Api Security Hardening

Community

aj-geddes

api-security-hardening

Secure REST APIs with authentication, rate limiting, CORS, input validation, and security middleware. Use when building or hardening API endpoints against common attacks.

Overview

Publisher	aj-geddes
Repository	`useful-ai-prompts`
Skill name	`api-security-hardening`
Stars	340
Forks	55
Bundled files	4
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
4 bundled files
Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.
Open source
Published by aj-geddes on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Api Security Hardening AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts.git /tmp/useful-ai-prompts
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/useful-ai-prompts/skills/api-security-hardening .claude/skills/api-security-hardening

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Api Security Hardening in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Api Security Hardening on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Api Security Hardening is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Overview

Implement comprehensive API security measures including authentication, authorization, rate limiting, input validation, and attack prevention to protect against common vulnerabilities.

When to Use

New API development
Security audit remediation
Production API hardening
Compliance requirements
High-traffic API protection
Public API exposure

Quick Start

Minimal working example:

javascript
// secure-api.js - Comprehensive API security
const express = require("express");
const helmet = require("helmet");
const rateLimit = require("express-rate-limit");
const mongoSanitize = require("express-mongo-sanitize");
const xss = require("xss-clean");
const hpp = require("hpp");
const cors = require("cors");
const jwt = require("jsonwebtoken");
const validator = require("validator");

class SecureAPIServer {
  constructor() {
    this.app = express();
    this.setupSecurityMiddleware();
    this.setupRoutes();
  }

  setupSecurityMiddleware() {
    // 1. Helmet - Set security headers
    this.app.use(
      helmet({
        contentSecurityPolicy: {
          directives: {
            defaultSrc: ["'self'"],
// ... (see reference guides for full implementation)

Reference Guides

Detailed implementations in the references/ directory:

Guide	Contents
Node.js/Express API Security	Node.js/Express API Security
Python FastAPI Security	Python FastAPI Security
API Gateway Security Configuration	API Gateway Security Configuration

Best Practices

✅ DO

Use HTTPS everywhere
Implement rate limiting
Validate all inputs
Use security headers
Log security events
Implement CORS properly
Use strong authentication
Version your APIs

❌ DON'T

Expose stack traces
Return detailed errors
Trust user input
Use HTTP for APIs
Skip input validation
Ignore rate limiting

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Api Security Hardening AI skill do?

Secure REST APIs with authentication, rate limiting, CORS, input validation, and security middleware. Use when building or hardening API endpoints against common attacks.

Why use Api Security Hardening on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Api Security Hardening is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Api Security Hardening in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts/tree/main/skills/api-security-hardening. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Api Security Hardening?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Api Security Hardening?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Api Security Hardening with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Api Security Hardening AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by aj-geddes under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Api Security Hardening

Overview