that is used by the attacker to trick the user into believing that they are clicking on the intended place, but in reality, they might be clicking on something that the attacker has planted for their user to click on. One of the most common examples of clickjacking is a pop-up window on a website; as such, they are most of the time laced with some kind of fishy content.
6. Is clickjacking a serious vulnerability?
Ans: Is clickjacking a vulnerability? The answer to this question is YES! Clickjacking can be termed as a great vulnerability; as such, it can be used to trick the user into clicking on some specified spots or links in order to take advantage of the vulnerability of user.
7. Clickjacking: How to prevent?
Ans: Clickjacking can be prevented through frame busting on the client side and X-Frame options on the server side.
8. Which of the following is an example of a clickjacking attack?
Ans: There are many click-jacking attack instances, such as Facebook page liking, unauthorized purchases, malware downloading into the user’s device, or simply stealing the credentials of user.
9. What is the solution to clickjacking?
Ans: The basic solution to clickjacking for the user is to be intuitive and always look where you are clicking; as such, there are many clickbait links that the attacker might have planted for the user to click. Apart from this, there are a few other options that websites are required to take to prevent clickjacking.
10. What is the other name for clickjacking?
Ans: Clickjacking is also called a user interface redress attack or user interface redressing.
11. What is the root cause of clickjacking?
Ans: Clickjacking is a form of deception; as such, it is performed by deceiving the user into believing something that is not true. For instance, the attacker can create a transparent layout of the interface and then mask it on the original interface to trick the user into thinking something that they think is not there.
12. How do you test for clickjacking?
Ans: The click-jacking test can be done by creating an alternative HTML page and then attempting to put a sensitive page in an iframe from the website; as such, this is typical click-jacking behavior. Thus, one must always run the clickjacking checker test code on a different web server.
13. What is an anti-clickjacking header?
Ans: To protect against clickjacking attacks on websites, an anti-clickjacking security mechanism is used. If any website or application reports about an anti-click-jacking header vulnerability, then it is safe to say that particular site is not sending the required HTTP response header in order to defend against a click-jacking attack.
Clickjacking Definition:
This is a form of cyber-attack in which users are lured into clicking on well-concealed or disguised information, such that they commit unintended acts. Clickjacking definition simply tells the ill intent of the hacker to manipulate the elements of a web page so that their victims think that they have clicked a valid button or link. Rather, they can assume that they have authorized a transaction, shared sensitive information, or modified browser settings without being aware of that. It is a strategy to con someone that is based on misleading. The definition of clickjacking is important to the user and developer and can keep them cautious of the hidden threats present in the benign-looking web activities.
Clickjacking Meaning
The definition of clickjacking is associated with tricking users into carrying out actions that they did not anticipate. It usually consists of covering a button or interface that looks legitimate with a thin layer of invisibility, including an embedded frame. By clicking on it, an individual will be working with the content that the attacker has, without their knowledge. The user of another site may easily become the victim of clickjacking, and the consequences can be arresting, expensive goods, credentials leakage, or giving a webcam away. The clickjacking meaning highlights the need for safe web design and user caution. Training the user to recognize this type of hacking path is critical to anticipate the possibility of conducting negative activities without the desire to cause damage.
Clickjacking Prevention
The process of Clickjacking prevention starts with smart coding and the application of browser defense system. Developers are advised to configure an HTTP header e.g. X-Frame-Options to one of the following settings to avoid embedding/framing their site in an Iframe: DENY or SAMEORIGIN. The additional security is putting frame-ancestors and Content Security Policy (CSP) directives. Always test applications with regard to finding vulnerabilities to iframe attacks, and also ensure web frameworks are up to date. Train the users on when not to click on unfamiliar popups or dubious links. Effective methods of clickjacking prevention not only offer defense to the end users but also authenticate the credibility and reliability of the website to its users.
Clickjacking Attacks
The risk of clickjacking attacks consists of malicious content that exists on a web page behind visible web page elements (the user is deceived into thinking it is indeed the viewed element). With the victims, they click on supposed secure buttons or links, but meanwhile, their actions are causing some form of unknown functionality to occur, e.g., the victim is changing the account settings, authorizing payments. Such attacks are otherwise unknown and difficult to notice unless sophisticated security mechanisms are in place. Public websites such as social media, internet banks, and online stores are the best targets. The main danger of clickjacking attacks is the fact that they do not need users to make a mistake; a single ignorant click is all that is needed. To prevent them, a solid backend defense and frontend transparency are necessary so that what the users do correlates with their intent.
How to Prevent Clickjacking
The question is how to prevent clickjacking. Begin with technical countermeasures such as enabling X-Frame-Options response headers or Content-Security-Policy: frame-ancestors enactments to inhibit unregulated embeddings in iFrame. The frequent penetration testing allows one to locate weaknesses in time to stop attackers. Train users not to click on dubious pop-ups and unfamiliar sites. Promote the utilisation of browser add-ons, which block invisible frames. It is also essential to maintain updated browsers and enforce the standards of secure coding. Understanding the solution to clickjacking enables organizations to guard the interaction between the user and themselves and prevent the invisible menace from taking over the reputation and performance of their websites.
Conclusion:
In a nutshell, it is safe to say that web applications are potentially vulnerable to it. Mentioned above is all the information regarding it that you must know. The world of the internet is going on and on, and there are new innovations on a daily basis, so you cannot deny the fact that the internet will soon eliminate manpower in many fields.
Stay tuned with us if you want to know more about such versatile technologies.
