Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a web security vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into trusted websites or web applications. These scripts are executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users, potentially leading to data theft, session hijacking, or other security breaches. Key features:
Attack Method:
- Inject malicious scripts into trusted websites
- Execute scripts in victims’ browsers
Types:
- Reflected XSS
- Stored XSS
- DOM-based XSS
Consequences:
- Theft of user data
- Session hijacking
- Defacement of websites
Prevention:
- Input validation
- Output encoding
- Content Security Policy (CSP)
Detection:
- Security scanners
- Manual code review
- Penetration testing
XSS poses significant security risks to web applications and their users.