SSRF: Server-Side Request Forgery in Cybersecurity

Application Security
ByDecipherU Editorial
How is it pronounced?
ess-ess-ar-eff

SSRF stands for Server-Side Request Forgery. Server-Side Request Forgery is a vulnerability where an attacker forces a server to make HTTP requests to unintended destinations. SSRF can access internal services, cloud metadata endpoints, and private network resources that are not directly reachable from the internet.

How SSRF Is Used in Cybersecurity

Penetration testers target URL parameters, webhooks, and file import features to test for SSRF in web applications. Security engineers block SSRF by validating and restricting outbound requests from application servers. Cloud security teams monitor for SSRF attempts against instance metadata services like AWS IMDSv1.

Cybersecurity Roles That Work with SSRF

Related Cybersecurity Acronyms

Frequently asked questions

What does SSRF stand for?

SSRF stands for Server-Side Request Forgery. Server-Side Request Forgery is a vulnerability where an attacker forces a server to make HTTP requests to unintended destinations. SSRF can access internal services, cloud metadata endpoints, and private network resources that are not directly reachable from the internet.

What is SSRF used for in cybersecurity?

Penetration testers target URL parameters, webhooks, and file import features to test for SSRF in web applications. Security engineers block SSRF by validating and restricting outbound requests from application servers. Cloud security teams monitor for SSRF attempts against instance metadata services like AWS IMDSv1.

Last verified: April 2026?Report an inaccuracy