kryndex / express-sslify

Enforces SSL for node.js express projects

express-sslify

This simple module enforces HTTPS connections on any incoming GET and HEAD requests. In case of a non-encrypted HTTP request, express-sslify automatically redirects to an HTTPS address using a 301 permanent redirect. Any other type of request (e.g., POST) will fail with a 403 error message.

express-sslify also works behind reverse proxies (load balancers) such as those used by Heroku or nodejitsu. In those cases, however, the trustProtoHeader parameter has to be set (see below)

Usage

First, install the module:

$ npm install express-sslify --save

Afterwards, require the module and use the HTTPS() method:

var express = require('express');
var http = require('http');
var enforce = require('express-sslify');

var app = express();

// Use enforce.HTTPS({ trustProtoHeader: true }) in case you are behind
// a load balancer (e.g. Heroku). See further comments below
app.use(enforce.HTTPS());

http.createServer(app).listen(app.get('port'), function() {
	console.log('Express server listening on port ' + app.get('port'));
});

Reverse Proxies (Heroku, nodejitsu and others)

Heroku, nodejitsu and other hosters often use reverse proxies which offer SSL endpoints but then forward unencrypted HTTP traffic to the website. This makes it difficult to detect if the original request was indeed via HTTPS. Luckily, most reverse proxies set the x-forwarded-proto header flag with the original request scheme. express-sslify is ready for such scenarios, but you have to specifically request the evaluation of this flag:

app.use(enforce.HTTPS({ trustProtoHeader: true }))

Please do not set this flag if you are not behind a proxy that is setting this flag. HTTP headers can be easily spoofed outside of environments that are actively setting/removing the header.

Azure support

Azure has a slightly different way of signaling encrypted connections. To tell express-sslify to look out for Azure's x-arr-ssl header do the following:

app.use(enforce.HTTPS({ trustAzureHeader: true }))

Please do not set this flag if you are not behind an Azure proxy as this flag can be easily spoofed outside of an Azure environment.

X-Forwarded-Host header support

If your reverse proxy sends the original host using the X-Forwarded-Host header and you need to use that instead of the Host header for the redirect, use the trustXForwardedHostHeader flag:

app.use(enforce.HTTPS({ trustXForwardedHostHeader: true }))

Tests

Download the whole repository and call:

$ npm install; npm test

Credits and License

express-sslify is licensed under the MIT license. If you'd like to be informed about new projects follow @TheSumOfAll.

Copyright (c) 2013-2016 Florian Heinemann