Link with target="_blank" and rel="noopener noreferrer" still vulnerable?

Issue

I see people recommending that whenever one uses target="_blank" in a link to open it in a different window, they should put rel="noopener noreferrer". I wonder how does this prevent me from using Developer Tools in Chrome, for example, and removing the rel attribute. Then clicking the link...

Is that an easy way to still keep the vulnerability?

Solution

You may be misunderstanding the vulnerability. You can read more about it here: https://www.jitbit.com/alexblog/256-targetblank---the-most-underestimated-vulnerability-ever/

Essentially, adding rel="noopener noreferrer" to links protects your site's users against having the site you've linked to potentially hijacking the browser (via rogue JS).

You're asking about removing that attribute via Developer Tools - that would only potentially expose you (the person tampering with the attribute) to the vulnerability.

Answered By - Jon Uleis