Question

inject API key and other delicate info in html/javascript

Asked by: Dreammonkey

Hi Experts,

I've recently started exploring facebook apps, using it with AS3, I read all over the net that one should be careful with the api keys and the special secret, but I haven't found a good explanation on how to properly secure these data and eventually inject them into your code.

I Need to get these values into the javascript of my html page, how can I do this?

from a database?
through php?
https// ...

I'd like a complete answer for this one, with the necessary links and instructions on how to formulate my code.

Thanks in Advance !

DM

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Asked On
2009-10-15 at 01:24:55ID24814066
Tags

API key Facebook security javascript php flash

Topics

Security Issues in Programming

,

JavaScript

,

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: MatthiasVancePosted on 2009-10-15 at 05:14:15ID: 25579635

Well, any code you have in JavaScript will be visible to the end-user (and any intermediates).

I suggest that you create a configuration file with all the information, and when you need it in an action (that you call from JS), you just include it.

Kind regards,

Matthias Vance

 

by: MatthiasVancePosted on 2009-10-15 at 05:14:43ID: 25579637

*That is, in PHP.

 

by: DreammonkeyPosted on 2009-10-15 at 06:34:57ID: 25580330

Thanks for that answer Matthias, I was thinking along that line, but I thought Javascript and php could not be combined...?

So I'm a bit in the dark on how to translate my php vars to javscript vars...

Could you give me something to get me started perhaps?

Kind Regards,

DM

 

by: MatthiasVancePosted on 2009-10-15 at 06:55:02ID: 25580535

You can use the JS XMLHttpRequest Object to dynamically load information served by PHP.

I suggest you try to create something using JavaScript and PHP this way, and if you have any questions, post a link to your test page(s) and/or supply code, so we can help you with any additional problems.

Kind regards,

Matthias Vance

References

 

by: DreammonkeyPosted on 2009-10-15 at 07:00:36ID: 25580580

Thanks Matthias,

I will look into this asap, I'll keep you posted on the results...

DM

 

by: DreammonkeyPosted on 2009-10-19 at 10:58:02ID: 25607429

Hi there Matthias,

I took a look at your suggestion and it's very interesting, I was able to make an HttpRequest from JS to PHP,
trouble is, I'm still a bit in the dark on how to secure the data (api_key and secret) .

If I let the php echo those values, they will still be visible to anyone who wants to look for them, aren't they ?

script I'm using below,

I'm probably doing this the wrong way, your help is highly appreciated !

DM

[Javascript]
 
function getConfig()
{
 
	http.open('get', 'php/config.php?api=1');
 
	http.onreadystatechange = handleConfig; 
 
	http.send(null);
}
function handleConfig()
{
	
	if(http.readyState == 4){ //Finished loading the response
		
		var response = http.responseText;
		alert('response:' + response);
		
	}
}
[PHP]
 
<?php
    
define("API_KEY", "{My_API_key}");
 
if ($_GET['api'] == 1) { 
	echo API_KEY; 
};
 
?>

                                              
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by: MatthiasVancePosted on 2009-10-19 at 12:00:13ID: 25607972

Well, you sure don't want to GET the data from PHP.
It needs to stay server side.

I don't know the FaceBook API, but let's say you want to add a friend, by using JavaScript and PHP. The API for that might be facebook.com/addFriend.php?apikey=<key>&friend=<username>.

Your JavaScript would just dynamically call yourhost/addFriend.php&friend=<username>.

And that PHP page would load the API key from a configuration file, and do the request.

Kind regards,

Matthias Vance

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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