How do you safeguard your React application?

Question

How do you safeguard your React application?

Answer

Security is crucial in modern React apps. Follow these practices:

1. Prevent XSS (Cross-Site Scripting)

• Avoid dangerouslySetInnerHTML unless sanitized.
• Use libraries like DOMPurify for any dynamic HTML.

2. Prevent CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery)

• Use anti-CSRF tokens with backend APIs.
• Prefer same-site cookies or JWTs with HttpOnly.

3. Protect Sensitive Data

• Never store secrets in frontend code or localStorage.
• Use environment variables via .env.

4. Input Validation

• Validate and sanitize all user inputs on both frontend and backend.

5. Secure Dependencies

• Regularly update npm packages.
• Use npm audit or snyk to identify vulnerabilities.

6. Content Security Policy (CSP)

• Add security headers using your hosting provider or middleware.

Real-World Example

• Sanitizing user-generated HTML content
• Using secure cookies for NextAuth
• Implementing CSP headers on Vercel

Quick Practice

Add CSP headers and sanitize dynamic HTML in your app to block XSS vectors.

Summary

Use sanitization, validation, and secure cookie handling to keep your React app safe from XSS, CSRF, and data leaks.