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Is it safe to use JavaScript libraries?
JavaScript libraries are very popular in modern websites. Besides the advantages, there are some risks associated with the use of these libraries. A little research shows that external JavaScript libraries in 1 out of 5 cases make the website more vulnerable. In one case it presumably even introduced malware.
What kind of security vulnerabilities could JavaScript pose?
Most common JavaScript vulnerabilities include Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), malicious code, Man-in-the-middle attack and exploiting vulnerabilities in the source code of web applications.
Why should we use JavaScript library?
Among other reasons, fundamentalists state: You don’t learn the deep-down JavaScript code because you’re using shortcut functions within the framework. Javascript frameworks are bloated and contain a great amount of code you will never use. You shouldn’t make users download more than what’s needed.
What is vulnerable JavaScript library?
Common security vulnerabilities within JavaScript include cross-site scripting, cross-site request forgery, and buffer overflows. Cross-site scripting allows attackers to inject malicious code into trusted web pages, which then serve that malicious code to users that view the site.
Is jQuery insecure?
By that I don’t mean that jQuery is inherently insecure. You can build a secure project on top of jQuery, if you are sufficiently aware of the potential issues and take care. However, the framework doesn’t make it easy. It’s not secure by default, it rather invites programming practices which are insecure.
What should I know about outdates JavaScript library?
That depends on the (known) vulnerabilities in the outdates JavaScript library. Often newer versions fix (minor) security issues as well. A great list to check your library against, is a tool called Retire.js. Also note that the use of a content delivery network (CDN) like CloudFlare might be a minor risk itself.
How to reduce the risk of old JavaScript libraries?
The solution is to make version control of JavaScript libraries part of patch management. Patch management is usually in place for software platforms, servers and middleware, but JavaScript libraries are often out of scope. Another generic solution that reduces the risk of old libraries is to make sure that the chances of XSS are minimal.
What happens if a JavaScript library is not secure?
After all, if the external library server is not secure, there is a chance that it will be hacked. The risk is that on the hacked server, the JavaScript libraries are replaced with malicious variants, which are subsequently used by the website. The result is that visitors will experience XSS attacks and/or might be made part of a botnet.
Are there any known vulnerabilities in the JavaScript library?
Older versions of JavaScript libraries often contain vulnerabilities. These are scripts that run on the client’s browser; therefore, the vulnerabilities mostly concern Cross- Site Scripting (XSS). Once published, the vulnerability is usually resolved in the next release of the library. JQuery has several known vulnerabilities, quoted earlier.