Over 1M websites are at risk of sensitive information leakage
Over one million websites face risks of sensitive data leakage due to XSS and OAuth vulnerabilities. Hotjar's JavaScript code analysis revealed exploitable weaknesses, prompting recommendations for enhanced security measures.
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Over one million websites are at risk of sensitive information leakage due to vulnerabilities associated with cross-site scripting (XSS) and OAuth. XSS has been a prominent web vulnerability since its emergence, consistently appearing in the OWASP Top 10 list. Although protections against XSS have improved, new technologies like OAuth can inadvertently revive old vulnerabilities. The blog post highlights the case of Hotjar, a service used by many websites to analyze user behavior, which collects sensitive data such as personal information and credentials.
Despite implementing best practices for XSS protection, Hotjar's use of JavaScript and OAuth creates potential security risks. The analysis of Hotjar's JavaScript code revealed a vulnerability that could allow attackers to exploit XSS through crafted URLs. Although cookies are protected by the HTTP-only flag, which prevents JavaScript access, the OAuth process can expose secret tokens in URLs, creating a pathway for exploitation.
To mitigate these risks, website owners are encouraged to implement several strategies, including manual input sanitization, using modern web frameworks that provide built-in protections, and employing Content Security Policy (CSP) to restrict script sources. The ongoing evolution of web technologies necessitates continuous vigilance and adaptation in security practices to protect sensitive information from emerging threats.
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