Self-XSS
Self-XSS (self cross-site scripting) is a social engineering attack used to gain control of victims' web accounts. In a Self-XSS attack, the victim of the attack unknowingly runs malicious code in their own web browser, thus exposing personal information to the attacker, a kind of vulnerability known as cross-site scripting.[1]
Overview
Self-XSS operates by tricking users also into copying and pasting malicious content into their browsers' web developer console.[1] Usually, the attacker posts a message that says by copying and running certain code, the user will be able to receive virtual rewards or hack a website. In fact, the code allows the attacker to hijack the victim's account.[2]
History and mitigation
In the past, a very similar attack took place, in which users were tricked into pasting malicious JavaScript into their address bar. When browser vendors stopped this by preventing easily running JavaScript from the address bar,[3][4] attackers started using Self-XSS in its current form. Web browser vendors and web sites have taken steps to mitigate this attack. Firefox[5] and Google Chrome[6] have both begun implementing safeguards to warn users about Self-XSS attacks. Facebook and others now display a warning message when users open the web developer console, and they link to pages explaining the attack in detail.[7][8]
Etymology
The "self" part of the name comes from the fact that the user is attacking themselves. The "XSS" part of the name comes from the abbreviation for cross-site scripting, because both attacks result in malicious code running on a legitimate site. However, the attacks do not have much else in common, because XSS is an attack against the website itself (which users cannot protect themselves against but can be fixed by the site operator making their site more secure), whereas Self-XSS is a social engineering attack against the user (against which savvy users can protect themselves but the site operator cannot prevent).[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Scharr, Jill (July 28, 2014). "Facebook Scam Tricks Users Into Hacking Themselves". Purch. http://www.tomsguide.com/us/facebook-self-xss,news-19224.html. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
- ↑ "Social Networking Security Threats". Sophos. n.d.. http://www.sophos.com/en-us/security-news-trends/security-trends/social-networking-security-threats/facebook.aspx. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
- ↑ "Bug 656433 – Disallow javascript: and data: URLs entered into the location bar from inheriting the principal of the currently-loaded page". Bugzilla. Mozilla Foundation. May 11, 2011. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=656433. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ↑ "Issue 82181: [Linux Strip javascript: schema from pastes/drops to omnibox"]. Google Code. May 10, 2011. https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=82181. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ↑ "Bug 994134 – Warn first-time users on pasting code into the console". Bugzilla. Mozilla Foundation. April 9, 2014. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=994134. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ↑ "Issue 345205: DevTools: Combat self-XSS". Google Code. May 10, 2011. https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=345205. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ↑ "What do Self-XSS scams look like?". Facebook. July 11, 2014. https://www.facebook.com/help/757846550903291. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
- ↑ "What is Self-XSS?". Facebook. July 15, 2014. https://www.facebook.com/help/246962205475854. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
- ↑ Ilascu, Ionut (July 28, 2014). "Hackers Trick Facebook Users into Self Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Scam". SoftNews NET SRL. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hackers-Trick-Facebook-Users-Into-Self-Cross-Site-Scripting-XSS-Scam-452364.shtml. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
Further reading
- McCaney, Kevin (November 16, 2011). "4 ways to avoid the exploit in Facebook spam attack". GCN. 1105 Public Sector Media Group. http://gcn.com/articles/2011/11/16/facebook-spam-prevent-xss.aspx. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
 |  |
