Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a common web security vulnerability that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into webpages viewed by unsuspecting users. By exploiting this vulnerability, attackers can execute arbitrary scripts in the context of a user's browser, potentially leading to data theft, session hijacking, and other malicious activities. XSS attacks can be classified into three main types: stored, reflected, and DOM-based XSS.
To protect against XSS vulnerabilities, organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding to ensure that user-supplied data is not executed as code. Regular security audits and penetration testing can help identify potential XSS vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. As web applications become increasingly complex and interactive, understanding and mitigating XSS risks is essential for maintaining the security and integrity of user data.