How to use HttpOnly Cookies for Nuxt-Auth strategy in Nuxtjs?

What is an HttpOnly Cookie

An HttpOnly cookie is a special type of cookie that can only be accessed via HTTP(S) and cannot be accessed by client-side scripts (e.g., JavaScript). This property makes it an ideal choice for storing sensitive information such as user authentication tokens, as it enhances security and prevents cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

Using HttpOnly Cookies for Authentication in Nuxt.js

Implementing an authentication strategy using HttpOnly cookies in a Nuxt.js project typically involves the following steps:

1. Backend Setup

First, ensure that your backend application sends an HttpOnly cookie upon successful user login. Below is an example code snippet using Express.js:

javascript
app.post('/login', function(req, res) {
  const { username, password } = req.body;
  // Authentication logic should be implemented here
  if (username === 'admin' && password === 'password') {
    res.cookie('auth_token', 'your_generated_token', { httpOnly: true });
    res.send("Login successful");
  } else {
    res.status(401).send("Authentication failed");
  }
});

2. Nuxt.js Middleware

In Nuxt.js, create a middleware to inspect cookies sent by the server and verify the user's authentication status. This middleware executes when users navigate to routes.

javascript
export default function ({ req, redirect }) {
  if (process.server) {
    const cookie = req.headers.cookie;
    if (!cookie.includes('auth_token=your_generated_token')) {
      return redirect('/login');
    }
  }
}

This middleware checks for the presence of an HttpOnly cookie named auth_token. If absent, it redirects the user to the login page.

3. Configuring Nuxt.js

Ensure that in nuxt.config.js, the middleware created above is applied globally or to specific pages:

javascript
export default {
  router: {
    middleware: ['auth']
  }
}

4. Security and Debugging

Ensure all interactions with the application occur over HTTPS to prevent man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. Additionally, regularly review and update your authentication and security policies during both deployment and development phases.

Conclusion

Implementing a secure authentication strategy using Nuxt.js and HttpOnly cookies is an effective method to enhance application security, particularly when handling sensitive information. By following these steps, you can implement similar security measures in your own Nuxt.js application.