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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/secondsky/claude-skills --skill api-security-hardening- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads api-security-hardening automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
API Security Hardening
Protect REST APIs against common vulnerabilities with multiple security layers.
Security Middleware Stack (Express)
const helmet = require('helmet');
const rateLimit = require('express-rate-limit');
const mongoSanitize = require('express-mongo-sanitize');
app.use(helmet());
app.use(mongoSanitize());
// For input sanitization, see the `xss-prevention` skill — do NOT use the
// deprecated `xss-clean` package (unmaintained since 2018; its own README
// recommends migrating off it).
app.use('/api/', rateLimit({
windowMs: 15 * 60 * 1000,
max: 100
}));
app.use('/api/auth/', rateLimit({
windowMs: 15 * 60 * 1000,
max: 5
}));
Input Validation
const { body, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
const escapeHtml = require('escape-html');
app.post('/users',
body('email').isEmail().normalizeEmail(),
body('password').isLength({ min: 8 }).matches(/[A-Z]/).matches(/[0-9]/),
// express-validator v7+ removed the built-in .escape() sanitizer; use a
// customSanitizer backed by `escape-html` to HTML-escape the value.
body('name').trim().isLength({ max: 100 }).customSanitizer(v => escapeHtml(v)),
(req, res) => {
const errors = validationResult(req);
if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
}
// Process request
}
);
Security Headers
app.use((req, res, next) => {
res.setHeader('Content-Security-Policy', "default-src 'self'");
res.setHeader('X-Frame-Options', 'DENY');
res.setHeader('X-Content-Type-Options', 'nosniff');
res.setHeader('Strict-Transport-Security', 'max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains');
res.setHeader('X-XSS-Protection', '1; mode=block');
next();
});
Security Checklist
- HTTPS everywhere
- Authentication on all protected routes
- Input validation and sanitization
- Rate limiting enabled
- Security headers configured
- CORS restricted to allowed origins
- No stack traces in production errors
- Audit logging enabled
- Dependencies regularly updated
Additional Implementations
See references/python-nginx.md for:
- Python FastAPI security middleware
- Pydantic input validation with password rules
- Nginx SSL/TLS and security headers configuration
- HTTP Parameter Pollution prevention
Never Do
- Trust user input without validation
- Return detailed errors in production
- Store secrets in code
- Use GET for state-changing operations
- Disable security for convenience
FAQ
What does the api-security-hardening skill do?
REST API security hardening with authentication, rate limiting, input validation, security headers. Use for production APIs, security audits, defense-in-depth, or encountering vulnerabilities, injection attacks, CORS issues.
How do I install api-security-hardening?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/secondsky/claude-skills --skill api-security-hardening in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/api-security-hardening/ (personal) or .claude/skills/api-security-hardening/ (project).
Which AI agents can use api-security-hardening?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is api-security-hardening safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains api-security-hardening?
It is published by secondsky in secondsky/claude-skills. It has 492 recorded installs.
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