Express.js code review, security audit, and deployment services
Express is the most widely-used Node.js backend framework and a common output from Bolt, Replit, and other AI coding tools. It's minimal by design, which means security middleware, validation, and error handling need to be added manually — and AI-generated Express code almost never includes them.
Common Express issues we find
Real problems from Express codebases we've reviewed.
No helmet middleware for security headers
Express apps without the helmet middleware are missing critical security headers like Content-Security-Policy, X-Content-Type-Options, and HSTS, leaving the app vulnerable to common web attacks.
Missing input validation and sanitization
Request body, query params, and URL params used directly without validation. No express-validator, zod, or joi — enabling injection attacks and unexpected crashes.
Unstructured error handling
No global error-handling middleware. Errors either crash the process, leak stack traces to clients, or get silently swallowed with no logging.
CORS set to allow all origins
The cors() middleware called with no options, defaulting to allowing requests from any website — a security risk for APIs that handle user data.
No request size limits
express.json() without a size limit allows attackers to send massive payloads that consume all server memory and crash the process.
Secrets hardcoded in source files
Database URIs, API keys, and JWT secrets written directly in the code instead of loaded from environment variables. They end up in Git history.
Blocking the event loop
CPU-intensive operations like JSON parsing of large files, image processing, or heavy computation done on the main thread, blocking all other requests.
No graceful shutdown handling
The Express process is killed on deployment without draining active connections or finishing in-flight requests, causing errors for connected users.
Express production checklist
Key checks before deploying your Express app.
Helmet middleware enabled for security headers
Input validation on all routes (express-validator, zod, etc.)
Global error-handling middleware registered
CORS restricted to specific allowed origins
Request body size limits configured
All secrets loaded from environment variables
Rate limiting middleware on auth and public endpoints
Graceful shutdown on SIGTERM/SIGINT signals
Production logging with structured format (winston, pino)
Process manager (PM2) or container orchestration for restarts
Not sure if your app passes? Our code audit ($19) checks all of these and more.
Our Express services
Security Review
Deep security analysis of your application — from API endpoints to database access.
Deploy & Ship
From local development to production deployment.
Fix Bugs
We diagnose and fix bugs in AI-generated apps — from mysterious crashes to features that just don't work right.
Infrastructure
Databases, APIs, auth systems, email, file storage — the backend services that power your application.
AI tools that generate Express code
Start with a self-serve audit
Get a professional review of your Express project at a fixed price.
Security Scan
Black-box review of your public-facing app. No code access needed.
- OWASP Top 10 checks
- SSL/TLS analysis
- Security headers
- Expert review within 24h
Code Audit
In-depth review of your source code for security, quality, and best practices.
- Security vulnerabilities
- Code quality review
- Dependency audit
- AI pattern analysis
Complete Bundle
Both scans in one package with cross-referenced findings.
- Everything in both products
- Cross-referenced findings
- Unified action plan
100% credited toward any paid service. Start with an audit, then let us fix what we find.
How it works
Tell us about your app
Share your project details and what you need help with.
Get a clear plan
We respond in 24 hours with scope, timeline, and cost.
Launch with confidence
We fix what needs fixing and stick around to help.
Frequently asked questions
Is my AI-generated Express backend secure?
Very likely not. Express is 'batteries not included' — security middleware, input validation, and error handling all need to be added manually, and AI tools regularly skip them. Our Express security review covers all of these gaps.
Should I use Express or Fastify?
Express has the largest ecosystem and community. Fastify is faster and has built-in validation. For most AI-generated apps, Express is fine — the bigger issue is missing security middleware, which we add during our review.
How do I deploy my Express API?
We deploy Express to Railway, Render, AWS, or Docker containers with PM2 for process management, health checks, structured logging, and monitoring. Everything needed for production reliability.
Related resources
Guides
Need help with your Express project?
Tell us about your project. We'll respond within 24 hours with a clear plan and fixed quote.