Is Node.JS Safe? 13 Node.JS Security Best Practices

Node.js has been around for a while already, strengthening the JavaScript everywhere doctrine. It is now widely used by various companies, including some market giants. Did you know that  Uber, PayPal, and Netflix are applications built with Node.js, and are growing to be viable alternatives to Java or PHP? But as it’s relatively easy to compare these technologies in terms of their performance or scalability, it doesn’t seem to be that easy to compare their security. Or does it?

Node.js is a free, open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that lets developers create servers, web apps, command line tools, and scripts. Being a JavaScript creation, Node shares some safety issues with JS and other platforms. While JavaScript is client-side, Node, being executed server-side, presents some vulnerabilities to different threats. Moreover, even though the core of NodeJS is secure, the use of third-party components may result in additional vulnerabilities. Reusable software packages issued by entities other than the original vendor are useful but risky. The way such components are configured, installed, and deployed should require Node.js developers to take additional security measures to keep web applications and any sensitive information that they store safe.

Is Node safe?

Can we explicitly state that Node.js is secure? Not really. Neither are elevators, cars, planes, or even emails. There are no 100% bullet-proof email providers offering absolutely secure services. However, there are various options that enhance the safety of your correspondence.

As with any other human-made technology, programming languages and environments present advantages and threats. Most technologies can be made as secure as possible with the proper use of certain principles, and Node.js is not an exception. In this article, we’ll focus on the latest security hints and the best Node.js safety-enhancing practices. Read on and learn how to build secure Node.js applications!

What are the most common security issues of Node.js?

What are the most common security risks of Node.js?

Node.js is perceived by some to be a security threat itself. The main reason might be the lack of default error handling caused by platform construction. This results in the possibility of server turnoff due to an error, which results in the application malfunctioning. 

Besides typical web application security issues, such as cross-site scripting,  request forgery, security misconfiguration, and unvalidated redirects and forwards, the most common Node.js security bridges include problems specific to this technology like phishing in NPM (malicious modules of similar names) or Regular Expressions DoS.

Security vulnerabilities in Node.js and best practices for secure coding

Threats for web apps can emerge from various directions. The internet is not a safe place for fragile applications, but a wide range of good practices, beneficial components, and precautions add up to the security of Node.JS apps.

Here come 13 Node.js safety-enhancing practices answering some of its biggest threats:

1. Don’t stick to the old versions of Express

According to Node.js User Survey Report 2018, Express is the most popular web app framework for Node.js. Be careful, though! While Express itself does not have much to do with apps’ security (it’s simply not its role), its older versions may create a security breach. To ensure the security of built applications, only the up-to-date and maintained versions should be used. 

2. Install Helmet

If you choose to use Node.js with the Express framework, Helmet is a must-have! It is a collection of smaller middleware functions improving security-related HTTP headers, including preventing cross-site scripting attacks, unauthorized access, man-in-the-middle attacks, and enforcing secure (HTTP or SSL/TLS) server connections. 

3. Use TLS (Transport Layer Security)

TLS is an encryption technology that prevents common attacks in Node.js. Recommended especially when dealing with sensitive data, as TLS secures both the connection and data transmitted. 

4. Prevent XSS (Cross-Site Scripting)

Cross Site scripting is one of the most popular types of threats to which Node.js is vulnerable. Simply put, it allows attackers for malicious code injection (e.g., client-side scripts) into web pages viewed by other users, which may lead to data leaks. Preventing XSS attacks is possible by output encoding and the use of tools like the Jade engine with built-in encoding structures. 

5. Use Anti-Forgery Tokens

Preventing Cross-Site Forgery Requests (CSFR) requires the use of Anti-Forgery Tokens. Anti-CSRF tokens accompany the user’s request, prevent one-click attacks, and are used by the server to validate user request’s authenticity. 

6. Add csurf package to your Node.js application code

The module serves as a CSRF protection middleware for token creation and validation. Csurf helps to prevent CSRF attacks, disabling requests on behalf of application users without them noticing.

7. Set cookie security options

Using the default cookie session name counts as risky behavior as those may threaten your Node.js application. The wiser solution is to use one of the middleware cookie session modules: cookie-session and express-session.

8. Disable X-Powered-By header

Disabling an X-Powered-By header is a simple yet efficient method to avoid one of the common Node.js security risks caused by the header being used by attackers. X-Powered-By sent in each request gives hackers information on what technology is used, enabling exploiting its weaknesses. Disabling the header hides information on what powers the server in use. 

9. Use supervisor programs

Supervisors monitor the code and once an error occurs and the program crashes, they restart it. What is important is that supervisors such as pm2, forever, and nodemon can also restart programs when files change. Using tools that orchestrate the code contributes to better Node.js application construction and its overall threat resistance.

10. Split your app into microservices

As the project grows over time, it gains new users and sets of additional features. Growth can result in a challenging size, which also affects security. Microservices are self-contained units making up big applications. Splits enable isolation, better scalability, and individual security testing of separate elements.

11. Use linter security rules

Various linter plugins enable finding possible Node.js security issues in the early stage of development before deploying to production. Tools like ESLint not only enforce cleaner code but also help to eliminate potentially threatening mishaps.

12. Use NPM, the Node Package Manager

NPM enables better control of dependencies (pre-built pieces of code, such as libraries and packages) and more efficient workflow. Additionally, NodeSource’s Certified Modules service checks code quality, licenses, and exposure to threats.

13. Arm your app with the Cloudflare WAF (Web Application Firewall)

Cloudflare WAF is one of the firewalls that contribute to enterprise-scale web applications security. It protects Node.js applications from cross-site scripting, forgery requests, and SQL injection attacks.

Node.js security best practices – summary

Is Node.js safe after all? In the end, it’s not only about what tool or technology you or your developers use but HOW you do it. Possessing the most advanced kitchen aid doesn’t make you a master chef in a snap. The key to success, in this case – security, is expertise. The technology is just a tool in the hands of developers, and most criticism towards Node.js rather applies to the ways it is used and not to what it is. Certain issues occur because of what the platform is used for, not solely because of its character. Node.js, just like other languages, is secure when developed with care and subject to best practices.