How I Secure My Laravel + React Apps as a Beginner Developer (Real-World Guide)

As a beginner web developer, I used to overlook security. I assumed "Laravel handles most of it" or "React is just frontend — no big deal."

That changed when my first full-stack app got hit with fake signups and odd requests. Security isn’t optional.

Securing Laravel: Lessons from My Mistakes

1. Laravel Sanctum for Easy API Authentication

Connecting React to Laravel APIs was a mess until I found Laravel Sanctum. I struggled with token management, CSRF errors, and unprotected routes.

composer require laravel/sanctum

In routes/api.php:

Route::middleware('auth:sanctum')->get('/user', function (Request $request) {
    return $request->user();
});

Tip: Test routes with and without tokens. I once skipped middleware, and my endpoint was wide open.

2. Composer Security Checker

I used an outdated package with a vulnerability — unknowingly. Now, I run this before deploying:

composer require enlightn/security-checker --dev
php artisan security:check

Lesson: Outdated packages can silently compromise your app.

3. Debug Mode in Production

I shipped a project with APP_DEBUG=true, exposing stack traces publicly. Now, I ensure APP_DEBUG=false before every deployment.

Securing React: Client-Side Isn’t Safe Either

1. DOMPurify Against XSS Attacks

My React comment box used dangerouslySetInnerHTML. Someone tested this:

<img src=x onerror=alert('XSS-attack!')>

I now sanitize inputs with:

import DOMPurify from 'dompurify';
const cleanHTML = DOMPurify.sanitize(userInput);

Takeaway: Never trust user input, even from logged-in users.

2. Axios with CSRF and Tokens

CSRF errors with Laravel Sanctum were brutal. Here’s the fix:

axios.get('/sanctum/csrf-cookie').then(() => {
  axios.post('/login', credentials).then(...);
});
axios.defaults.withCredentials = true;

Mistake: Forgetting withCredentials cost me an hour of debugging 401 errors.

My Full-Stack Security Habits

1. Laravel Telescope for Monitoring

In dev mode, Telescope tracks API requests, auth attempts, and failed logins:

composer require laravel/telescope --dev
php artisan telescope:install

It caught someone brute-forcing tokens on my API.

2. Deployment Security Checklist

• ✅ HTTPS enabled
• ✅ APP_DEBUG=false
• ✅ .env in .gitignore
• ✅ Run php artisan security:check
• ✅ DOMPurify on React inputs
• ✅ Axios with withCredentials
• ✅ Check headers on securityheaders.com

Final Thoughts: Security is a Journey

Security isn’t a one-time fix — it’s a skill built over time. Test like a hacker, patch what breaks, and repeat.

Want the codebase? Let me know, and I’ll share it on GitHub!