Creator Network Security Audit Checklist

Phase 3: Testing & Validation

🔐 Authentication & Authorization

• JWT Validation

  • All protected endpoints require valid JWT token

  • Expired tokens are rejected

  • Invalid/malformed tokens return 401

  • Token claims are validated before processing

• User Context Extraction

  • user_id is extracted from Supabase auth context (not request body)

  • User cannot access/modify other users' data

  • Session invalidation works properly on logout

• Authorization Checks

  • Creator can only update their own profile

  • Opportunity creator can only update their own opportunities

  • Applicant can only withdraw their own applications

  • Only opportunity creator can review applications

  • DevConnect links are user-specific

🛡️ Row Level Security (RLS) Policies

• aethex_creators table

  • Users can read own profile

  • Users can update own profile

  • Public profiles are discoverable (is_discoverable=true)

  • Private profiles (is_discoverable=false) are hidden from directory

• aethex_opportunities table

  • Anyone can read open opportunities

  • Only creator can update/delete own opportunities

  • Closed opportunities not visible to applicants

• aethex_applications table

  • Users can read their own applications

  • Applicant can only see their own applications

  • Opportunity creator can see applications for their opportunities

  • Users cannot access others' applications

• aethex_devconnect_links table

  • Users can only access their own DevConnect links

  • Links cannot be modified by non-owners

• aethex_projects table

  • Users can read public projects

  • Users can only modify their own projects

🔒 Data Protection

• Sensitive Data

  • Passwords are never returned in API responses

  • Email addresses are not exposed in public profiles

  • Private notes/applications are not leaked

• Cover Letters

  • Only applicant and opportunity creator can see cover letters

  • Cover letters are not visible in search results

• Rate Limiting

  • Rate limiting is implemented on POST endpoints

  • Prevents spam applications/profiles

  • Prevents brute force attacks on search

🚫 Input Validation & Sanitization

• Text Fields

  • Bio/description max length enforced (e.g., 500 chars)

  • Username format validated (alphanumeric, dashes, underscores)

  • HTML/script tags are escaped in output

• File Uploads

  • Avatar URLs are validated/whitelisted

  • No malicious file types accepted

  • File size limits enforced

• Array Fields

  • Skills array has max length

  • Arm affiliations are from valid set

  • Invalid values are rejected

• Numeric Fields

  • Salary values are reasonable ranges

  • Page/limit parameters are validated

  • Negative values rejected where inappropriate

🔗 API Endpoint Security

Creators Endpoints:

• GET /api/creators

  • Pagination parameters validated

  • Search doesn't expose private fields

  • Arm filter works correctly

• GET /api/creators/:username

  • Returns 404 if profile is not discoverable

  • No sensitive data leaked

• POST /api/creators

  • Requires auth

  • user_id extracted from auth context

  • Duplicate username prevention works

• PUT /api/creators/:id

  • Requires auth

  • User can only update own profile

  • No privilege escalation possible

Opportunities Endpoints:

• GET /api/opportunities

  • Only open opportunities shown

  • Closed/draft opportunities hidden

  • Pagination and filters work

• GET /api/opportunities/:id

  • Only returns open opportunities

  • Creator info is sanitized

• POST /api/opportunities

  • Requires auth + creator profile

  • user_id extracted from auth

  • Only opportunity creator can post

• PUT /api/opportunities/:id

  • Requires auth

  • Only creator can update own opportunity

  • Can't change posted_by_id

Applications Endpoints:

• GET /api/applications

  • Requires user_id + auth

  • Users only see their own applications

  • Opportunity creators can view applications

• POST /api/applications

  • Requires auth + creator profile

  • Validates opportunity exists

  • Prevents duplicate applications

  • Validates cover letter length

• PUT /api/applications/:id

  • Requires auth

  • Only opportunity creator can update

  • Can only change status/response_message

  • Can't change creator/opportunity

• DELETE /api/applications/:id

  • Requires auth

  • Only applicant can withdraw

  • Application is properly deleted

DevConnect Endpoints:

• POST /api/devconnect/link

  • Requires auth + creator profile

  • user_id from auth context

  • Validates DevConnect username format

• GET /api/devconnect/link

  • Requires user_id + auth

  • Users only see their own link

  • Returns null if not linked

• DELETE /api/devconnect/link

  • Requires auth

  • Only user can unlink their account

  • Updates devconnect_linked flag

🔍 SQL Injection Prevention

• Parameterized Queries

  • All Supabase queries use parameterized queries (not string concatenation)

  • User input never directly in SQL strings

  • Search queries are sanitized

• Search/Filter Safety

  • LIKE queries use proper escaping

  • OR conditions properly scoped

  • No SQL concatenation

🌐 CORS & External Access

• CORS Headers

  • Only allowed origins can call API

  • Credentials are properly scoped

  • Preflight requests handled correctly

• External Links

  • DevConnect URLs validated

  • Avatar URLs validated

  • No javascript: or data: URLs allowed

📋 Audit Logging

• Critical Actions Logged

  • User account creation

  • Opportunity creation/deletion

  • Application status changes

  • DevConnect linking/unlinking

  • Profile modifications

• Log Retention

  • Logs stored securely

  • Logs retained for compliance period

  • Sensitive data not logged

🔄 API Response Security

• Error Messages

  • Don't leak system details

  • Don't expose database structure

  • Generic error messages for auth failures

  • No stack traces in production

• Response Headers

  • X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff

  • X-Frame-Options: DENY

  • Content-Security-Policy set

  • X-XSS-Protection enabled

📱 Frontend Security

• Token Management

  • Tokens stored securely (not localStorage if possible)

  • Tokens cleared on logout

  • Token refresh handled properly

• XSS Prevention

  • User input escaped in templates

  • No dangerouslySetInnerHTML without sanitization

  • No eval() or similar dangerous functions

• CSRF Protection

  • State-changing requests use POST/PUT/DELETE

  • CSRF tokens included where applicable

✅ Testing Recommendations

1. Penetration Testing

   • Test SQL injection attempts

   • Test XSS payloads in input fields

   • Test CSRF attacks

   • Test broken access control

2. Authorization Testing

   • Try accessing other users' resources

   • Test privilege escalation attempts

   • Verify RLS policies are enforced

3. Data Validation Testing

   • Send oversized inputs

   • Send malformed data

   • Test boundary values

   • Send special characters

4. Rate Limit Testing

   • Rapid-fire requests

   • Concurrent requests

   • Verify limits are enforced

📝 Sign-Off

• All critical findings resolved

• All high-priority findings mitigated

• Security baseline established

• Monitoring and logging active

• Team trained on security practices

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Audit Date: _ Auditor: _ Status: PENDING ⏳