React Broken Access Control Guide: Examples and Prevention

Security is a critical consideration in software development with React, especially in preventing broken access control vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, threatening the integrity of an application. Common issues include unhandled redirects, insecure direct object references (IDOR), and inadequate role-based authorization. Unhandled redirects can lead to security leaks if not properly managed, while IDOR occurs when resources are fetched without proper authentication, often manipulated through URL parameters. Inadequate role-based authorization can result in users accessing unauthorized parts of a system. To mitigate these risks, developers should implement robust error handling, hide key identifiers from URLs, and use middleware for request authorization. Tools like react-router-dom can help manage redirects effectively, while libraries like Formik and Yup can aid in form handling and input validation. Ensuring access controls are consistently applied across all routes is vital for maintaining application security.