As Node.js applications become more popular, there has been an increase in the number of attacks that target these applications. Because of this, now is the perfect time to learn how to secure your Node.js application and avoid these threats by using the following best practices when creating your app’s architecture. Remember, security shouldn’t be seen as an afterthought; it should be built into your application from day one!
How to Secure Your Node.js App: Risks and Solutions
Attack Vector #1: Remote Code Execution (RCE)
One of the most common attack vectors against Node.js applications is Remote Code Execution (RCE). This is when an attacker is able to execute code on your server remotely. There are a few ways they can do this by installing malware, uploading malicious files, injecting data into client requests, or injecting data into responses from the server. All these methods require more work than just one packet of data sent from you to them. They also need access to some other component in order for their nefarious deed to be completed successfully.
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Attack Vector #2: Command Injection
Command injection is a type of attack where the attacker executes arbitrary commands on the server by injecting them into the application. This can be done via user input, such as through a form or URL parameter. Attackers use command injection to execute system commands that are outside of the context of the script or application that they are trying to exploit. One way that developers can prevent this is by filtering out any data containing shell meta-characters. Another solution is using escape sequences before each instance in which data containing shell meta-characters might occur so that it does not become interpreted as executable code.
Attack Vector #3: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks are a type of injection, in which malicious scripts are injected into webpages viewed by other users. This can be used to hijack user sessions, deface websites, or redirect users to malicious websites. A good example is when an attacker convinces a victim to click on a link containing malicious code that the victim may not notice. The attacker then has access to all content passed between the server and client for as long as the session lasts.
Attack Vector #4: Sensitive Data Exposure
One way that sensitive data can be exposed is through third-party dependencies. These are libraries that your app depends on, but which you did not write yourself. It’s important to keep these dependencies up-to-date, because outdated versions may have security vulnerabilities that could be exploited. The npm CLI tool has a npm audit command that checks the integrity of all installed packages, including their dependencies. If any vulnerabilities are found, they will be reported to the user and recommended fixes will be suggested. As such, npm audit is a valuable tool for anyone working with node.js development company UK in order to identify weaknesses in their codebase before they’re exploited by malicious actors who use them as an attack vector against their customers.
Attack Vector #5: Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR)
One of the most common security risks in web applications is an Insecure Direct Object Reference, or IDOR. This attack occurs when an attacker is able to manipulate a URL or form parameters to access sensitive data that they should not have access to. While this may seem like a difficult attack to pull off, it can be surprisingly easy if your application does not have proper security measures in place. For example, let’s say you’re running a book store with an online store front. You store customer passwords encrypted on your server so that no one outside of the company has access to them. However, you don’t encrypt these customer passwords on your website itself; instead, you only use hashed representations of those passwords for logins via the website.
Attack Vector #6: SSL Pinning Bypass / Man-in-the-Middle (MITM)
An attacker who is able to execute a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack can intercept and tamper with traffic between your app and its users. This type of attack can be used to bypass SSL pinning, which is a security measure designed to prevent MITM attacks. A website using SSL pinning will validate the identity of an HTTPS connection by checking that the hostname matches the expected certificate; if it does not match, then the connection is terminated.
Attack Vector #7 – Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is a type of attack that tricks the user into making unwanted requests to a website. This can happen when the user is logged into a site and visits a malicious site that looks similar to the one they’re logged into. The malicious site can then make requests on behalf of the user, without their knowledge or consent. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to use CSRF tokens to ensure that every request originated from your own application. You can use libraries like csurf for this purpose in Node.js
Attack Vector #8 – Stored Cross Site Scripting (XSS)
One of the most common web application security risks is cross-site scripting (XSS). XSS attacks occur when an attacker injects malicious code into a web page, which is then executed by the victim’s browser. This can lead to the theft of sensitive information, or the execution of malicious code on the victim’s machine.
Conclusion
Overall, by following the security best practices discussed in this blog post, you can help ensure that your Node.js app is secure. Of course, no system is 100% secure, but these practices will help reduce the risk of attack. If you’re looking for a Node.js Development Company UK to help build or secure your app, get in touch with us today. We’d be happy to chat with you about your project and see how we can help.
