Individual skill
exploiting-xslt-server-side-injection
Exploiting server-side XSLT injection where an application transforms XML with attacker-influenced stylesheets, enabling processor fingerprinting, local file read, SSRF, file write, and remote code execution via processor-specific extension functions (libxslt/lxml, Saxon, Xalan, .NET msxsl:script, PHP php:function). Activates when XSL/XSLT content or document/stylesheet references reach a server-side transformer.
internal/tools/skills/data/web-application-security/exploiting-xslt-server-side-injection/SKILL.md
Source commit d42f381ad34843e71a42658e5c57290c713e85af
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- Yes
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- Skill scan complete
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- Observed behavior
- Network or broad shell
- Last checked
- Nov 9, 2026
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Repository context
- Repository stars (not skill ratings)
- 1,325
- Repository last updated
- Nov 9, 2026
- License
- Apache-2.0
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- cybersecurity Repository topic
- security Repository topic
- bug-bounty Repository topic
- automation Repository topic
- autonomous-pentesting Repository topic
- ai-agent Repository topic
- ai-security Repository topic
- ethical-hacking Repository topic
- golang Repository topic
- penetration-testing Repository topic
- penetration-testing Declared skill tag
- xslt-injection Declared skill tag
- ssrf Declared skill tag
- rce Declared skill tag
- owasp Declared skill tag
- web-security Declared skill tag
- writing Derived category
- security Derived category
- testing Derived category
- security-application Derived category
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# Exploiting XSLT Server-Side Injection
## When to Use
- During authorized tests where the server transforms XML to HTML/PDF/CSV using XSLT
- When you can upload or influence an `.xsl` stylesheet, or the XML references an external stylesheet
- When PDF/report generators, document converters, or ESI `stylesheet=` params perform transforms
- When XXE payloads fail but the stylesheet parser itself is still attacker-reachable
- When you see frameworks: libxslt (PHP/lxml/GNOME), Saxon (Java), Xalan (Apache), .NET, MSXML
## Critical: Variants Most Often Missed
The biggest miss is stopping at generic XXE. **Fingerprint the processor first**, then switch to processor-specific primitives — a failed `document('/etc/passwd')` or failed Java call does NOT mean the engine is hardened.
