XSS (Cross-Site Scripting)

What is XSS?

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is a security vulnerability in web applications in which attackers embed malicious code (e.g. JavaScript) in a website that is accessed by other users. The aim is to steal sensitive data such as cookies, session information or login data or to manipulate the user experience.

Protective measures and risks

XSS attacks can lead to data theft, identity theft and damage to a company’s reputation. To protect themselves, developers should validate user input, use Content Security Policies (CSP) and ensure that HTML special characters are properly escaped. Security solutions such as web application firewalls (WAFs) help to effectively prevent XSS attacks.