Node.js API Launch Security Checklist: 16 Items Before Going Live

TL;DR

Node.js APIs are prime targets for attacks. Before launch, add authentication middleware to protected routes, validate all inputs with a schema library, implement rate limiting, use parameterized queries, hide error details from responses, and move secrets to environment variables.

Authentication and Authorization 4

Add auth middleware to protected routesEvery endpoint that requires login should verify the session/token

Test endpoints without authenticationCall protected routes without auth headers. Should return 401.

Verify authorization checksCan User A modify User B's resources by changing IDs?

Check token validationExpired or invalid tokens should be rejected

Input Validation 4

Validate all request inputsUse Zod, Joi, or similar. Never trust client data.

Sanitize inputs before database queriesUse parameterized queries or ORM to prevent SQL injection

Limit request body sizePrevent DoS via large payloads. Use body-parser limits.

Validate file uploads (if applicable)Check file types, limit sizes, scan for malware

API Protection 4

Implement rate limitingUse express-rate-limit or similar to prevent abuse

Configure CORS correctlyOnly allow requests from your frontend domain, not *

Add security headersUse helmet.js for X-Frame-Options, CSP, etc.

Hide error details in productionDon't expose stack traces or internal errors to clients

Environment and Deployment 4

All secrets in environment variablesNo hardcoded API keys, passwords, or connection strings

Set NODE_ENV=productionThis enables production optimizations and disables dev features

Enable HTTPSAll API traffic should be encrypted

Run npm auditCheck for known vulnerabilities in dependencies

What should I check before deploying a Node.js API?

Before deploying a Node.js API, verify authentication on all protected endpoints, add input validation, implement rate limiting, use parameterized database queries, configure security headers, and ensure secrets are in environment variables.

How do I prevent SQL injection in Node.js?

Use parameterized queries or an ORM like Prisma or Drizzle. Never concatenate user input into SQL strings. Example with parameterized query: db.query('SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?', userId)

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