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Interview question · Application & API Security

Explain XXE and server-side template injection, and how you fix each.

Two injection classes where a parser or template engine does far more than the developer intended. The scored answer explains the dangerous feature in each and turns it off.

mediumNewPreparation tags: Google, Microsoft, AmazonUpdated Nov 2026

Two injection classes where a parser or template engine does far more than the developer intended. The scored answer explains the dangerous feature in each and turns it off.

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What would you say before reading the answer?

  1. 01 State the assumptions your answer depends on.
  2. 02 Explain the mechanism and choose a control.
  3. 03 Name a condition that would change your decision.

The worked answer includes an approach, scoring criteria and follow-up questions. Compare the reasoning with your own.

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What if · the follow-ups in this answer

The answer works through 6 follow-ups like an interviewer would

A service parses XML uploads from partners and renders notification emails from templates that include user-provided strings.

  1. What is XML external entity injection?
  2. How do you prevent XXE?
  3. What is server-side template injection?
  4. How do you prevent SSTI?
  5. How would you test for both?
  6. How would you fix the service?

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