Relative Path Overwrite
- Security researcher Gareth Heyes discovered a new attack vector, namely Relative Path Overwrite(RPO). RPO exploits the way browsers interpret relative paths while importing CSS files into DOM (document object model). Hence this attack is also known as Path Relative Style sheet Import (PRSSI).
Relative Path -
<link href="database/xyz.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
Absolute Path -
<link href="https://example.com /database/xyz.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
Example: For example, if the document is loaded at https://example.com /database, then the CSS will be loaded from the path https://example.com /database/xyz.css in the case of a relative path. If a website has URL: https://example.com/index.html and they link the <link href=”resource/rpo.css” rel=”stylesheet” type=” text/CSS”/> given path in HTML file.
In this scenario, if we visit https://example.com/index.html, then the website can import its CSS file through the given path. Still, if the attacker changes the URL to https://example.com /index.htm/random/payload, it will also work due to the flexible nature of server-side programming languages and web frameworks, but this time CSS does not load from the path given in html file. By adding the payloads at vulnerable endpoints, an attacker can control the CSS of a web application.
Emerging Attack Vectors in Cyber Security
In Cyber Security, knowing about attack vectors is key to keeping information safe and systems secure. An attack vector is a way that cybercriminals use to break into a network, system, or application by taking advantage of weaknesses. Attack vectors refer to the various paths or methods that attackers use to gain unauthorized access to a system, network, or application to exploit vulnerabilities, steal data, or cause damage.
As cyber threats grow more complex, it’s more important than ever to identify and protect against these attack vectors. This article will look at the different types of attack vectors, their effects on cybersecurity, and how to defend against them.
Contact Us