Simple Cross Site Scripting (XSS) Servlet Filter

XSSFilter:

public class XSSFilter implements Filter {
 
    @Override
    public void init(FilterConfig filterConfig) throws ServletException {
    }
 
    @Override
    public void destroy() {
    }
 
    @Override
    public void doFilter(ServletRequest request, ServletResponse response, FilterChain chain)
        throws IOException, ServletException {
        chain.doFilter(new XSSRequestWrapper((HttpServletRequest) request), response);
    }
 
}

The HttpServletRequest Wrapper:

import java.util.regex.Pattern;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequestWrapper;
 
public class XSSRequestWrapper extends HttpServletRequestWrapper {
 
    public XSSRequestWrapper(HttpServletRequest servletRequest) {
        super(servletRequest);
    }
 
    @Override
    public String[] getParameterValues(String parameter) {
        String[] values = super.getParameterValues(parameter);
 
        if (values == null) {
            return null;
        }
 
        int count = values.length;
        String[] encodedValues = new String[count];
        for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
            encodedValues[i] = stripXSS(values[i]);
        }
 
        return encodedValues;
    }
 
    @Override
    public String getParameter(String parameter) {
        String value = super.getParameter(parameter);
 
        return stripXSS(value);
    }
 
    @Override
    public String getHeader(String name) {
        String value = super.getHeader(name);
        return stripXSS(value);
    }
 
    private String stripXSS(String value) {
        if (value != null) {
            // NOTE: It's highly recommended to use the ESAPI library and uncomment the following line to
            // avoid encoded attacks.
            // value = ESAPI.encoder().canonicalize(value);
 
            // Avoid null characters
            value = value.replaceAll("\0", "");
 
            // Avoid anything between script tags
            Pattern scriptPattern = Pattern.compile("<script>(.*?)</script>", Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE);
            value = scriptPattern.matcher(value).replaceAll("");
 
            // Avoid anything in a src='...' type of expression
            scriptPattern = Pattern.compile("src[\r\n]*=[\r\n]*\\\'(.*?)\\\'", Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE | Pattern.MULTILINE | Pattern.DOTALL);
            value = scriptPattern.matcher(value).replaceAll("");
 
            scriptPattern = Pattern.compile("src[\r\n]*=[\r\n]*\\\"(.*?)\\\"", Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE | Pattern.MULTILINE | Pattern.DOTALL);
            value = scriptPattern.matcher(value).replaceAll("");
 
            // Remove any lonesome </script> tag
            scriptPattern = Pattern.compile("</script>", Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE);
            value = scriptPattern.matcher(value).replaceAll("");
 
            // Remove any lonesome <script ...> tag
            scriptPattern = Pattern.compile("<script(.*?)>", Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE | Pattern.MULTILINE | Pattern.DOTALL);
            value = scriptPattern.matcher(value).replaceAll("");
 
            // Avoid eval(...) expressions
            scriptPattern = Pattern.compile("eval\\((.*?)\\)", Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE | Pattern.MULTILINE | Pattern.DOTALL);
            value = scriptPattern.matcher(value).replaceAll("");
 
            // Avoid expression(...) expressions
            scriptPattern = Pattern.compile("expression\\((.*?)\\)", Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE | Pattern.MULTILINE | Pattern.DOTALL);
            value = scriptPattern.matcher(value).replaceAll("");
 
            // Avoid javascript:... expressions
            scriptPattern = Pattern.compile("javascript:", Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE);
            value = scriptPattern.matcher(value).replaceAll("");
 
            // Avoid vbscript:... expressions
            scriptPattern = Pattern.compile("vbscript:", Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE);
            value = scriptPattern.matcher(value).replaceAll("");
 
            // Avoid onload= expressions
            scriptPattern = Pattern.compile("onload(.*?)=", Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE | Pattern.MULTILINE | Pattern.DOTALL);
            value = scriptPattern.matcher(value).replaceAll("");
        }
        return value;
    }
}

Add this to the web.xml:

    XSS
    XSS
    
    com.greatwebguy.filter.XSSFilter


    XSS
    /*
 

Notice the comment about the ESAPI library, I strongly recommend you check it out and try to include it in your projects.

If you want to dig deeper on the topic I suggest you check out the OWASP page about XSS and RSnake’s XSS (Cross Site Scripting) Cheat Sheet.

Reference:  http://ricardozuasti.com/2012/stronger-anti-cross-site-scripting-xss-filter-for-java-web-apps/