Last updated on September 27th, 2026 at 09:06 am
Honestly, I didn’t wake up one day enthusiastic about what Cross-Site Scripting was. But after hearing that it existed in the 1990s and people still exploited it in 2025, I got curious: What is this 25-year-old vulnerability still doing to modern websites?
So I spent a few days testing XSS myself using free tools. This is what really happens when such attacks succeed, and the explanation is below, as though you are speaking with a friend in the technical field but not a security specialist.
Table of Contents
What Even Is XSS?
Cross-site Scripting allows the attacker to implant bad code in sites that you believe to be trustworthy. When you go there, the code functions in your browser – not theirs. It is like someone putting a note in your friend’s bag; if they open it, they can do what you tell them.
According to Microsoft alone, there have been more than 970 cases of XSS since January 2024, and about 68% of websites are estimated to be vulnerable. That’s not a small problem.
The scary part? When attackers steal your cookies, they can steal your personal information and do other actions with your browser even without you noticing it, e.g., sending messages or adjusting settings.
The Three Ways XSS Hits You
I practiced all three types through the practice platforms (more later). Here’s how they’re different:
Stored XSS is the nastiest. I loaded a script in a comment on a practice site, and it stayed there forever. All individuals accessing that page were struck down – no additional effort required. Like putting a stake in the ground, it stays a trap that works.
Reflected XSS is sneakier. I made a malicious link that looked normal but had code hidden in the URL. After clicking it, the site reflected my code perfectly, and I was actually responding. Consider phishing email messages with “Click here to verify your account” – but the link does much more than you would have imagined.
The strangest concept to digest was DOM-based XSS. This one doesn’t even involve the server. This weakness exists entirely in how the site’s JavaScript processes information in your browser. I would play around with the page’s code using the URL, and the browser would do whatever I asked without asking.
How I Actually Tested This
I didn’t want to hack any real websites (it is illegal and wrong), so I used the XSS Game of Google and the Web Security Academy offered by PortSwisher. They are both free and designed with a focus on learning.
The XSS Game has six challenges, each increasing in difficulty. Level 1? Simple. I inserted the following code into the search box to see the result: Easy- all I did was type the following into one of the search boxes: alert(XSS). Level 6? I had to improvise with the code and context-switch again.
PortSwigger’s labs taught me how filters work and how attackers circumvent them. I discovered that developers usually attempt to block clear items such as
What I Learned
After testing these attacks myself, a few things became clear:
Context is everything. A payload that works in a search box won’t work in a URL parameter. Attackers have to understand exactly where their code lands and adjust accordingly.
One layer of defense isn’t enough. The sites that held up best used multiple protections input validation, output encoding, and Content Security Policy all working together.
Small mistakes compound fast. I found that XSS often chains with other vulnerabilities like weak session handling or missing CSRF protections, turning a “minor” bug into a full account takeover.
Read:
iFLYTEK AINOTE Air 2 Review: The Smart Student’s Secret Weapon
I’m a technology writer passionate about AI and digital marketing. I create engaging and useful content that bridges the gap between complex technology concepts and digital technologies. My writing makes the process easy and engaging. I encourage participation I continue to research innovation and technology. Let’s connect and talk technology!
