csrf vs csurf vs csrf-csrf
CSRF Protection Libraries Comparison
1 Year
csrfcsurfcsrf-csrf
What's CSRF Protection Libraries?

CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) protection libraries are essential tools in web development that help secure applications from unauthorized commands transmitted from a user that the web application trusts. These libraries provide mechanisms to generate and validate tokens that ensure requests made to the server are intentional and originate from authenticated users. By implementing CSRF protection, developers can safeguard their applications against malicious attacks that exploit the trust a site has in a user's browser.

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csrf790,322307-26 years agoMIT
csurf495,6252,306-205 years agoMIT
csrf-csrf31,47813938.4 kB113 months agoISC
Feature Comparison: csrf vs csurf vs csrf-csrf

Integration

  • csrf:

    The 'csrf' package can be easily integrated into any Node.js application, providing a straightforward API for generating and validating tokens. It does not depend on any specific framework, making it versatile for various setups.

  • csurf:

    'csurf' is specifically designed for use with Express.js, providing middleware that can be easily added to your application. Its integration is seamless, allowing developers to implement CSRF protection with minimal configuration.

  • csrf-csrf:

    'csrf-csrf' offers a unique integration approach that might suit specific frameworks or use cases. However, its documentation may not be as extensive, which could lead to a steeper learning curve for some developers.

Token Management

  • csrf:

    The 'csrf' library focuses on generating secure tokens and validating them against incoming requests. It provides a simple interface for managing these tokens, making it easy to implement CSRF protection without overhead.

  • csurf:

    'csurf' manages tokens effectively by providing middleware that handles token generation and validation automatically. It also allows for customization of token storage and retrieval, making it flexible for various application needs.

  • csrf-csrf:

    'csrf-csrf' may offer different methods for token management, potentially including additional features such as token expiration or custom storage options, but this can vary based on the implementation.

Documentation and Community Support

  • csrf:

    The 'csrf' package has basic documentation that covers its core functionalities, but it may lack extensive community support or examples compared to more popular libraries.

  • csurf:

    'csurf' boasts comprehensive documentation and a strong community support base, making it easier for developers to find resources, examples, and troubleshooting help.

  • csrf-csrf:

    'csrf-csrf' may have limited documentation and community engagement, which could pose challenges for developers seeking assistance or examples during implementation.

Performance

  • csrf:

    The 'csrf' package is lightweight and designed for performance, ensuring that the overhead introduced by CSRF protection is minimal, which is beneficial for applications with high traffic.

  • csurf:

    'csurf' is optimized for performance within Express.js applications, ensuring that CSRF protection does not significantly impact response times or server load.

  • csrf-csrf:

    Performance may vary depending on the specific implementation of 'csrf-csrf', and it is essential to evaluate its impact on your application based on your requirements.

Flexibility

  • csrf:

    The 'csrf' library is flexible enough to be used in various environments, allowing developers to implement CSRF protection in a way that best fits their application's architecture.

  • csurf:

    'csurf' offers flexibility in terms of configuration and usage patterns, allowing developers to tailor CSRF protection to their specific application needs while maintaining a straightforward implementation.

  • csrf-csrf:

    'csrf-csrf' may provide unique flexibility options, but this could come at the cost of complexity, depending on the specific use case.

How to Choose: csrf vs csurf vs csrf-csrf
  • csrf:

    Choose 'csrf' if you need a simple, lightweight solution for generating and validating CSRF tokens without any additional dependencies. It is suitable for projects where minimalism and straightforward implementation are priorities.

  • csurf:

    Opt for 'csurf' if you are using Express.js and require a robust middleware solution that integrates seamlessly with your application. It provides comprehensive CSRF protection and is well-documented, making it ideal for larger applications that demand a more structured approach.

  • csrf-csrf:

    Select 'csrf-csrf' if you are looking for a package that offers additional features or a different approach to CSRF protection, particularly if you want to explore alternative implementations or have specific requirements that this package meets.

README for csrf

CSRF

NPM Version NPM Downloads Node.js Version Build Status Test Coverage

Logic behind CSRF token creation and verification.

Read Understanding-CSRF for more information on CSRF. Use this module to create custom CSRF middleware.

Looking for a CSRF framework for your favorite framework that uses this module?

Install

$ npm install csrf

TypeScript

This module includes a TypeScript declaration file to enable auto complete in compatible editors and type information for TypeScript projects.

API

var Tokens = require('csrf')

new Tokens([options])

Create a new token generation/verification instance. The options argument is optional and will just use all defaults if missing.

Options

Tokens accepts these properties in the options object.

saltLength

The length of the internal salt to use, in characters. Internally, the salt is a base 62 string. Defaults to 8 characters.

secretLength

The length of the secret to generate, in bytes. Note that the secret is passed around base-64 encoded and that this length refers to the underlying bytes, not the length of the base-64 string. Defaults to 18 bytes.

tokens.create(secret)

Create a new CSRF token attached to the given secret. The secret is a string, typically generated from the tokens.secret() or tokens.secretSync() methods. This token is what you should add into HTML <form> blocks and expect the user's browser to provide back.

var secret = tokens.secretSync()
var token = tokens.create(secret)

tokens.secret(callback)

Asynchronously create a new secret, which is a string. The secret is to be kept on the server, typically stored in a server-side session for the user. The secret should be at least per user.

tokens.secret(function (err, secret) {
  if (err) throw err
  // do something with the secret
})

tokens.secret()

Asynchronously create a new secret and return a Promise. Please see tokens.secret(callback) documentation for full details.

Note: To use promises in Node.js prior to 0.12, promises must be "polyfilled" using global.Promise = require('bluebird').

tokens.secret().then(function (secret) {
  // do something with the secret
})

tokens.secretSync()

A synchronous version of tokens.secret(callback). Please see tokens.secret(callback) documentation for full details.

var secret = tokens.secretSync()

tokens.verify(secret, token)

Check whether a CSRF token is valid for the given secret, returning a Boolean.

if (!tokens.verify(secret, token)) {
  throw new Error('invalid token!')
}

License

MIT