api-security-best-practices

Implement secure API design patterns including authentication, authorization, input validation, rate limiting, and protection against common API vulnerabilities

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Repository: BEKO2210/Firstbrain
Letzte Quellaktivität: 17. Mai 2026 um 12:40
Erkannte Sprache von SKILL.md: Englisch
Sterne: 15
Forks: 2

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name	api-security-best-practices
description	Implement secure API design patterns including authentication, authorization, input validation, rate limiting, and protection against common API vulnerabilities
type	skill
created	2026-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
domain	security
category	app-security
risk	unknown
source	community
tags	["skill","security","app-security","api"]

API Security Best Practices

Overview

Guide developers in building secure APIs by implementing authentication, authorization, input validation, rate limiting, and protection against common vulnerabilities. This skill covers security patterns for REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket APIs.

When to Use This Skill

Use when designing new API endpoints
Use when securing existing APIs
Use when implementing authentication and authorization
Use when protecting against API attacks (injection, DDoS, etc.)
Use when conducting API security reviews
Use when preparing for security audits
Use when implementing rate limiting and throttling
Use when handling sensitive data in APIs

How It Works

Step 1: Authentication & Authorization

I'll help you implement secure authentication:

Choose authentication method (JWT, OAuth 2.0, API keys)
Implement token-based authentication
Set up role-based access control (RBAC)
Secure session management
Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Step 2: Input Validation & Sanitization

Protect against injection attacks:

Validate all input data
Sanitize user inputs
Use parameterized queries
Implement request schema validation
Prevent SQL injection, XSS, and command injection

Step 3: Rate Limiting & Throttling

Prevent abuse and DDoS attacks:

Implement rate limiting per user/IP
Set up API throttling
Configure request quotas
Handle rate limit errors gracefully
Monitor for suspicious activity

Step 4: Data Protection

Secure sensitive data:

Encrypt data in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
Encrypt sensitive data at rest
Implement proper error handling (no data leaks)
Sanitize error messages
Use secure headers

Step 5: API Security Testing

Verify security implementation:

Test authentication and authorization
Perform penetration testing
Check for common vulnerabilities (OWASP API Top 10)
Validate input handling
Test rate limiting

Examples

Example 1: Implementing JWT Authentication

## Secure JWT Authentication Implementation



 User logs in with credentials
 Server validates credentials
 Server generates JWT token
 Client stores token securely
 Client sends token with each request
 Server validates token





\\`javascript
// auth.js
const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
const bcrypt = require('bcrypt');

// Login endpoint
app.post('/api/auth/login', async (req, res) => {
  try {



\\`javascript
// middleware/auth.js
const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');

function authenticateToken(req, res, next) {
  // Get token from header
  const authHeader = req.headers['authorization'];
  const token = authHeader && authHeader.split(' ')[1]; // Bearer TOKEN
  
  if (!token) {

module.exports = { authenticateToken };
\\`



\\`javascript
const { authenticateToken } = require('./middleware/auth');

// Protected route
app.get('/api/user/profile', authenticateToken, async (req, res) => {
  try {



\\`javascript
app.post('/api/auth/refresh', async (req, res) => {
  const { refreshToken } = req.body;
  
  if (!refreshToken) {



 ✅ Use strong JWT secrets (256-bit minimum)
 ✅ Set short expiration times (1 hour for access tokens)
 ✅ Implement refresh tokens for long-lived sessions
 ✅ Store refresh tokens in database (can be revoked)
 ✅ Use HTTPS only
 ✅ Don't store sensitive data in JWT payload
 ✅ Validate token issuer and audience
 ✅ Implement token blacklisting for logout

## Preventing SQL Injection and Input Validation

### The Problem

**❌ Vulnerable Code:**
\`\`\`javascript
// NEVER DO THIS - SQL Injection vulnerability
app.get('/api/users/:id', async (req, res) => {
  const userId = req.params.id;
  
  // Dangerous: User input directly in query
  const query = \`SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = '\${userId}'\`;
  const user = await db.query(query);
  
  res.json(user);
});

// Attack example:
// GET /api/users/1' OR '1'='1
// Returns all users!
\`\`\`

### The Solution

#### 1. Use Parameterized Queries

\`\`\`javascript
// ✅ Safe: Parameterized query
app.get('/api/users/:id', async (req, res) => {
  const userId = req.params.id;
  
  // Validate input first
  if (!userId || !/^\d+$/.test(userId)) {
    return res.status(400).json({ 
      error: 'Invalid user ID' 
    });
  }
  
  // Use parameterized query
  const user = await db.query(
    'SELECT id, email, name FROM users WHERE id = $1',
    [userId]
  );
  
  if (!user) {
    return res.status(404).json({ 
      error: 'User not found' 
    });
  }
  
  res.json(user);
});
\`\`\`

#### 2. Use ORM with Proper Escaping

\`\`\`javascript
// ✅ Safe: Using Prisma ORM
app.get('/api/users/:id', async (req, res) => {
  const userId = parseInt(req.params.id);
  
  if (isNaN(userId)) {
    return res.status(400).json({ 
      error: 'Invalid user ID' 
    });
  }
  
  const user = await prisma.user.findUnique({
    where: { id: userId },
    select: {
      id: true,
      email: true,
      name: true,
      // Don't select sensitive fields
    }
  });
  
  if (!user) {
    return res.status(404).json({ 
      error: 'User not found' 
    });
  }
  
  res.json(user);
});
\`\`\`

#### 3. Implement Request Validation with Zod

\`\`\`javascript
const { z } = require('zod');

// Define validation schema
const createUserSchema = z.object({
  email: z.string().email('Invalid email format'),
  password: z.string()
    .min(8, 'Password must be at least 8 characters')
    .regex(/[A-Z]/, 'Password must contain uppercase letter')
    .regex(/[a-z]/, 'Password must contain lowercase letter')
    .regex(/[0-9]/, 'Password must contain number'),
  name: z.string()
    .min(2, 'Name must be at least 2 characters')
    .max(100, 'Name too long'),
  age: z.number()
    .int('Age must be an integer')
    .min(18, 'Must be 18 or older')
    .max(120, 'Invalid age')
    .optional()
});

// Validation middleware
function validateRequest(schema) {
  return (req, res, next) => {
    try {
      schema.parse(req.body);
      next();
    } catch (error) {
      res.status(400).json({
        error: 'Validation failed',
        details: error.errors
      });
    }
  };
}

// Use validation
app.post('/api/users', 
  validateRequest(createUserSchema),
  async (req, res) => {
    // Input is validated at this point
    const { email, password, name, age } = req.body;
    
    // Hash password
    const passwordHash = await bcrypt.hash(password, 10);
    
    // Create user
    const user = await prisma.user.create({
      data: {
        email,
        passwordHash,
        name,
        age
      }
    });
    
    // Don't return password hash
    const { passwordHash: _, ...userWithoutPassword } = user;
    res.status(201).json(userWithoutPassword);
  }
);
\`\`\`

#### 4. Sanitize Output to Prevent XSS

\`\`\`javascript
const DOMPurify = require('isomorphic-dompurify');

app.post('/api/comments', authenticateToken, async (req, res) => {
  const { content } = req.body;
  
  // Validate
  if (!content || content.length > 1000) {
    return res.status(400).json({ 
      error: 'Invalid comment content' 
    });
  }
  
  // Sanitize HTML to prevent XSS
  const sanitizedContent = DOMPurify.sanitize(content, {
    ALLOWED_TAGS: ['b', 'i', 'em', 'strong', 'a'],
    ALLOWED_ATTR: ['href']
  });
  
  const comment = await prisma.comment.create({
    data: {
      content: sanitizedContent,
      userId: req.user.userId
    }
  });
  
  res.status(201).json(comment);
});
\`\`\`

### Validation Checklist

- [ ] Validate all user inputs
- [ ] Use parameterized queries or ORM
- [ ] Validate data types (string, number, email, etc.)
- [ ] Validate data ranges (min/max length, value ranges)
- [ ] Sanitize HTML content
- [ ] Escape special characters
- [ ] Validate file uploads (type, size, content)
- [ ] Use allowlists, not blocklists

## Implementing Rate Limiting

### Why Rate Limiting?

- Prevent brute force attacks
- Protect against DDoS
- Prevent API abuse
- Ensure fair usage
- Reduce server costs

### Implementation with Express Rate Limit

\`\`\`javascript
const rateLimit = require('express-rate-limit');
const RedisStore = require('rate-limit-redis');
const Redis = require('ioredis');

// Create Redis client
const redis = new Redis({
  host: process.env.REDIS_HOST,
  port: process.env.REDIS_PORT
});

// General API rate limit
const apiLimiter = rateLimit({
  store: new RedisStore({
    client: redis,
    prefix: 'rl:api:'
  }),
  windowMs: 15 * 60 * 1000, // 15 minutes
  max: 100, // 100 requests per window
  message: {
    error: 'Too many requests, please try again later',
    retryAfter: 900 // seconds
  },
  standardHeaders: true, // Return rate limit info in headers
  legacyHeaders: false,
  // Custom key generator (by user ID or IP)
  keyGenerator: (req) => {
    return req.user?.userId || req.ip;
  }
});

// Strict rate limit for authentication endpoints
const authLimiter = rateLimit({
  store: new RedisStore({
    client: redis,
    prefix: 'rl:auth:'
  }),
  windowMs: 15 * 60 * 1000, // 15 minutes
  max: 5, // Only 5 login attempts per 15 minutes
  skipSuccessfulRequests: true, // Don't count successful logins
  message: {
    error: 'Too many login attempts, please try again later',
    retryAfter: 900
  }
});

// Apply rate limiters
app.use('/api/', apiLimiter);
app.use('/api/auth/login', authLimiter);
app.use('/api/auth/register', authLimiter);

// Custom rate limiter for expensive operations
const expensiveLimiter = rateLimit({
  windowMs: 60 * 60 * 1000, // 1 hour
  max: 10, // 10 requests per hour
  message: {
    error: 'Rate limit exceeded for this operation'
  }
});

app.post('/api/reports/generate', 
  authenticateToken,
  expensiveLimiter,
  async (req, res) => {
    // Expensive operation
  }
);
\`\`\`

### Advanced: Per-User Rate Limiting

\`\`\`javascript
// Different limits based on user tier
function createTieredRateLimiter() {
  const limits = {
    free: { windowMs: 60 * 60 * 1000, max: 100 },
    pro: { windowMs: 60 * 60 * 1000, max: 1000 },
    enterprise: { windowMs: 60 * 60 * 1000, max: 10000 }
  };
  
  return async (req, res, next) => {
    const user = req.user;
    const tier = user?.tier || 'free';
    const limit = limits[tier];
    
    const key = \`rl:user:\${user.userId}\`;
    const current = await redis.incr(key);
    
    if (current === 1) {
      await redis.expire(key, limit.windowMs / 1000);
    }
    
    if (current > limit.max) {
      return res.status(429).json({
        error: 'Rate limit exceeded',
        limit: limit.max,
        remaining: 0,
        reset: await redis.ttl(key)
      });
    }
    
    // Set rate limit headers
    res.set({
      'X-RateLimit-Limit': limit.max,
      'X-RateLimit-Remaining': limit.max - current,
      'X-RateLimit-Reset': await redis.ttl(key)
    });
    
    next();
  };
}

app.use('/api/', authenticateToken, createTieredRateLimiter());
\`\`\`

### DDoS Protection with Helmet

\`\`\`javascript
const helmet = require('helmet');

app.use(helmet({
  // Content Security Policy
  contentSecurityPolicy: {
    directives: {
      defaultSrc: ["'self'"],
      styleSrc: ["'self'", "'unsafe-inline'"],
      scriptSrc: ["'self'"],
      imgSrc: ["'self'", 'data:', 'https:']
    }
  },
  // Prevent clickjacking
  frameguard: { action: 'deny' },
  // Hide X-Powered-By header
  hidePoweredBy: true,
  // Prevent MIME type sniffing
  noSniff: true,
  // Enable HSTS
  hsts: {
    maxAge: 31536000,
    includeSubDomains: true,
    preload: true
  }
}));
\`\`\`

### Rate Limit Response Headers

\`\`\`
X-RateLimit-Limit: 100
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 87
X-RateLimit-Reset: 1640000000
Retry-After: 900
\`\`\`

if (error.code === 'P2002') {
  return res.status(400).json({ 
    error: 'Email already exists' 
  });
}

res.status(500).json({ 
  error: 'An error occurred while creating user' 
});