IIS · December 18, 2023

IIS Security Tip: Use the Referrer-Policy header to control referrer information

IIS Security Tip: Use the Referrer-Policy header to control referrer information

When it comes to website security, it is crucial to consider all possible vulnerabilities and take appropriate measures to protect your data and users. One often overlooked aspect of security is controlling the referrer information that is sent from your website to other sites. In this article, we will explore the Referrer-Policy header and how it can enhance the security of your IIS-hosted website.

Understanding Referrer Information

Referrer information is part of the HTTP request header that is sent from a web browser to a web server. It reveals the URL of the page that referred the user to the current page. This information can be useful for website owners to understand traffic sources and user behavior. However, it can also pose a security risk if not handled properly.

For example, if your website contains sensitive information or requires user authentication, the referrer information can potentially expose this data to third-party websites. This is especially concerning if the user is navigating from an untrusted or malicious site.

The Referrer-Policy Header

The Referrer-Policy header is a security feature that allows website owners to control how much referrer information is sent to other sites. By setting the appropriate policy, you can limit the exposure of sensitive data and protect your users' privacy.

There are several options available for the Referrer-Policy header:

  • No-referrer: This policy completely removes the referrer information from the header, providing the highest level of privacy. However, it also means that no referrer information will be available to the destination site.
  • No-referrer-when-downgrade: This is the default policy if the Referrer-Policy header is not set. It sends the full referrer information when navigating to an HTTPS site but removes it when navigating to an HTTP site.
  • Same-origin: This policy only sends the referrer information when the destination site has the same origin as the current site. It provides a balance between privacy and functionality.
  • Strict-origin: Similar to the same-origin policy, but it also removes the referrer information when navigating from HTTPS to HTTP sites.
  • Origin: This policy sends the origin (scheme, host, and port) of the current site as the referrer information. It does not include the path or query parameters.
  • Strict-origin-when-cross-origin: This policy is similar to strict-origin, but it also sends the full referrer information when navigating to other sites with the same origin.

Implementing Referrer-Policy in IIS

To implement the Referrer-Policy header in IIS, you can use the URL Rewrite module. Follow these steps:

  1. Install the URL Rewrite module if it is not already installed.
  2. Open the IIS Manager and select your website.
  3. Double-click on the "URL Rewrite" icon.
  4. Click on "Add Rule(s)" on the right-hand side.
  5. Choose "Blank Rule" and click "OK".
  6. Enter a name for the rule (e.g., "Referrer-Policy") and set the pattern to ".*".
  7. Under "Action", click on "Add" and choose "Response Headers".
  8. Set the header name to "Referrer-Policy" and the value to your desired policy (e.g., "no-referrer").
  9. Click "Apply" to save the rule.

By following these steps, you can easily configure the Referrer-Policy header for your IIS-hosted website.

Conclusion

Controlling the referrer information sent from your website is an important aspect of website security. By using the Referrer-Policy header, you can protect sensitive data, enhance user privacy, and mitigate potential security risks. Implementing this security measure in IIS is straightforward and can significantly improve the overall security of your website.

Summary

In summary, the Referrer-Policy header is a valuable security feature that allows website owners to control the referrer information sent from their IIS-hosted websites. By setting the appropriate policy, you can protect sensitive data, enhance user privacy, and mitigate security risks. Implementing the Referrer-Policy header in IIS is a straightforward process that can significantly improve the security of your website. To learn more about Server.HK and our secure VPS hosting solutions, visit server.hk.

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