Java XSS: Examples and Prevention

Security in software development is crucial yet challenging, particularly in preventing Java XSS (cross-site scripting) attacks. XSS is a type of attack that exploits vulnerabilities in web applications to inject malicious scripts executed by users, potentially leading to data theft or session hijacking. The article provides three examples of XSS attacks in Java applications, such as parameter injection and fake forms, illustrating how attackers can manipulate user input to execute harmful scripts. Prevention strategies include escaping user input and leveraging security features of frameworks like Spring Boot and Thymeleaf, which help mitigate these vulnerabilities by default. Emphasizing the importance of not trusting external data, the article suggests validating and escaping inputs and using mature tools to safeguard against XSS and other security threats. The discussion highlights the need for integrating security checks in CI/CD pipelines to detect vulnerabilities early in the development process. The author, Carlos Schults, is a seasoned consultant and software engineer with expertise in automated testing, version control, and code quality.