Today web application security is increasingly becoming a serious concern for most companies due to the high-priced security breaches. In such a scenario, Node.js is a popular platform serving as a backend web application server. Not only the big enterprises, but even the small enterprises have also migrated to Node app development.
However, in the field of microservices, it is becoming more crucial to consider certain Node.js practices. With the Node.js framework being the most preferred choice for web application development, it is essential to know the best practices for ensuring security against vulnerabilities. This article covers some of the best practices for securing Node.js applications.
Best Node.js Security Practises
1. Eradication Of The Brute Force Attacks
The hacker tries to generate random passwords when executing brute force attacks. The attacker derives the correct password through the generation of millions of passwords. Five percent of the affirmed security ruptures occur due to brute force attacks.
For node.js security, avoiding such attacks are necessary. Hence, users may use the bcrypt.js package to prevent attacks when storing the database’s passwords. Also, try limiting the number of requests coming through a single IP.
2. Multi-factor Authentication Utility
According to most companies, multi-factor authentication has shown 99% effectiveness. Any broken authentication or its lack may cause severe issues upfront, making it a significant reason for vulnerability to attack.
To solve this issue, first, eradicate the session management policies or weak password practices. Try implementing multi-factor authentication while using strong passwords. Service providers also put leverage on implementing two-factor authentication for most applications to solve this problem.
3. User Input Validation To Limit SQL Injections And XSS Attacks
A major Node.js security issue is due to one of the well-known attacks, SQL injection. Hence, every web developer must consider this practice to resolve this issue. The attack usually takes place when the hacker gets access to execute SQL statements from the database. It occurs when the user does not censor the input from the front end.
The solution is to avoid blindly passing the Node.js parameters from the front end to the database. The user may try escaping and validating the provided values. Despite the automatic performance of specific node.js libraries, users may stick to the generic libraries of node.js web application security.
Likewise, cross-site scripting, also called XSS attacks, also occurs. Instead of sending malicious SQL, the attack has the opportunity of executing JavaScript code. The solution here would be to validate user input.
4. Secured From Denial-of-service Attacks
The node.js versions 4.0.0 AND 4.1.1 may give rise to unwanted bugs allowing attackers to trigger service denials by exploiting bugs in HTTP handling. Attackers try to make several requests to the user’s server. They do so by crashing and being unavailable to the users.
To prevent unnecessary mandatory denial attacks, implement a limiting factor. It helps to limit the number of requests made by a single user. Limiting the body payload limits the number of data sent to it. The aim is to prevent overloading the application to prevent it from crashing from time to time.
5. Preventing Data Leak
The data available from the front end cannot be relied on. The user can easily send information to the front end from any object while filtering what is displaying upfront. It is a simple process that hackers always try to find when looking for data sent from the backend.
The solution is to consider sending limited information. If the users need to add first and last names, they may retrieve them from the database.
6. Security Misconfiguration Eradication
Various misconfigurations can cause attacks that usually go unnoticed. For Node development and application, try tuning to every possible dependency like a database’s API integration.
It is crucial to consider a well-defined setup that is distinct from each other. This allows users to store credentials in remote areas apart from confidential project files.
7. Broken Access Control
Access control prevents users from acting outside their intended permissions. Any failure can lead to unauthorized information closure. It may also lead to unwanted destruction or modification of data outside the user’s limit.
The possible solution is to keep the account authorization in check while securing the API integration. The node.js practices like automated security test cases prevent basic vulnerabilities from taking place.
8. Utilizing Security Linters
The users must always consider scanning the vulnerability by automatically eradicating the security issues related to node.js. Writing the code allows users to catch the primary security exposures.
The user must carefully utilize the relevant plugins that fall into the category of linters. This security ensures a notification pops up whenever an insecure code practice takes place.
9. Managing The Old XML
XXE attacks are common and mainly occur due to vulnerabilities posed by the older XML processes. It allows going with the specifications of the external entities, sending them over to applications responsible for analyzing XML inputs.
If there is a weak analyzer, the hacker can easily access sensitive information or confidential information like server passwords and other similar entities.
The easiest solution is to disable any analyzing feature from the library. It provides access to the node.js application security. This provides the user with functions for validating the DTD and securing the apps against future attacks. You should hire a Node js developer who can add this security solution to your node app.
10. Eradicating Insufficient Monitoring
It is essential to consider that the web application is internally logged in to monitor the activities and prevent attackers from accessing the system to breach any data. Pay attention to the methods implemented to avoid server controls and causing alerts.
The web lock system tracks every change that takes place in the web application. The monitoring tools prevent unusual activities from becoming quite common due to insufficient web application monitoring.
11. Insecure Deserialization Management
It is a major hotspot for most hackers. A security concern occurs when the logic of the code is found tampering with the utility of unstructured data. To prevent any unwanted deserialization, users must prevent cross-site request forgery. This form is filled up from the client’s side to avoid any deserialization issues.
Top Tools To Use For Enhanced Node.Js Security
Vulnerabilities and security threats are part of the node js framework. Along with the above-mentioned practices for ensuring Node.js application security, it is good to use security tools to maintain additional security from hackers and attackers.
List of some of the best Node.js security testing tools–
- Snyk
- Helmet
- Source Clear
- Acunetix
- Retire.js
In my view, security vulnerabilities and threats have cost enterprises thousands of bucks. While breaches can make a massive hole in the pocket, compromised information and sensitive data leak cannot be priced in simple amounts.
It may not be possible to prevent every attack that attackers might start to harm our web apps. However, we can ensure that our negligence does not cause significant damage.
To Conclude
This article covers some of the best Node.js practices available to secure web servers and applications. Most of the time, users tend to forget to put security measures due to tight project deadlines.
To receive the best results at every step of the software development cycle, hire node developer to incorporate the aforementioned node.js practices to prevent running any security risks. We are a leading Node.js development company and have a proficient team of Node.js developers. Moreover, our team has ample knowledge of Node.js security practices.