APIsec for Express

Express does not enforce authentication or strict input validation by default. Common patterns such as app.use(express.json()) and permissive CORS configurations increase the surface for injection, mass assignment, and exposure of internal fields. Security relies heavily on third‑party middleware choices, ordering, and configuration discipline.

middleBrick maps findings to three frameworks, including OWASP API Top 10 (2023). For Express deployments, coverage includes checks aligned with authentication and session handling, property authorization, input validation, and unsafe consumption. The scanner validates controls by comparing observed runtime behavior against the API specification and common Express security misconfigurations.

middleBrick performs black‑box scanning against any public endpoint, requiring no code access or SDK integration. It issues read‑only methods (GET and HEAD) and text‑only POST for LLM probes, completing in under a minute. The tool detects issues such as missing security headers, CORS wildcard usage, debug endpoints, and exposed PII in responses typical of Express apps.

Authenticated scanning (Starter tier and above) supports Bearer, API key, Basic auth, and cookies. A domain verification gate ensures only the domain owner can scan with credentials. When scanning an Express app with authentication, only a limited set of headers are forwarded: Authorization, X‑API‑Key, Cookie, and X‑Custom‑* headers. This helps reduce noise while still validating protected routes and middleware behavior.

middleBrick does not fix, patch, or block findings; it detects and reports with remediation guidance. It does not perform active SQL injection or command injection, which require intrusive payloads outside scope. Business logic vulnerabilities and blind SSRF require human expertise and out‑of‑band infrastructure, and the tool does not replace a human pentester for high‑stakes audits. Use it as part of a broader Express security strategy.