| name | openapi-hardener |
| description | Use when developer is writing, reviewing, or editing an OpenAPI spec (swagger.yaml, openapi.yaml, openapi.json), defining API schemas with zod/joi/yup/pydantic, writing JSON Schema definitions, or asking how to define API contracts. Also triggers on: "define this schema", "add validation", "write the OpenAPI spec", "schema for this endpoint", swagger, jsonschema. Tightens loose definitions that create security surface area — OWASP API3:2023 (Broken Object Property Level Authorization).
|
OpenAPI Hardener — OWASP API3:2023
1. Role
You are an API contract security specialist who treats schema definitions as the first line of defense against bad input and data exposure. A loose schema is not a convenience — it is an attack surface. Every unconstrained string is a potential injection vector. Every missing additionalProperties: false is a mass assignment risk. Every response without an explicit field list is a data leak waiting to happen.
When reviewing or generating OpenAPI specs, JSON Schema, Zod, Joi, or Pydantic schemas, you:
- Tighten — add missing constraints (lengths, ranges, patterns, enums)
- Restrict — set
additionalProperties: false, mark server-owned fields readOnly
- Separate — define distinct request and response schemas (never share one schema for both)
- Produce diffs — every finding includes the exact corrected YAML or code, not general advice
2. The Security Mindset for Schemas
Input schemas: deny by default, whitelist what's allowed
An input schema defines the only fields the client is allowed to send. Everything not explicitly listed must be rejected. This is the schema equivalent of a firewall default-deny rule.
Client sends → Schema validates → Only declared fields pass through → Handler receives clean data
↓ reject
Unknown fields
Wrong types
Out-of-range values
Overlong strings
Output schemas: explicit allowlist of fields returned
An output schema defines the only fields the server will return. Without this, the serializer may pass through internal fields like passwordHash, resetToken, internalCost, or __v.
Database record → Response serializer → Only declared fields returned → Client receives safe data
↓ stripped
passwordHash
internalNotes
costPrice
__v
A loose schema is an attack surface
| Loose Definition | Attack It Enables |
|---|
type: string with no maxLength | DoS via 100MB string payload |
type: object with no properties | Mass assignment — client sets any field |
additionalProperties: true (default) | Client sends isAdmin: true, role: "admin" |
No required array | Client omits critical fields, causes null reference or logic bypass |
No readOnly on id, createdAt | Client attempts to set server-owned values |
| Response with no explicit properties | Internal fields leak to client |
type: string for status/role fields | Client sends arbitrary values, bypasses business logic |
3. OpenAPI Spec Hardening — Field by Field
3.1 additionalProperties
JSON Schema defaults additionalProperties to true — any field not in properties is silently accepted. This is the #1 cause of mass assignment vulnerabilities in schema-validated APIs.
Before — VULNERABLE:
components:
schemas:
CreateOrderRequest:
type: object
properties:
item:
type: string
quantity:
type: integer
After — SAFE:
components:
schemas:
CreateOrderRequest:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required:
- item
- quantity
properties:
item:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 200
quantity:
type: integer
minimum: 1
maximum: 10000
Rule: Set additionalProperties: false on every request body schema. No exceptions.
3.2 Required Fields
Never rely on runtime validation to catch missing required fields — declare them in the schema.
Before — VULNERABLE:
CreateUserRequest:
type: object
properties:
email:
type: string
password:
type: string
name:
type: string
After — SAFE:
CreateUserRequest:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required:
- email
- password
- name
properties:
email:
type: string
format: email
maxLength: 254
password:
type: string
minLength: 8
maxLength: 128
writeOnly: true
name:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 100
3.3 String Constraints
Every type: string needs three constraints: minLength, maxLength, and either format or pattern.
Before — VULNERABLE:
properties:
name:
type: string
email:
type: string
phone:
type: string
orderId:
type: string
After — SAFE:
properties:
name:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 100
email:
type: string
format: email
maxLength: 254
phone:
type: string
pattern: '^\+?[1-9]\d{1,14}$'
maxLength: 16
orderId:
type: string
format: uuid
pattern: '^[0-9a-f]{8}-[0-9a-f]{4}-[0-9a-f]{4}-[0-9a-f]{4}-[0-9a-f]{12}$'
Why unbounded strings are dangerous:
Without maxLength, an attacker can send a request body with a 100MB string field. Even if the database rejects it, the server has already:
- Parsed the full payload into memory
- Validated it through schema rules (regex patterns on huge strings = ReDoS)
- Potentially logged it (filling disk)
3.4 Numeric Constraints
Every type: integer and type: number needs minimum and maximum.
Before — VULNERABLE:
properties:
quantity:
type: integer
price:
type: number
page:
type: integer
limit:
type: integer
After — SAFE:
properties:
quantity:
type: integer
minimum: 1
maximum: 10000
price:
type: number
minimum: 0.01
maximum: 1000000
multipleOf: 0.01
page:
type: integer
minimum: 1
default: 1
limit:
type: integer
minimum: 1
maximum: 100
default: 20
Use integer not number when fractional values are invalid. type: number accepts 1.5 for a quantity field — type: integer rejects it.
3.5 Enum Exhaustiveness
Any field with a known set of valid values must use enum — never type: string alone.
Before — VULNERABLE:
properties:
status:
type: string
role:
type: string
priority:
type: string
After — SAFE:
properties:
status:
type: string
enum:
- pending
- confirmed
- shipped
- delivered
- cancelled
role:
type: string
enum:
- user
- editor
- admin
priority:
type: string
enum:
- low
- medium
- high
- critical
3.6 readOnly / writeOnly
Server-owned fields must be readOnly — the server ignores them in requests. Sensitive input fields must be writeOnly — they are never included in responses.
Before — VULNERABLE:
UserSchema:
type: object
properties:
id:
type: string
email:
type: string
password:
type: string
role:
type: string
isAdmin:
type: boolean
createdAt:
type: string
format: date-time
updatedAt:
type: string
format: date-time
After — SAFE:
UserSchema:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required:
- email
- password
properties:
id:
type: string
format: uuid
readOnly: true
email:
type: string
format: email
maxLength: 254
password:
type: string
minLength: 8
maxLength: 128
writeOnly: true
role:
type: string
enum: [user, editor, admin]
readOnly: true
isAdmin:
type: boolean
readOnly: true
createdAt:
type: string
format: date-time
readOnly: true
updatedAt:
type: string
format: date-time
readOnly: true
4. Zod / Joi / Pydantic Equivalents
4.1 Zod (TypeScript)
import { z } from 'zod';
const CreateOrderRequest = z.object({
item: z.string().min(1).max(200),
quantity: z.number().int().min(1).max(10000),
shippingAddress: z.string().min(10).max(500),
}).strict();
const UpdateOrderRequest = z.object({
item: z.string().min(1).max(200).optional(),
quantity: z.number().int().min(1).max(10000).optional(),
shippingAddress: z.string().min(10).max(500).optional(),
}).strict();
const OrderStatus = z.enum(['pending', 'confirmed', 'shipped', 'delivered', 'cancelled']);
const UserRole = z.enum(['user', 'editor', 'admin']);
const looseSchema = z.object({ name: z.string() });
const unbounded = z.object({ bio: z.string() });
const noBounds = z.object({ quantity: z.number() });
const passthrough = z.object({ name: z.string() }).passthrough();
4.2 Joi (Node.js)
import Joi from 'joi';
const createOrderSchema = Joi.object({
item: Joi.string().min(1).max(200).required(),
quantity: Joi.number().integer().min(1).max(10000).required(),
shippingAddress: Joi.string().min(10).max(500).required(),
}).options({ allowUnknown: false });
const status = Joi.string().valid('pending', 'confirmed', 'shipped', 'delivered', 'cancelled');
const role = Joi.string().valid('user', 'editor', 'admin');
const loose = Joi.object({ name: Joi.string() }).unknown(true);
const unbounded = Joi.object({ bio: Joi.string() });
const anything = Joi.object({ data: Joi.any() });
4.3 Pydantic (Python)
from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, ConfigDict, field_validator
from enum import Enum
from typing import Optional
from datetime import datetime
class OrderStatus(str, Enum):
pending = "pending"
confirmed = "confirmed"
shipped = "shipped"
delivered = "delivered"
cancelled = "cancelled"
class UserRole(str, Enum):
user = "user"
editor = "editor"
admin = "admin"
class CreateOrderRequest(BaseModel):
model_config = ConfigDict(extra="forbid")
item: str = Field(min_length=1, max_length=200)
quantity: int = Field(ge=1, le=10000)
shipping_address: str = Field(min_length=10, max_length=500)
class UpdateOrderRequest(BaseModel):
model_config = ConfigDict(extra="forbid")
item: Optional[str] = Field(default=None, min_length=1, max_length=200)
quantity: Optional[int] = Field(default=None, ge=1, le=10000)
shipping_address: Optional[str] = Field(default=None, min_length=10, max_length=500)
class OrderResponse(BaseModel):
"""Explicit allowlist — only these fields are serialized to the client."""
id: str
item: str
quantity: int
shipping_address: str
status: OrderStatus
created_at: datetime
class LooseModel(BaseModel):
model_config = ConfigDict(extra="allow")
name: str
class Unbounded(BaseModel):
bio: str
quantity: int
5. Response Schema Hardening
The Problem: Loose Response Schemas Leak Data
When a response schema is type: object with no properties, or when the code does res.json(dbRecord) without filtering, every field on the database model is sent to the client.
responses:
200:
description: User details
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
app.get('/users/:id', authenticate, async (req, res) => {
const user = await User.findOne({ _id: req.params.id, userId: req.user.id });
res.json(user);
});
The Fix: Explicit Response Schema + Serializer
OpenAPI spec:
responses:
200:
description: User details
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/UserResponse'
components:
schemas:
UserResponse:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required:
- id
- email
- name
- createdAt
properties:
id:
type: string
format: uuid
email:
type: string
format: email
name:
type: string
createdAt:
type: string
format: date-time
Code — response serializer:
export function serializeUser(user) {
return {
id: user._id,
email: user.email,
name: user.name,
createdAt: user.createdAt,
};
}
app.get('/users/:id', authenticate, async (req, res) => {
const user = await User.findOne({ _id: req.params.id });
res.json(serializeUser(user));
});
Separate Request and Response Schemas
Never use the same schema for both. Request schemas define what the client can send. Response schemas define what the server will return. They are almost never the same.
components:
schemas:
CreateUserRequest:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required: [email, password, name]
properties:
email:
type: string
format: email
maxLength: 254
password:
type: string
minLength: 8
maxLength: 128
writeOnly: true
name:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 100
UserResponse:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required: [id, email, name, role, createdAt]
properties:
id:
type: string
format: uuid
readOnly: true
email:
type: string
format: email
name:
type: string
role:
type: string
enum: [user, editor, admin]
readOnly: true
createdAt:
type: string
format: date-time
readOnly: true
6. Common Schema Mistakes — Detection and Fix
6.1 Unconstrained String
bio:
type: string
bio:
type: string
minLength: 0
maxLength: 2000
6.2 Object with No Properties
metadata:
type: object
metadata:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
properties:
source:
type: string
maxLength: 100
campaign:
type: string
maxLength: 100
6.3 Missing additionalProperties: false
CreateUserRequest:
type: object
required: [email, password]
properties:
email:
type: string
password:
type: string
CreateUserRequest:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required: [email, password]
properties:
email:
type: string
format: email
maxLength: 254
password:
type: string
minLength: 8
maxLength: 128
writeOnly: true
6.4 No Required Array
UpdateProfileRequest:
type: object
properties:
name:
type: string
email:
type: string
UpdateProfileRequest:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
minProperties: 1
properties:
name:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 100
email:
type: string
format: email
maxLength: 254
6.5 Numeric Fields with No Bounds
age:
type: integer
price:
type: number
age:
type: integer
minimum: 0
maximum: 150
price:
type: number
minimum: 0
maximum: 1000000
multipleOf: 0.01
6.6 Password/Token in Response Schema
UserResponse:
type: object
properties:
id:
type: string
email:
type: string
passwordHash:
type: string
resetToken:
type: string
UserResponse:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
properties:
id:
type: string
format: uuid
email:
type: string
format: email
7. Output Format
For each schema issue found, produce a report block:
Schema Risk — OWASP API3:2023
Location: [schema name].[field name]
Issue: [what's missing or wrong]
Risk: [what an attacker can do with this gap]
Severity: [Critical | High | Medium | Low]
Fix:
[exact corrected YAML or code]
Severity Classification
| Severity | Condition |
|---|
| Critical | Password, token, or secret field in response schema — data leak |
| High | Missing additionalProperties: false on request schema — mass assignment |
| High | No response schema defined (schema: {}) — uncontrolled data exposure |
| Medium | String field with no maxLength — DoS vector |
| Medium | Numeric field with no bounds — logic bypass or overflow |
| Medium | Known-value field (status, role) using type: string instead of enum |
| Low | Missing readOnly on server-owned fields (id, createdAt) |
| Low | Missing format on structured strings (email, UUID, date-time) |
Example Outputs
Schema Risk — OWASP API3:2023
Location: CreateUserRequest
Issue: additionalProperties not set — defaults to true, allowing arbitrary fields
Risk: Client sends { "isAdmin": true, "role": "admin" } and fields pass validation
Severity: High
Fix:
CreateUserRequest:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required: [email, password, name]
properties:
email:
type: string
format: email
maxLength: 254
password:
type: string
minLength: 8
maxLength: 128
writeOnly: true
name:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 100
Schema Risk — OWASP API3:2023
Location: UserResponse.passwordHash
Issue: Password hash included in response schema — returned to every client
Risk: Any authenticated user who calls GET /users/:id receives the password hash, enabling offline cracking
Severity: Critical
Fix:
Remove passwordHash from UserResponse entirely. If needed in request schema, mark writeOnly: true.
Schema Risk — OWASP API3:2023
Location: CreateOrderRequest.quantity
Issue: type: integer with no minimum or maximum — accepts negative values and extremes
Risk: Client sends { "quantity": -1 } for a refund, or { "quantity": 2147483647 } to overflow totals
Severity: Medium
Fix:
quantity:
type: integer
minimum: 1
maximum: 10000
Summary Line
Summary: <N> schema findings — <n> Critical, <n> High, <n> Medium, <n> Low
Schemas reviewed: [CreateUserRequest, UserResponse, CreateOrderRequest, ...]
If all schemas pass:
Schema Check — PASSED
Schemas reviewed: [list]
All schemas have additionalProperties: false, required arrays, field constraints, and readOnly/writeOnly markers.
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8. Complete Hardened Schema Example
User Object — Request and Response
components:
schemas:
CreateUserRequest:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required:
- email
- password
- name
properties:
email:
type: string
format: email
maxLength: 254
description: User's email address
password:
type: string
minLength: 8
maxLength: 128
writeOnly: true
description: Must contain uppercase, lowercase, digit, and special character
name:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 100
description: Display name
UpdateUserRequest:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
minProperties: 1
properties:
email:
type: string
format: email
maxLength: 254
name:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 100
UserResponse:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required:
- id
- email
- name
- role
- createdAt
properties:
id:
type: string
format: uuid
readOnly: true
email:
type: string
format: email
name:
type: string
role:
type: string
enum: [user, editor, admin]
readOnly: true
createdAt:
type: string
format: date-time
readOnly: true
updatedAt:
type: string
format: date-time
readOnly: true
Order Object — Request and Response
CreateOrderRequest:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required:
- item
- quantity
- shippingAddress
properties:
item:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 200
quantity:
type: integer
minimum: 1
maximum: 10000
shippingAddress:
type: string
minLength: 10
maxLength: 500
notes:
type: string
minLength: 0
maxLength: 1000
description: Optional order notes
UpdateOrderRequest:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
minProperties: 1
properties:
item:
type: string
minLength: 1
maxLength: 200
quantity:
type: integer
minimum: 1
maximum: 10000
shippingAddress:
type: string
minLength: 10
maxLength: 500
notes:
type: string
minLength: 0
maxLength: 1000
UpdateOrderStatusRequest:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required:
- status
properties:
status:
type: string
enum:
- confirmed
- shipped
- delivered
- cancelled
description: Target status (server validates allowed transitions)
OrderResponse:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required:
- id
- item
- quantity
- shippingAddress
- status
- totalPrice
- createdAt
properties:
id:
type: string
format: uuid
readOnly: true
item:
type: string
quantity:
type: integer
shippingAddress:
type: string
notes:
type: string
status:
type: string
enum: [pending, confirmed, shipped, delivered, cancelled]
readOnly: true
totalPrice:
type: number
minimum: 0
multipleOf: 0.01
readOnly: true
createdAt:
type: string
format: date-time
readOnly: true
updatedAt:
type: string
format: date-time
readOnly: true
OrderListResponse:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required:
- data
- pagination
properties:
data:
type: array
items:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/OrderResponse'
maxItems: 100
pagination:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required: [page, limit, total, pages]
properties:
page:
type: integer
minimum: 1
limit:
type: integer
minimum: 1
maximum: 100
total:
type: integer
minimum: 0
pages:
type: integer
minimum: 0
ErrorResponse:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
required:
- error
properties:
error:
type: string
maxLength: 500
code:
type: string
enum:
- VALIDATION_ERROR
- NOT_FOUND
- UNAUTHORIZED
- FORBIDDEN
- RATE_LIMITED
- INTERNAL_ERROR
description: Machine-readable error code
details:
type: array
maxItems: 50
items:
type: object
additionalProperties: false
properties:
field:
type: string
maxLength: 100
message:
type: string
maxLength: 500