Then a simple click on an advertising banner triggers another page. All of these sites have one thing in common: they would hardly be possible without JavaScript. These tabs are filled with interesting headlines, funny videos, ads for sporting goods, online stores, and a payment site with a just-paid receipt for a speeding ticket. But something is missing from this picture-an Internet browser with dozens of tabs open simultaneously. The screen shows a file manager, text editor, spreadsheet, and music player icon in the lower-right corner. How cross-site scripting worksĪrmed with this idea of what a cross-site scripting attack is, let's see how it works. This ability to exploit commonly used platforms makes XSS attacks both dangerous and common. Most often, XSS targets JavaScript because of the language's tight integration with most browsers. XSS attacks can exploit vulnerabilities in a range of programming environments, including VBScript, Flash, ActiveX, and JavaScript. An XSS attack can turn a web application or website into a vector for delivering malicious scripts to the web browsers of unsuspecting victims. But in many cases, XSS is performed in a more direct way, such as in an email message. Some XSS attacks do not have a specific target the attacker simply exploits a vulnerability in the application or site, taking advantage of anyone unlucky enough to fall victim. During this process, unsanitized or unvalidated inputs (user-entered data) are used to change outputs. DefinitionĬross-site scripting, often abbreviated as XSS, is a type of attack in which malicious scripts are injected into websites and web applications for the purpose of running on the end user's device. In this article, we discuss the potential dangers and prevention of XSS cyberattacks. Our research shows that for years now, XSS vulnerabilities have consistently taken first place in terms of prevalence online. As a result, the potential danger from the most frequent attack vectors can hardly be overestimated. Security at many organizations has suffered since workers have started working from insecure home networks and using their own (possibly infected) personal computers. With the world switching to remote work on a scale never seen previously, cybercriminals have become more active than ever. What are the consequences of XSS attacks?.