A security administrator develops a web page and limits input into the fields on the web page as well as
filters special characters in output.
Which of the following attacks is the administrator trying to prevent?
Correct Answer: B
Section: Threats and Vulnerabilities
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Cross-site scripting (XSS) is a type of computer security vulnerability typically found in Web applications.
XSS enables attackers to inject client-side script into Web pages viewed by other users.
Cross-site scripting uses known vulnerabilities in web-based applications, their servers, or plug-in systems
on which they rely. Exploiting one of these, attackers fold malicious content into the content being
delivered from the compromised site. When the resulting combined content arrives at the client-side web
browser, it has all been delivered from the trusted source, and thus operates under the permissions
granted to that system. By finding ways of injecting malicious scripts into web pages, an attacker can gain
elevated access-privileges to sensitive page content, session cookies, and a variety of other information
maintained by the browser on behalf of the user.
By validating user input and preventing special characters, we can prevent the injection of client-side
scripting code.