Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks are a class of web security vulnerabilities that occur when an attacker injects malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. These scripts can execute in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to unauthorised actions or data theft.
In an XSS attack, an attacker injects malicious code (usually JavaScript) into a web page or web application. When other users visit the compromised page, their browsers unwittingly execute the injected code. This can result in various consequences, including:
Session Hijacking:Attackers can steal user sessions and impersonate victims.
Data Theft: Sensitive data, such as login credentials or cookies, can be stolen.
Defacement: Attackers can deface websites or manipulate content.
XSS attacks can have significant repercussions:
Data Theft: Attackers can steal sensitive user information.
Session Compromise: Hackers can take control of user sessions.
Malware Distribution: Malicious code can deliver malware to users' devices.
Reputation Damage: Affected websites can lose trust and credibility.
Preventing SQL injection involves:
Input Validation: Properly validate and sanitise user input.
Output Encoding: Encode output to prevent script execution.
Content Security Policy (CSP): Implement CSP headers to restrict script sources.
Regular Updates: Keep web application frameworks and libraries up to date.
