{"id":28271,"date":"2022-06-19T09:45:51","date_gmt":"2022-06-19T09:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/?p=28271"},"modified":"2023-08-03T11:16:49","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T11:16:49","slug":"what-is-a-cross-site-scripting-xss-attack-and-how-to-fix-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/what-is-a-cross-site-scripting-xss-attack-and-how-to-fix-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attack and How to Fix it?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cross-site scripting is another way to commit cybercrime by exploiting a vulnerability in an otherwise legitimate and trusted website. It\u2019s a common cyberattack typically targeting end users\u2019 browsers to steal data, access accounts, etc but can also be used to deface and compromise your website. Read on to learn <\/span>what cross-site scripting is<\/b>, how it works, its types, examples, and ways to test and prevent it.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Cross-Site Scripting?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A<\/span> cross-site scripting<\/b> or XSS attack is a type of injection attack. hackers inject malicious scripts into a trusted website, which is otherwise safe. An actual <\/span>cross-site scripting attack<\/b> starts when the victim visits the corrupted website that acts as a vehicle to deliver the malicious code.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, <\/span>what is cross-site scripting<\/b>\u2019s vulnerability element? Well, commonly used injection vectors include user input fields such as comments, forums, message boards, pop-ups, etc. A website is especially susceptible to these types of <\/span>cyberattacks<\/span><\/a> if it doesn\u2019t filter or sanitize user input.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing <\/span>how to fix a cross-site scripting vulnerability in Java <\/b>is vital as it\u2019s fundamental to most browsing experiences. Attacks can also occur through other languages, such as HTML, Ajax, etc. XSS attacks exploit weaknesses in trusted websites, so the victim\u2019s web browser doesn\u2019t know the difference between legitimate and malicious script. It runs the code as usual, executing the majicious code simultaneously.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Does Cross-Site Scripting Work?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Now that you know what it is, let\u2019s look at <\/span>how cross-site scripting works<\/b>. XSS attacks circumvent a security measure known as the Same Origin Policy or SOP. When a website doesn\u2019t enforce it, threat actors can inject malicious scripts via user input entry to accomplish anything from identity theft and malware infection to wreaking havoc on the website\u2019s pages.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cross-site scripting\u00a0 typically consists of two stages:<\/span><\/p>\n

STAGE 1<\/b>: Hackers identify a website with XSS vulnerabilities and user input fields.\u00a0 They then inject malicious code into the website that behaves as source code for the victim\u2019s browser.<\/span><\/p>\n

STAGE 2<\/b>: A <\/span>cross-site scripting <\/b>attack occurs once the unsuspecting user visits the now-corrupted website. Because it can\u2019t tell the difference, the victim\u2019s web browser executes the malicious script along with the legitimate source code. The bad actor can now steal session cookies, login credentials, and any other data used by that website or saved by the browser. In most cases, targets don\u2019t detect an XSS attack until it\u2019s too late.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cybercriminals can also incorporate <\/span>social engineering<\/span><\/a> tactics like <\/span>phishing emails<\/span><\/a> to perpetrate more severe attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why businesses hire experts who know <\/span>how to prevent cross-site scripting or XSS attacks <\/b>using the right tools.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is XSS Used For?<\/b><\/h3>\n

You now know <\/span>how a cross-site scripting XSS attack works<\/b>, but do you know what it\u2019s used for?<\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/span>cross-site scripting attack<\/b> is mostly executed to steal cookies, hijack users\u2019 sessions, and compromise accounts. Threat actors can then impersonate you, exploit your data, and even access your device\u2019s geolocation, microphone, webcam, files, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

An XSS attack isn\u2019t just an end user threat, though. It can also harm entire websites by modifying content, defacing webpages, and extracting privileged data. There are several other reasons to learn <\/span>how to avoid cross-site scripting<\/b>. A successful attack can allow hackers to:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n