security-nextjs

Security audit patterns for Next.js applications covering environment variable exposure, Server Actions, middleware auth, API routes, and App Router security.

Environment Variable Exposure

The NEXT_PUBLIC_ Footgun

NEXT_PUBLIC_* → Bundled into client JavaScript → Visible to everyone
No prefix     → Server-only → Safe for secrets

Audit steps:

1. grep -r "NEXT_PUBLIC_" . -g "*.env*"
2. For each var, ask: "Would I be OK if this was in view-source?"
3. Common mistakes:
   • NEXT_PUBLIC_API_KEY (SHOULD be server-only)
   • NEXT_PUBLIC_DATABASE_URL (MUST NOT use)
   • NEXT_PUBLIC_STRIPE_SECRET_KEY (MUST use STRIPE_SECRET_KEY instead)

Safe pattern:

// Server-only (API route, Server Component, Server Action)
const apiKey = process.env.API_KEY; // ✓ No NEXT_PUBLIC_

// Client-safe (truly public)
const publishableKey = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY; // ✓ Publishable

next.config.js env Is Always Bundled

Values set in next.config.js under env are inlined into the client bundle, even without NEXT_PUBLIC_. MUST treat them as public.

// Sensitive values here are exposed to the browser
module.exports = {
  env: {
    DATABASE_URL: process.env.DATABASE_URL,  // MUST NOT do this
  },
};

Server Actions Security

Missing Auth (Most Common Issue)

// VULNERABLE: No auth check
"use server"
export async function deleteUser(userId: string) {
  await db.user.delete({ where: { id: userId } });
}

// SECURE: Auth + authorization
"use server"
export async function deleteUser(userId: string) {
  const session = await getServerSession();
  if (!session) throw new Error("Unauthorized");
  if (session.user.id !== userId && !session.user.isAdmin) {
    throw new Error("Forbidden");
  }
  await db.user.delete({ where: { id: userId } });
}

Server Actions MUST check authentication. Server Actions MUST verify authorization for the specific resource.

Input Validation

// Trusts client input - MUST NOT do this
"use server"
export async function updateProfile(data: any) {
  await db.user.update({ data });
}

// Validates with Zod - MUST do this
"use server"
import { z } from "zod";
const schema = z.object({ name: z.string().max(100), bio: z.string().max(500) });
export async function updateProfile(formData: FormData) {
  const data = schema.parse(Object.fromEntries(formData));
  await db.user.update({ data });
}

API Routes Security

App Router (app/api/*/route.ts)

// No auth - MUST NOT do this
export async function GET(request: Request) {
  return Response.json(await db.users.findMany());
}

// Auth middleware - MUST do this
import { getServerSession } from "next-auth";
export async function GET(request: Request) {
  const session = await getServerSession();
  if (!session) return new Response("Unauthorized", { status: 401 });
  // ...
}

Pages Router (pages/api/*.ts)

MUST check for missing auth on all handlers. Common issue: GET is public but POST has auth (inconsistent).

Middleware Security

Auth in middleware.ts

// middleware.ts
import { NextResponse } from "next/server";
import type { NextRequest } from "next/server";

export function middleware(request: NextRequest) {
  const token = request.cookies.get("session");
  
  // Just checking existence - insufficient
  if (!token) return NextResponse.redirect("/login");
  
  // SHOULD verify token
  // Middleware can't do async DB calls easily
  // Solution: Use next-auth middleware or verify JWT
}

// MUST check matcher covers all protected routes
export const config = {
  matcher: ["/dashboard/:path*", "/admin/:path*", "/api/admin/:path*"],
};

Matcher Gaps

// Forgot API routes - gap in protection
matcher: ["/dashboard/:path*"]
// Admin API at /api/admin/* is unprotected!

// MUST include API routes
matcher: ["/dashboard/:path*", "/api/admin/:path*"]

Headers & Security Config

next.config.js

// SHOULD check for security headers
module.exports = {
  async headers() {
    return [
      {
        source: "/:path*",
        headers: [
          { key: "X-Frame-Options", value: "DENY" },
          { key: "X-Content-Type-Options", value: "nosniff" },
          { key: "Referrer-Policy", value: "strict-origin-when-cross-origin" },
          // CSP is complex - check if present and not too permissive
        ],
      },
    ];
  },
};

<severity_table>

Common Vulnerabilities

Issue	Where to Look	Severity
NEXT_PUBLIC_ secrets	.env* files	CRITICAL
Unauth'd Server Actions	app/**/actions.ts	HIGH
Unauth'd API routes	app/api/**/route.ts, pages/api/**	HIGH
Middleware matcher gaps	middleware.ts	HIGH
Missing input validation	Server Actions, API routes	HIGH
IDOR in dynamic routes	[id] params without ownership check	HIGH
dangerouslySetInnerHTML	Components	MEDIUM
Missing security headers	next.config.js	LOW

</severity_table>

Quick Grep Commands

# Find NEXT_PUBLIC_ usage
grep -r "NEXT_PUBLIC_" . -g "*.env*" -g "*.ts" -g "*.tsx"

# Find next.config env usage (always bundled)
rg -n 'env\s*:' next.config.*

# Find Server Actions without auth
rg -l '"use server"' . | xargs rg -L '(getServerSession|auth\(|getSession|currentUser)'

# Find API routes
fd 'route\.(ts|js)' app/api/

# Find dangerouslySetInnerHTML
rg 'dangerouslySetInnerHTML' . -g "*.tsx" -g "*.jsx"