Security Issues in Create.xyz Code

MongoDB connection strings with full read-write access may be embedded in environment variables accessible to the frontend. API endpoints typically have no authentication middleware. MongoDB queries may allow injection if user input is used directly in query objects. The backend may have no rate limiting, enabling brute force and enumeration attacks

Move the MongoDB connection string to the backend only — never expose it to the frontend. Add authentication middleware (JWT or session) to all API routes. Use MongoDB's query sanitization to prevent NoSQL injection. Add rate limiting to all public endpoints. Validate all request inputs against a schema before processing

Every Create.xyz app needs authentication — verifying who the user is — and authorization — verifying what they're allowed to do. Check that every API route and server action verifies the user's identity before processing requests. Check that users can only access their own data. A common Create.xyz pattern is adding auth to the UI but not the API, which means anyone with the endpoint URL can access data directly.

Never trust data coming from the client. Every form submission, URL parameter, and API request body should be validated server-side before processing. Use a schema validation library like Zod to define expected shapes and reject anything that doesn't match. This prevents injection attacks, data corruption, and unexpected crashes.

Configure security headers to protect against common web attacks: Content-Security-Policy to prevent XSS, Strict-Transport-Security to enforce HTTPS, X-Frame-Options to prevent clickjacking, and X-Content-Type-Options to prevent MIME sniffing. Most hosting platforms let you configure these in a headers file or configuration.

If your app handles user data, processes payments, or stores sensitive information, a professional security review is essential before launch. Our security scan ($19) checks for the most critical vulnerabilities, and our full security review service provides a comprehensive assessment with remediation guidance.