This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Satwik Nakhate
Conducting a cybersecurity review is essential for identifying vulnerabilities, enforcing secure development practices, and protecting user data. Here’s a structured approach tailored specifically for modern frontend stacks like React and Vite.
1.
Define the Scope
Start with clear objectives:
Assess your application against threats like:
- XSS (Cross-Site Scripting)
- CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery)
- Data leaks
- Insecure storage
- Misconfigured permissions
Include in your scope:
Frontend code
APIs
Build outputs
Deployment configurations
2.
Static & Dependency Analysis
- Run yarn audit or npm audit for known vulnerabilities.
- Regularly update outdated or vulnerable dependencies.
- Search for hard-coded secrets or API keys.
- Exclude source maps from production builds to avoid exposing internal code.
3.
Security Headers & Configs
Ensure critical HTTP security headers are properly set:
- – Content-Security-Policy
- – X-Frame-Options / frame-ancestors
- – Strict-Transport-Security
- – X-Content-Type-Options
- Use tools like OWASP ZAP to automate header checks and identify gaps.
4.
Access Control (RBAC)
- Enforce Role-Based Access Control both in the frontend and backend.
- Ensure users can only access views/actions authorized to their roles.
- Never rely solely on frontend checks—always validate on the server too.
5.
Input & Output Sanitization
- Validate and sanitize all user input (client + server).
- Avoid dangerouslySetInnerHTML unless fully sanitized.
- Escape dynamic content in rendering or DOM manipulation.
6.
CORS Policy Review
- Allow only specific trusted origins.
- Avoid * unless absolutely needed (e.g., public APIs).
- Block credentials unless they’re essential.
7.
Sensitive Data Exposure
Ensure no sensitive data (PII/PHI) is leaked via:
- API responses
- Error messages
- Console logs
- Check both dev and prod environments for test/debug endpoints.
8.
Data Storage & Encryption
- Avoid storing sensitive tokens in localStorage or sessionStorage.
- Prefer HttpOnly cookies for auth tokens to reduce XSS risk.
- Ensure encryption at rest for sensitive data like PHI or financial info.
9.
Production Build Inspection
- Verify your production build:
- Is minified and optimized.
- Removes all console.* and debugger statements (via Terser, etc.).
- Does not expose sourcemaps or internal paths.
10.
Automated Scanning & Testing
Use these tools to automate and reinforce your security posture:
- OWASP ZAP – Dynamic security testing
- Snyk or Dependabot – Dependency monitoring
- Lighthouse – Performance, accessibility, and basic security audits
Summary
Cybersecurity isn’t a one-time task—it’s an ongoing process. Even with modern stacks like React and Vite, you must stay vigilant. Regular audits, secure coding practices, and automation go a long way toward securing your app and users.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Satwik Nakhate