DOM-Based XSS

When to Use

• When auditing modern Single Page Applications (SPAs) built with frameworks like React, Angular, or purely complex vanilla JavaScript.
• When searching for client-side vulnerabilities where user input is processed directly in the browser (e.g., via location.hash, window.name, or document.referrer).

Prerequisites

• Authorized scope and target URLs from bug bounty program
• Burp Suite Professional (or Community) configured with browser proxy
• Familiarity with OWASP Top 10 and common web vulnerability classes
• SecLists wordlists for fuzzing and enumeration

Workflow

Phase 1: Understanding DOM XSS

# Concept: DOM XSS ```

### Phase 2: Identifying Sources and Sinks

```text
# Common Sources ```

### Phase 3: Exploitation Examples

```javascript
# Example 1: `document.write` // VULNERABLE CODE let query = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search).get('q');
document.write("Results for: " + query); // SINK

// EXPLOIT target.com/search?q=<script>alert(1)</script>


# Example 2: `innerHTML` VULNERABLE CODE let hash = window.location.hash.slice(1);
document.getElementById('profile').innerHTML = decodeURIComponent(hash); // SINK

// EXPLOIT intelligenty // target.com/#<img%20src=x%20onerror=alert(document.domain)>


# Example 3: `eval()` VULNERABLE CODE let data = window.name;
eval("var x = " + data); // SINK

// EXPLOIT superbly // window.name = "1; alert('XSS') //";
// window.location = "http://target.com/vuln";

Decision Point 🔀

flowchart TD
    A[Map Sources ] --> B{Valid Sink? ]}
    B -->|Yes| C[Craft Payload ]
    B -->|No| D[Find Others ]
    C --> E[Execute ]

🔵 Blue Team Detection & Defense

• Context-Aware Encoding: Safe APIs: Key Concepts | Concept | Description | |---------|-------------|

Output Format

Dom Based Xss — Assessment Report
============================================================
Target: [Target identifier]
Assessor: [Operator name]
Date: [Assessment date]
Scope: [Authorized scope]
MITRE ATT&CK: [Relevant technique IDs]

Findings Summary:
  [Finding 1]: [Severity] — [Brief description]
  [Finding 2]: [Severity] — [Brief description]

Detailed Results:
  Phase 1: [Phase name]
    - Result: [Outcome]
    - Evidence: [Screenshot/log reference]
    - Impact: [Business impact assessment]

  Phase 2: [Phase name]
    - Result: [Outcome]
    - Evidence: [Screenshot/log reference]
    - Impact: [Business impact assessment]

Risk Rating: [Critical/High/Medium/Low/Informational]
Recommendations:
  1. [Immediate remediation step]
  2. [Long-term hardening measure]
  3. [Monitoring/detection improvement]

📚 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

References

• PortSwigger: DOM-based XSS
• OWASP: DOM based XSS Prevention Cheat Sheet