XSS
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a web security vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. It occurs when an application includes untrusted data in a web page without proper validation or escaping, enabling the execution of scripts in the victim's browser. XSS attacks can lead to data theft, session hijacking, defacement, or malware distribution.
Developers should learn about XSS to build secure web applications and protect against common attacks that exploit client-side vulnerabilities. It is crucial for roles involving web development, security engineering, or penetration testing, as understanding XSS helps in implementing defenses like input validation, output encoding, and Content Security Policy (CSP). Use cases include securing e-commerce sites, social media platforms, and any application handling user-generated content.