In the realm of web application security, protecting your applications from Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks is crucial. This article guides you through the implementation of stateless CSRF protection using the Electrode Stateless CSRF plugin with JWT support in your applications built on Electrode, Express, Hapi, or Koa.

Why Do We Need This Module?

CSRF attacks occur when malicious scripts make unauthorized requests using the victim’s browser, often leveraging cookies to gain access to sensitive user data. Traditional methods for CSRF protection require backend session persistence, which isn’t always feasible. This module provides a solution that does not rely on maintaining state, thereby enhancing security without the overhead of session management.

How Do We Validate Requests?

To effectively prevent CSRF, the module implements a double submit cookie technique. Here’s how it works:

• Cross-site scripts cannot read or modify cookies.
• Cross-site scripts cannot set HTTP headers.

The system sends a unique token in a cookie alongside a hidden form submit field. Since XSS cannot change cookies, this method offers a safeguard against CSRF attacks. However, it’s acknowledged that this method has some vulnerabilities, which is why we enhance it further with JWT tokens.

Understanding the Double JWT CSRF Tokens

To strengthen the CSRF protection, this module employs two JWT tokens: one stored in cookies and another in HTTP headers. This dual-layer verification ensures that even if a malicious script manipulates the request, both tokens must align for the request to be considered legitimate. Think of this method like requiring a user to show two forms of identification—both must match to confirm their identity.

headerPayload = { type: 'header', UUID: '12345' };
cookiePayload = { type: 'cookie', UUID: '12345' };

In the example above, both payloads represent two different tokens produced from the same source, yet they must be used in complementary channels (headers and cookies) resulting in solid protection against CSRF.

How to Integrate This Module

1. Installation

Start by installing the module using npm:

bash
$ npm install --save electrode-csrf-jwt

2. Browser Integration

Ensure your JavaScript code initiates a GET call first to obtain the CSRF tokens, automatically setting the HTTP-only cookie. Utilize the acquired header token for future requests by attaching it to the header as x-csrf-jwt.

3. Server-Side Integration

The module offers plugins for popular frameworks which you can use as follows:

For Express:

const csrfMiddleware = require('electrode-csrf-jwt').expressMiddleware;
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const options = {
    secret: 'shhhhh',
    expiresIn: 60,
    shouldSkip: request => false,
    skipCreate: request => false,
    skipVerify: request => false
};
app.use(csrfMiddleware(options));

For Hapi:

const csrfPlugin = require('electrode-csrf-jwt').register;
const Hapi = require('hapi');
const server = new Hapi.Server();
const options = {
    secret: 'shhhhh',
    expiresIn: 60,
    shouldSkip: request => false,
    skipCreate: request => false,
    skipVerify: request => false
};
server.register({ register: csrfPlugin, options }, err => {
    if (err) throw err;
});

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues where requests fail due to token mismatches, ensure that:

• The initial GET request successfully sets both tokens.
• Subsequent AJAX requests include the correct headers.
• Multiple browser tabs might introduce complexity; consider keeping a consistent token state across tabs.

For further insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Conclusion

Implementing Electrode’s Stateless CSRF protection provides an added layer of security to your applications, addressing modern web threats effectively. At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.