Key Takeaways:
? Awareness about different ReactJS security challenges.
? Solutions to fix those security issues in React.
? Best practices to secure your React application.
“The more widely a technology is used, the greater the potential for security breaches.” – Eugene Kaspersky
React is a renowned library for building enticing user interfaces for web and mobile applications. According to BuiltWith trends, ReactJS shares 24% of the JavaScript library usage distribution list. It also tops the chart as the most popular JavaScript library online. Besides, there are many use cases of React.JS, including Binance, Bloomberg, Chase, Netflix, Airbnb, and Uber.
That makes React highly prone to security vulnerabilities. A few include Cross-site, SQL injection, broken access control, insecure dependencies, etc. But as you know, ‘where there is a will, there is a way.’
As a web or mobile app owner, you must know all the React security vulnerabilities. And not only that, but you must also understand what are the best practices to fix or avoid them. Don’t worry; just understand the technicalities; our developers will be your helping hand to make your React application risk-free.
The internet is flooded with significant ReactJS security issues for which there are preventive measures. But before jumping into the solution, you must know the security challenges and then find a solution. In the below discussion, you will know different React security challenges and their solutions.
XML is a data format widely used in mobile and web apps for exchanging or storing data organizationally. To make the information readable and accessible from XML documents, you would require XML parsers. These parsers need a regular upgrade, and being out of update makes them vulnerable to XML External Entity attacks.
XML External Entity Attack is a cybersecurity threat wherein invaders access outdated XML parsers. Cyberattackers perform vulnerable activities, such as port scanning, denial of service request forgery, etc.
As you know, XML parsers play a crucial role in compromising data; it needs to be protected against XXE attacks in the following ways:
The sole purpose of Distributed Denial of Service is to overflood your application, server, or network with massive traffic. The aim behind sending many such requests is to make your application unavailable for target/genuine traffic.
DDoS attacks have different types, such as Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Synchronize (SYN), and Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP). All this is done to exhaust your CPU or server so that it reminds inaccessible for use.
Such React security attacks wherein your system, network, or website is at risk of excessive, inappropriate traffic require stringent measures for prevention, which are as follows:
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Another React security vulnerability on the list is cross-site request forgery; this manipulative security flaw happens when a cyberattacker manipulates a user to open a website or web page and tricks them into performing any action without knowing the legitimacy of it.
It happens when the user’s browser sends a tampered HTTP request to perform malicious actions. State-changing requests, such as POST, PUT, and DELETE requests at high risk since they are more vulnerable than GET requests.
Since CSRF tricks users into performing any action on other websites or web pages, and they gain secretive access, it requires some step-wise measures to prevent. Those React security solutions to the vulnerability are as follows:
When the authentication system of the React.JS application is not designed properly or systematically and does not comply with all the security compliance, then attackers would be easily able to log into the user’s account.
Attackers usually bypass or manipulate the authentication system and access the victim’s account just like the victim. Broken authentication also occurs when the application allows a weaker password or doesn’t notify about a solid password. It gives attackers easy access to the application or website, enabling them to steal all the credential information.
Since broken authentication is a matter of exploiting loopholes in the authentication mechanism, it needs to be fixed in the following ways:
Tip: implement multifactor authentication for additional security layer
Tip: Do not use obsolete Basic or Digest authentication mechanism
Another React security flaw is the risk of a Zip Slip attack when unpacking files with the help of a supporting library is executed in an uncontrolled manner. This is a secret passage through which intruders can execute their malicious code into an unzipped folder(s). And not only the folder, but the intruder would also even replace folders of other destinations of your React application by taking over the control of your React application.
Through this security vulnerability in React, the intruder would gain access to confidential information of your user base and your business. Zip Slip is an extremely dangerous ReactJS security vulnerability since it exposes your React application to data leaks and path traversal attacks.
These best security practices by React are must-implement whenever building React application. If you are planning to develop an application, then keep a check on these best practices. And if you are seeking a React developer, you can connect with us.
Let’s discuss 7 ReactJS security best practices.
1. Keep an eye on malicious URLs and URL-based script injection
2. Always sanitize and render HTML
3. Do not directly access DOM
4. Ensure server-side rendering is secured
5. Make sure to use non-vulnerable React versions
6. Make use of the linter configuration
7. Do not use threatful library codes
There can be URLs that might include dynamic script content through the “JavaScript:” protocol URL. Make sure to use “http:” or “https:” against “JavaScript:” URL-based script injection. Besides, you must also leverage a native URL parsing functionality to validate the URL. Post that, make sure to match the parsed protocol property with the allow list.
Here is how to do this:
function validateURL(url) { const parsed = new URL(url) return ['https:', 'http:'].includes(parsed.protocol) } Click here!
However, do not do this:
Use dangerouslySetInnerHTML for HTML insertion directly into rendered DOM nodes. Also, use a sanitization library like domypurify before using dangerouslySetInnerHTML prop.
To perform this, follow the following:
Never try to inject content into DOM nodes directly, and if left with no option than insertion, use dangerouslySetInnerHTML to inject by sanitizing it using domypurify.
Now you must be thinking about what is “dangerouslySetInnerHTML.”
Well, it is a property that helps React programmers to directly insert HTML content within an HTML element available in React application.
You have to do the following:
Tip: Never use refs and findDomNode() for accessing rendered DOM elements to inject content through innerHTML and similar properties.
Make sure you or your developer never does this:
Use server-side functions like ReactDOMServer.renderToString() and ReactDOMServer.renderToStaticMarkup() for data binding; since it offers automatic content escaping.
When using the renderToStaticMarkup() method in React, it is essential to avoid concatenating strings onto the output before sending them to the client for hydration.
Also, to prevent XSS, ensure you or your developer do not concatenate sanitized data with the output of renderToStaticMarkup().
Do this:
app.get("/", function (req, res) { return res.send( ReactDOMServer.renderToStaticMarkup( React.createElement("h1", null, "Hello World!") ) + otherData ); });
As said in the title, do not use vulnerable React versions. Avoid vulnerable versions of React and react-dom by keeping a check on the latest version by leveraging npm.
Another ReactJS security best practice is to install a linter configuration; since it automatically detects potential React security flaws in your code and advises on rectification.
Make sure to use the ESLint React Security config to identify react vulnerabilities in React code.
Ensure you review library code manually or with the linter configuration to prevent malicious use of security mechanisms.
Make it a point to avoid leveraging React libraries that avoid using dangerouslySetInnerHTML, innerHTML, unvalidated URLs, or other unsafe patterns. Additionally, you can use security linters to your node_modules folders to proactively detect malicious patterns in React code.
React programmers at Bacancy stay updated with the latest trends, challenges, and solutions. Our developers stand on their toes to fix the vulnerabilities and check all the loopholes that may allow intruders to exploit them. Such a solution-oriented mindset would be a great help when you want a website or application that meets customers’ requirements rather than making them face glitches and end up with a poor experience.
Since ReactJS security vulnerabilities are hard to identify, it requires meticulous attention to every component of React. For such engagements, you need subject-matter experts; without them, you might get exposed to higher chances of exploitation if any loophole is left. You can Hire React js developer from Bacancy and rely on them to address all kinds of ReactJS security issues. Their experience of handling, addressing, and rectifying many react security vulnerabilities before negatively impacting your brand will come handy to stabilize and secure your ReactJS environment.
You have to use curly brackets {} to protect against XSS attacks. Keep in mind that the protection layer is limited to rendering textContent and not rendering HTML attributes.
Since React is open-source and lacks strong security settings, it makes the technology vulnerable to different security challenges.
There are several ways to secure react applications from vulnerabilities:
1. Avoid using dangerous URLs
2. Do not serialize confidential data
3. Use direct DOM access
4. Make sure to render HTML
5. Make sure to inject JSON state
6. Make sure to render server-side
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