How I Found an XSS Bug That Made Websites Scream “Alert!”

AIwolfie
3 min readDec 23, 2024

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Hello, fellow bug-hunters, hackers, and all you curious netizens! 👋

I’m AIwolfie, a passionate bug-hunter who loves breaking things (responsibly) and turning websites into obedient alert-box generators. With a cup of chai in one hand and a payload in the other, I spend my time hunting for vulnerabilities and sharing my adventures with the community.

Today, I bring you the story of a cute little bug that ended up as a full-blown Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability. But wait, this isn’t just another bug bounty article — it’s got drama, payloads, and, of course, lots of alert boxes!

Grab your chai ☕, sit back, and let me tell you about this “epic” find.

The Target Website (Redacted for Security 😇)

It all started when I stumbled upon a search functionality on a website. You know the type — enter something like “pizza,” and it throws a million search results at you (because they desperately want you to click something).

I thought, “Hmm… Could this be my next jackpot? 🤔”

So, I entered the most innocent search query ever:
<script>alert(1)</script>

Pop Goes the Website!

BOOM 💥! My favorite little alert box popped up, and I couldn’t help but grin like a kid who just found extra fries at the bottom of the McDonald’s bag. 🍟

The website was reflecting my input without any validation or sanitization. Here’s the magical URL (redacted, of course):

https://[REDACTED].com/search?search=<script>alert(1)</script>

What does this mean? It means the website was vulnerable to Reflected XSS — one of the most common (but super-dangerous) web vulnerabilities.

What’s the Big Deal?

Now, you might say, “Bro, it’s just an alert box. Chill.” But no, dear reader, this is a big deal.

Imagine what a bad actor could do with this:

  1. Steal session cookies 🍪 (a hacker’s favorite snack).
  2. Redirect users to malicious sites 🕵️‍♂️.
  3. Deface the website (or make it Rickroll users 🎵).

Basically, XSS can turn a website into a hacker’s playground 🎢.

Payloads FTW 🎯

Oh, but the fun didn’t stop there! I decided to test a few more payloads because, why not? 😈

Payload 1: The OG

<script>alert(1)</script>

Result? Instant popup. The website was screaming for help like a Bollywood damsel in distress.

Payload 2: Sneaky Sneaky

<img src=x onerror="alert(document.cookie)">

Result? Another popup, but this one can potentially steal cookies (if not properly secured).

Lessons for Developers 👨‍💻👩‍💻

Hey devs, I know you work hard, but let me drop some free gyaan (knowledge):

1. Sanitize Input:

Don’t trust user input. Ever. Escape those < > " ' & characters like they’re your ex’s text messages.

2. Output Encoding:

Use proper encoding before rendering user data in HTML, JavaScript, or anywhere else.

3. CSP to the Rescue:

Implement a solid Content Security Policy (CSP) to block unauthorized scripts.

Sharma Ji’s Son Can Also Learn XSS

Bug-hunting isn’t rocket science (sorry, Sharma Ji’s son 🚀). Here’s how you can start testing for XSS:

  1. Look for input fields (search bars, comments, etc.).
  2. Test with payloads like: <script>alert(1)</script>
  3. If you see an alert box, congrats!

Closing Thoughts

Finding this bug was like discovering an unguarded treasure chest in an open field. 🪙 But let’s not forget the bigger picture: responsible disclosure. Always report bugs responsibly and help make the internet safer.

Until next time, keep hunting, keep learning, and remember: alerts may be basic, but bugs are priceless. 💻🐞

Stay safe. Hack smart.
— Your friendly neighborhood bug hunter 🐺

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AIwolfie
AIwolfie

Written by AIwolfie

Cybersecurity enthusiast ☕ | Ethical hacker | Bug bounty hunter | Sharing insights on vulnerabilities to help make the web a safer place.

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