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Webhooks Security

Protecting your webhook endpoints is crucial for maintaining the security and integrity of your integration with Slate POV Platform. This guide covers essential security measures you should implement.

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Why Webhooks Security Matters

Webhooks are HTTP endpoints that receive data from external sources. Without proper security measures, malicious actors could:
  • Send fake webhook events to your application
  • Flood your servers with requests
  • Gain unauthorized access to your data
  • Disrupt your application’s functionality

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Essential Security Measures

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1. Verify Webhook Signatures

Always verify that webhooks are coming from Slate POV Platform by checking the request signature. Slate POV Platform uses Svix for webhook delivery, which provides built-in signature verification. 
// Using Svix library (recommended)
const { headers, rawBody } = req;
const svix = new Svix(webhookSecret);

try {
  const payload = svix.verify(rawBody, headers);
  // Process verified payload
  console.log('Verified webhook:', payload);
} catch (err) {
  console.error('Invalid webhook signature:', err);
  res.status(400).json({ error: 'Invalid signature' });
}

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2. Restrict by IP Address

Only accept requests from Svix’s webhook IP addresses. This prevents attackers from flooding your servers or wasting your compute resources.
Note: For the most up-to-date list, see Svix’s webhook IPs documentation.

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3. Use HTTPS

Always use HTTPS for your webhook endpoints. This ensures that data is encrypted in transit and prevents man-in-the-middle attacks.

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4. Implement Rate Limiting

Protect your webhook endpoints from abuse by implementing rate limiting.

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5. Validate Payload Structure

Always validate the structure of incoming webhook payloads before processing them. 
function validateWebhookPayload(payload) {
  const requiredFields = ['event', 'timestamp', 'source', 'data'];
  
  for (const field of requiredFields) {
    if (!payload.hasOwnProperty(field)) {
      throw new Error(`Missing required field: ${field}`);
    }
  }
  
  if (payload.source !== 'homestar_pov_platform') {
    throw new Error('Invalid webhook source');
  }
  
  // Validate timestamp format
  const timestamp = new Date(payload.timestamp);
  if (isNaN(timestamp.getTime())) {
    throw new Error('Invalid timestamp format');
  }
  
  return true;
}

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6. Implement Idempotency

Handle duplicate webhook deliveries gracefully by implementing idempotency.

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Security Checklist

Before going live with your webhook integration, ensure you have implemented:
  • Webhook signature verification
  • IP address restrictions
  • HTTPS endpoints
  • Rate limiting
  • Payload validation
  • Idempotency handling
  • Error logging and monitoring
  • Secure storage of webhook secrets

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Monitoring and Logging

Implement comprehensive logging for your webhook endpoints: 
// Log all webhook requests
app.use('/webhooks/homestar', (req, res, next) => {
  console.log(`Webhook received: ${req.method} ${req.path}`, {
    ip: req.ip,
    userAgent: req.get('User-Agent'),
    timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
  });
  next();
});

// Log webhook processing errors
app.use('/webhooks/homestar', (err, req, res, next) => {
  console.error('Webhook processing error:', {
    error: err.message,
    stack: err.stack,
    payload: req.body,
    timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
  });
  
  // Send error to monitoring service
  sendToMonitoringService('webhook_error', {
    error: err.message,
    event: req.body?.event,
    applicationId: req.body?.data?.slateApplicationId
  });
  
  res.status(500).json({ error: 'Internal server error' });
});

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Troubleshooting

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Common Security Issues

  1. Invalid signatures: Ensure you’re using the correct webhook secret from your Slate POV Platform Dashboard
  2. IP restrictions: Verify you’re using the current Svix IP addresses
  3. HTTPS issues: Check your SSL certificate configuration
  4. Rate limiting: Adjust limits based on your expected webhook volume

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Getting Help

If you encounter security-related issues:
  • Check the Svix documentation for signature verification
  • Review webhook delivery logs in the provided dashboard

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Next Steps