Incorrect escaping

Incorrect escaping happens when special characters—such as quotes, backslashes, or HTML tags—aren’t properly handled or encoded, leading to unintended behaviors like syntax errors, formatting problems, or security vulnerabilities. Improper escaping is particularly dangerous in contexts like HTML rendering (risking Cross-Site Scripting, XSS) or SQL queries (risking SQL injection attacks). Effective string escaping ensures inputs are safely integrated into outputs without compromising security or correctness.

To fix incorrect escaping, apply proper escaping or encoding functions suited to the context—such as HTML encoding (<, >, &) for web content, parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection, or JSON stringification for data serialization. Consistently use established libraries or built-in language methods designed explicitly for secure escaping and encoding. Regularly validate user input, enforce strict input sanitization, and employ security practices recommended by standards like OWASP. Implement security-focused linters or scanners to proactively detect and resolve escaping-related vulnerabilities in code.