Reflected XSS
Reflected XSS, also known as non-persistent or Type-II XSS, is a type of cross-site scripting vulnerability. In simple terms, it is a type of attack where an attacker can inject malicious code into a vulnerable web application by tricking a user into clicking on a specially crafted link.
The attack works by exploiting a vulnerability in the web application that does not properly validate user input. For example, a web application may display a search query in the URL when a user searches for something. If the application does not properly sanitize the input, an attacker may be able to inject malicious code into the search query. When the user clicks on the link to the search query, the malicious code is executed in their browser, allowing the attacker to steal sensitive data or run arbitrary code on the user’s machine.
To prevent Reflected XSS attacks, web developers should ensure that all user input is properly validated and sanitized before being used in any part of the web application. This can be done by using input validation libraries, such as OWASP’s ESAPI, or by implementing input validation and sanitization directly in the code. Additionally, web users should be cautious when clicking on links, particularly those that appear to be suspicious or unfamiliar.