What Is a Cache and Why Can It Be a Hidden Security Risk?

The document explains what caches are and the common types (browser and CDN), outlines how improper caching can create security and privacy risks—including sensitive data exposure, theft of cached credentials, cache poisoning, stale data serving, and OPSEC leaks—and recommends mitigations such as changing default settings, disabling password caching, applying “no-store” headers, excluding sensitive pages from caches, and routinely clearing caches; it also highlights SecurityScorecard’s SCDR for continuous third-party threat monitoring.