NodeJS Broken Authentication Guide: Examples and Prevention

Authentication is a critical component of server-side application development, influencing future features such as role-based access control and payment integration while serving as a security measure that impacts business decisions and user experience. The process typically involves a client sending user credentials to a backend service, which validates them and creates an authentication token for subsequent requests. However, vulnerabilities can arise from poor session management and weak credentials, leading to broken authentication. To mitigate these risks in Node.js applications, developers should employ best practices such as hashing passwords, using secure JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) with appropriate time-to-live (TTL) settings, managing sessions with HttpOnly cookies, and validating password strength. By addressing these areas, developers can enhance the security of their authentication workflows and reduce the likelihood of compromised user accounts. The insights are shared by Siddhant Varma, a full-stack JavaScript developer with extensive experience in the startup ecosystem and a passion for teaching programming.