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

### Authentication Flow

1. User logs in with credentials
2. Server validates credentials
3. Server generates JWT token
4. Client stores token securely
5. Client sends token with each request
6. Server validates token

### Implementation

#### 1. Generate Secure JWT Tokens

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

// Login endpoint
app.post('/api/auth/login', async (req, res) => {
  try {
    const { email, password } = req.body;
    
    // Validate input
    if (!email || !password) {
      return res.status(400).json({ 
        error: 'Email and password are required' 
      });
    }
    
    // Find user
    const user = await db.user.findUnique({ 
      where: { email } 
    });
    
    if (!user) {
      // Don't reveal if user exists
      return res.status(401).json({ 
        error: 'Invalid credentials' 
      });
    }
    
    // Verify password
    const validPassword = await bcrypt.compare(
      password, 
      user.passwordHash
    );
    
    if (!validPassword) {
      return res.status(401).json({ 
        error: 'Invalid credentials' 
      });
    }
    
    // Generate JWT token
    const token = jwt.sign(
      { 
        userId: user.id,
        email: user.email,
        role: user.role
      },
      process.env.JWT_SECRET,
      { 
        expiresIn: '1h',
        issuer: 'your-app',
        audience: 'your-app-users'
      }
    );
    
    // Generate refresh token
    const refreshToken = jwt.sign(
      { userId: user.id },
      process.env.JWT_REFRESH_SECRET,
      { expiresIn: '7d' }
    );
    
    // Store refresh token in database
    await db.refreshToken.create({
      data: {
        token: refreshToken,
        userId: user.id,
        expiresAt: new Date(Date.now() + 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000)
      }
    });
    
    res.json({
      token,
      refreshToken,
      expiresIn: 3600
    });
    
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Login error:', error);
    res.status(500).json({ 
      error: 'An error occurred during login' 
    });
  }
});
\`\`\`

#### 2. Verify JWT Tokens (Middleware)

\`\`\`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) {
    return res.status(401).json({ 
      error: 'Access token required' 
    });
  }
  
  // Verify token
  jwt.verify(
    token, 
    process.env.JWT_SECRET,
    { 
      issuer: 'your-app',
      audience: 'your-app-users'
    },
    (err, user) => {
      if (err) {
        if (err.name === 'TokenExpiredError') {
          return res.status(401).json({ 
            error: 'Token expired' 
          });
        }
        return res.status(403).json({ 
          error: 'Invalid token' 
        });
      }
      
      // Attach user to request
      req.user = user;
      next();
    }
  );
}

module.exports = { authenticateToken };
\`\`\`

#### 3. Protect Routes

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

// Protected route
app.get('/api/user/profile', authenticateToken, async (req, res) => {
  try {
    const user = await db.user.findUnique({
      where: { id: req.user.userId },
      select: {
        id: true,
        email: true,
        name: true,
        // Don't return passwordHash
      }
    });
    
    res.json(user);
  } catch (error) {
    res.status(500).json({ error: 'Server error' });
  }
});
\`\`\`

#### 4. Implement Token Refresh

\`\`\`javascript
app.post('/api/auth/refresh', async (req, res) => {
  const { refreshToken } = req.body;
  
  if (!refreshToken) {
    return res.status(401).json({ 
      error: 'Refresh token required' 
    });
  }
  
  try {
    // Verify refresh token
    const decoded = jwt.verify(
      refreshToken, 
      process.env.JWT_REFRESH_SECRET
    );
    
    // Check if refresh token exists in database
    const storedToken = await db.refreshToken.findFirst({
      where: {
        token: refreshToken,
        userId: decoded.userId,
        expiresAt: { gt: new Date() }
      }
    });
    
    if (!storedToken) {
      return res.status(403).json({ 
        error: 'Invalid refresh token' 
      });
    }
    
    // Generate new access token
    const user = await db.user.findUnique({
      where: { id: decoded.userId }
    });
    
    const newToken = jwt.sign(
      { 
        userId: user.id,
        email: user.email,
        role: user.role
      },
      process.env.JWT_SECRET,
      { expiresIn: '1h' }
    );
    
    res.json({
      token: newToken,
      expiresIn: 3600
    });
    
  } catch (error) {
    res.status(403).json({ 
      error: 'Invalid refresh token' 
    });
  }
});
\`\`\`

### Security Best Practices

- ✅ 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

Example 2: Input Validation and SQL Injection Prevention

## 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

Example 3: Rate Limiting and DDoS Protection

## 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
\`\`\`

Best Practices

✅ Do This

Use HTTPS Everywhere - Never send sensitive data over HTTP
Implement Authentication - Require authentication for protected endpoints
Validate All Inputs - Never trust user input
Use Parameterized Queries - Prevent SQL injection
Implement Rate Limiting - Protect against brute force and DDoS
Hash Passwords - Use bcrypt with salt rounds >= 10
Use Short-Lived Tokens - JWT access tokens should expire quickly
Implement CORS Properly - Only allow trusted origins
Log Security Events - Monitor for suspicious activity
Keep Dependencies Updated - Regularly update packages
Use Security Headers - Implement Helmet.js
Sanitize Error Messages - Don't leak sensitive information

❌ Don't Do This

Don't Store Passwords in Plain Text - Always hash passwords
Don't Use Weak Secrets - Use strong, random JWT secrets
Don't Trust User Input - Always validate and sanitize
Don't Expose Stack Traces - Hide error details in production
Don't Use String Concatenation for SQL - Use parameterized queries
Don't Store Sensitive Data in JWT - JWTs are not encrypted
Don't Ignore Security Updates - Update dependencies regularly
Don't Use Default Credentials - Change all default passwords
Don't Disable CORS Completely - Configure it properly instead
Don't Log Sensitive Data - Sanitize logs

Common Pitfalls

Problem: JWT Secret Exposed in Code

Symptoms: JWT secret hardcoded or committed to Git Solution: ```javascript // ❌ Bad const JWT_SECRET = 'my-secret-key';

// ✅ Good const JWT_SECRET = process.env.JWT_SECRET; if (!JWT_SECRET) { throw new Error('JWT_SECRET environment variable is required'); }

// Generate strong secret // node -e "console.log(require('crypto').randomBytes(64).toString('hex'))" ```

Problem: Weak Password Requirements

Symptoms: Users can set weak passwords like "password123" Solution: ```javascript const passwordSchema = z.string() .min(12, 'Password must be at least 12 characters') .regex(/[A-Z]/, 'Must contain uppercase letter') .regex(/[a-z]/, 'Must contain lowercase letter') .regex(/[0-9]/, 'Must contain number') .regex(/[^A-Za-z0-9]/, 'Must contain special character');

// Or use a password strength library const zxcvbn = require('zxcvbn'); const result = zxcvbn(password); if (result.score < 3) { return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Password too weak', suggestions: result.feedback.suggestions }); } ```

Problem: Missing Authorization Checks

Symptoms: Users can access resources they shouldn't Solution: ```javascript // ❌ Bad: Only checks authentication app.delete('/api/posts/:id', authenticateToken, async (req, res) => { await prisma.post.delete({ where: { id: req.params.id } }); res.json({ success: true }); });

// ✅ Good: Checks both authentication and authorization app.delete('/api/posts/:id', authenticateToken, async (req, res) => { const post = await prisma.post.findUnique({ where: { id: req.params.id } });

if (!post) { return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Post not found' }); }

// Check if user owns the post or is admin if (post.userId !== req.user.userId && req.user.role !== 'admin') { return res.status(403).json({ error: 'Not authorized to delete this post' }); }

await prisma.post.delete({ where: { id: req.params.id } }); res.json({ success: true }); }); ```

Problem: Verbose Error Messages

Symptoms: Error messages reveal system details Solution: ```javascript // ❌ Bad: Exposes database details app.post('/api/users', async (req, res) => { try { const user = await prisma.user.create({ data: req.body }); res.json(user); } catch (error) { res.status(500).json({ error: error.message }); // Error: "Unique constraint failed on the fields: (email)" } });

// ✅ Good: Generic error message app.post('/api/users', async (req, res) => { try { const user = await prisma.user.create({ data: req.body }); res.json(user); } catch (error) { console.error('User creation error:', error); // Log full error

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

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

} }); ```

Security Checklist

Authentication & Authorization

Implement strong authentication (JWT, OAuth 2.0)
Use HTTPS for all endpoints
Hash passwords with bcrypt (salt rounds >= 10)
Implement token expiration
Add refresh token mechanism
Verify user authorization for each request
Implement role-based access control (RBAC)

Input Validation

Rate Limiting & DDoS Protection

Implement rate limiting per user/IP
Add stricter limits for auth endpoints
Use Redis for distributed rate limiting
Return proper rate limit headers
Implement request throttling

Data Protection

Use HTTPS/TLS for all traffic
Encrypt sensitive data at rest
Don't store sensitive data in JWT
Sanitize error messages
Implement proper CORS configuration
Use security headers (Helmet.js)

Monitoring & Logging

OWASP API Security Top 10

Broken Object Level Authorization - Always verify user can access resource
Broken Authentication - Implement strong authentication mechanisms
Broken Object Property Level Authorization - Validate which properties user can access
Unrestricted Resource Consumption - Implement rate limiting and quotas
Broken Function Level Authorization - Verify user role for each function
Unrestricted Access to Sensitive Business Flows - Protect critical workflows
Server Side Request Forgery (SSRF) - Validate and sanitize URLs
Security Misconfiguration - Use security best practices and headers
Improper Inventory Management - Document and secure all API endpoints
Unsafe Consumption of APIs - Validate data from third-party APIs

Related Skills

@ethical-hacking-methodology - Security testing perspective
@sql-injection-testing - Testing for SQL injection
@xss-html-injection - Testing for XSS vulnerabilities
@broken-authentication - Authentication vulnerabilities
@backend-dev-guidelines - Backend development standards
@systematic-debugging - Debug security issues

Additional Resources

Pro Tip: Security is not a one-time task - regularly audit your APIs, keep dependencies updated, and stay informed about new vulnerabilities!

api-security-best-practices