introduction:

For the longest time, it was thought that finding XSS vulnerabilities required hours of manual testing. Then, a single command was built that changed everything. Today, that exact line is shared with you.

Finding XSS Vulnerabilities With One Simple Line

This quick method automates the boring parts of discovery, so the focus can be on the exciting part: exploitation.

To get started, a few tools need to be installed. Don't worry, they are all free. You can find a guide on how to set them up in my previous article on setting up your bug hunting environment.

Phase 1: The "One Simple Line" — Deconstructed

This is the core of the fast workflow. This single command acts as an assembly line for your XSS scanner.

echo "$1" | gau | gf xss | uro | Gxss -p test | kxss

Here is how the automated XSS process works:

  1. gau fetches URLs, gathering the raw materials.
  2. gf xss filters them, picking out the parameters that are interesting.
  3. uro cleans up the list by removing duplicates.
  4. Gxss and kxss then act as inspectors, highlighting parameters that are ready for testing.

When this command is run, the output looks something like this. You immediately get a list of potential entry points.

https://example.com/search?q=test
https://example.com/user?email=test

Phase 2: Cleaning the Results

The initial output can be messy. A second command is used to clean it up, creating a refined target list.

cat output.txt | grep -Eo 'https?://[^&?]+' | sort -u > final.txt

This transforms the raw data into a clean list of unique URLs inside a final.txt file. This file is now your treasure map for bug bounty hunting.

Phase 3: Choosing Your Tool for Validation

With a clean list, the real fun begins. Here are two powerful ways to confirm the XSS vulnerabilities.

Option A: The All-in-One Tool

Dalfox is a powerful tool that can be piped directly from our first command. It's a favorite for its speed and effectiveness.

cat final.txt | dalfox pipe

Option B: A More Detailed Scan

For a more thorough check, especially when dealing with stronger defenses, this command can be used.

dalfox file final.txt --waf-evasion --remote-payloads

Using these tools, proof of the vulnerability can be captured. A real finding might look like this in the terminal, clearly showing where a payload was successfully injected.

[POC] [GREEN] https://vuln-site.com/page?msg=<script>alert(1)</script>

Conclusion:

So, that's the process: one simple line to find the targets, a quick command to clean them, and a powerful tool to confirm them.

This entire web application security workflow saves countless hours and makes bug hunting much more efficient.

What's your go-to command for finding XSS? Have you tried this workflow? Let me know your results in the comments below!

This article is for educational purposes only. Always ensure you have explicit permission before testing any website.