What does cross-site scripting (XSS) involve?

Cross-site scripting (XSS) involves the injection of scripts into trusted websites. This type of security vulnerability allows attackers to insert malicious code, usually in the form of JavaScript, into web pages that are viewed by other users. When users visit the compromised page, the embedded scripts execute in their browsers, which can lead to a variety of malicious actions, such as stealing sensitive information like cookies or session tokens, redirecting users to malicious sites, or manipulating page content.

The trust that users have in a legitimate website is exploited in XSS attacks; since the script runs in the context of that trusted domain, it can bypass the same-origin policy that usually protects users from malicious sites. Understanding XSS is crucial for cybersecurity professionals, as protecting against it involves validating user input and implementing proper content security policies to mitigate the risks associated with these types of vulnerabilities.

The other choices, while they relate to various cybersecurity concepts, do not describe XSS specifically. For instance, encrypting web traffic is a method to secure data transmissions rather than a vulnerability, and anonymous browsing techniques refer to privacy tools to hide user identity online rather than inserting scripts into websites. The direct transmission of data to unauthorized users does not encapsulate the essence of how XSS operates.