📌 Template Injection Summary
Template injection is a security vulnerability that happens when user input is not properly filtered and is passed directly into a template engine. This allows attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the template, potentially exposing sensitive data or gaining unauthorised access. It often occurs in web applications that use server-side templates to generate dynamic content.
🙋🏻♂️ Explain Template Injection Simply
Imagine you are filling out a form that will be printed in a letter. If someone is allowed to write anything they want, including secret instructions, they might sneak in commands that change how the letter is printed or even reveal confidential information. Template injection is like letting someone write those secret instructions because the system does not check what you wrote before using it.
📅 How Can it be used?
A web application must validate and sanitise user input before passing it into a template engine to prevent template injection.
🗺️ Real World Examples
A company builds a feedback form that displays user comments on their website using a template engine. If the application inserts comments directly into the template without filtering, an attacker could submit a comment containing code that the template engine executes, revealing server data or running commands.
An online shop allows customers to customise invoice messages. If the invoice template includes user input without sanitisation, an attacker could modify their invoice to include code that displays confidential order details of other customers by exploiting template injection.
✅ FAQ
What is template injection and why should I be concerned about it?
Template injection happens when a website lets user input get mixed straight into its template system without proper checks. This can give attackers a way to run their own code, which could lead to private data being exposed or even letting someone take over parts of the site. It is a risk that every web application developer should watch out for because it can turn a small mistake into a big security problem.
How can template injection affect everyday website users?
If a website is vulnerable to template injection, attackers might be able to steal personal information, show fake content, or even take over user accounts. This means that ordinary users could have their data compromised or see things on a website that were never meant to be there, all because of a hidden security issue.
What steps can developers take to prevent template injection?
Developers should always make sure that any user input is carefully checked and cleaned before it is used in templates. Using features built into template engines that separate data from code is a good way to stay safe. Regularly updating software and testing for security problems can also help keep websites protected from template injection attacks.
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