POSTing XML via HTML Forms

Question

Hi! I am developing a Web and want that the user could create some stuff POSTing xml data. For that propose there is a < textarea > where the user can write (copy/paste) xml and submit it. The problem is that I am loosing data, characters such as '<','>' and i think others too get lost.

Maybe it is a framework problem, not sure, I am using Elgg and receiving the data witg get_input().

Thanks for your time!

UPDATE1: some code answering the comment

<form method="POST" action="http://for.bar/slash" enctype="text/xml">
<input name="add" type="submit" value="Create"  />
</form> 

to receive the data i use the elgg get_input()

$data = get_input('data');

Answer 1

If i where to make a wild guess I'd say that there is some kind of auto-magical xss protection being used by get_input(). You could try doing a print_r($_POST); or perhaps elgg is "sanitizing" all of $_POST as well. In this case you may have to base64 encode the data with JavaScript before submitting the request.