Header Base XSS
WHAT IS HEADER BASE XSS?
Header-based XSS is a type of Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack where an attacker injects malicious JavaScript into HTTP headers, and the server reflects those headers back to the client (user's browser) without proper validation or sanitization. If the injected script is executed in the browser, it can compromise the user's data or perform malicious actions.
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HOW DOES HEADER BASE XSS WORK?
1.HTTP Header Injection: An attacker injects malicious JavaScript into an HTTP header, such as User-Agent, Referer, or Host.
2.Server Reflection: The vulnerable server reflects the header's value into a web page (like an error page or debug info) without sanitizing or escaping it.
3.Script Execution: When the victim visits the page, the malicious script runs in their browser.
4.Impact: The attacker can steal sensitive data (like cookies), hijack sessions, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the user.
MITIGATION FOR HEADER BASE XSS?
1.Sanitize Input: Validate and sanitize all HTTP headers to remove harmful characters like <, >, ', and ".
2.Encode Output: Escape header values before reflecting them into responses (e.g., < → <, > → >).
3.Web Application Firewall (WAF): Block malicious requests with suspicious headers.
4.Use Content Security Policy (CSP): Block unauthorized scripts with a strong CSP.
CONCLUSION:
Header-based XSS is a vulnerability that occurs when malicious scripts are injected into HTTP headers and reflected into web responses without proper sanitization or escaping. If exploited, it can lead to serious consequences, such as data theft, session hijacking, or unauthorized actions.
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