I just finished building my first REST API and deployed it on Heroku. I thought it would be fun to try monetizing it through RapidAPI (even if I make just a few bucks).
When I test my API through RapidAPI’s dashboard, everything works perfectly. Their system requires an API key for all requests, which is exactly what I want.
But here’s my problem: if I visit my Heroku app URL directly in a browser or test it with Postman, I can make GET requests without any API key at all. There are no restrictions whatsoever.
I noticed that RapidAPI makes requests to their own URL (not directly to my Heroku URL), but I’m concerned that my original Heroku endpoint is still publicly accessible.
Sure, the chances of someone randomly discovering my Heroku app URL are pretty slim, but it’s still a security concern that bothers me.
How can I configure my setup so that my Heroku-deployed API only accepts requests that come through RapidAPI? I want to block direct access completely.
To secure your Heroku API, implement IP whitelisting using environment variables. Restrict requests by allowing only those originating from RapidAPI’s server IPs, which you can find in their documentation. Additionally, establish an API key system; configure RapidAPI to send requests with a secret token that you define in your Heroku environment variables. This method ensures double protection, requiring both the correct IP address and the secret token for access, thus preventing unauthorized use even if someone discovers your Heroku URL.
RapidAPI usually sends specific referrer headers or user-agent strings with their requests - most API platforms do this for tracking. I built a simple auth layer that validates these platform-specific identifiers. In my Express app, I added middleware to check the request origin and block anything that doesn’t match RapidAPI’s signature. You can store the expected header values in Heroku environment variables, so it’s easy to update if RapidAPI changes their format. This has worked great for my weather API - it’s been running on RapidAPI for eight months without issues. Just find those unique request characteristics that only RapidAPI sends.
just change your heroku domain to smth random and hard to guess. instead of myapi.herokuapp.com, use like xk7m9-random-string.herokuapp.com. not bulletproof, but combine it with rapidapi header checks and it works well for small apis. every1’s suggesting complex proxy setups but that’s total overkill.
Headers and IP whitelisting work but break when platforms update their infrastructure. Been there multiple times.
Best solution? Build a proxy layer that handles auth separately from your main API. Keeps your business logic clean and makes switching between API marketplaces easy.
I did this last year for multiple APIs across different platforms. Instead of hardcoding platform checks into each API, I built an automation workflow that acts as a smart proxy.
It validates requests, checks auth tokens, logs usage, and forwards legit requests to your Heroku app. Set up your Heroku app to only accept requests from this proxy by checking for a specific header or token.
The killer feature? You can configure different rules for different platforms without touching your main code. When RapidAPI changes their headers tomorrow, just update the workflow instead of redeploying your API.
For API gateway automation like this, Latenode’s visual builder makes setting up these validation workflows super straightforward. Takes about 10 minutes.
The Problem: Your Heroku-deployed REST API is accessible without an API key when accessed directly, despite functioning correctly through RapidAPI. You want to restrict access to only requests originating from RapidAPI, preventing unauthorized direct access.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause): Direct access to your Heroku app bypasses RapidAPI’s authentication mechanism. RapidAPI uses its own infrastructure and adds headers to requests before forwarding them to your API. By accessing your Heroku app directly, you’re circumventing these security headers.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Validate Requests Using RapidAPI’s X-RapidAPI-Proxy-Secret Header: This is the most effective solution. RapidAPI includes a unique secret header with each request. You will leverage this to verify that requests are legitimately coming from RapidAPI. Here’s how to implement this in your backend code (example using Node.js and Express):
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const RAPIDAPI_PROXY_SECRET = process.env.RAPIDAPI_PROXY_SECRET; // Retrieve the secret from your Heroku config vars
app.use((req, res, next) => {
const proxySecret = req.headers['x-rapidapi-proxy-secret'];
if (proxySecret !== RAPIDAPI_PROXY_SECRET) {
return res.status(401).json({ message: 'Unauthorized' });
}
next();
});
// ... rest of your API routes ...
app.listen(process.env.PORT || 3000);
Crucial Step: Set the RAPIDAPI_PROXY_SECRET environment variable in your Heroku app settings. You will find this secret in your RapidAPI provider dashboard under the endpoint settings for your API. Never hardcode this secret directly into your code.
Verify Heroku Configuration: Ensure the RAPIDAPI_PROXY_SECRET environment variable is correctly set and accessible by your Heroku app. You can verify this using the Heroku CLI (heroku config).
Test Thoroughly: After deploying these changes, test your API extensively using both RapidAPI’s dashboard and direct access (your Heroku URL). Direct access should now result in a 401 Unauthorized error.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Incorrect Secret: Double-check that you’ve copied the X-RapidAPI-Proxy-Secret correctly from your RapidAPI dashboard and that it’s accurately set as an environment variable.
Header Case Sensitivity: Ensure your code is case-sensitive when checking the header name (x-rapidapi-proxy-secret).
Alternative Header Names (Rare): While unlikely, RapidAPI might use different header names in the future. Consult their documentation to be sure.
Error Handling: Implement robust error handling for unexpected situations, and log any access attempts that are blocked.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!
I faced a similar challenge when I started using RapidAPI to manage my API. To restrict access, I implemented a solution that involves validating incoming requests based on headers. RapidAPI typically sends specific headers such as X-RapidAPI-Key and X-RapidAPI-Host, which you can check within your server code. I created a middleware in my backend that verifies the presence and correctness of these headers. If the headers are missing or invalid, the response should be a 403 Forbidden, effectively blocking any direct access while allowing requests coming through RapidAPI. It’s also worth noting that you can check the User-Agent header, as RapidAPI maintains a consistent one for their requests. Testing thoroughly through the RapidAPI dashboard is crucial to ensure everything operates smoothly.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause): Direct access to your Heroku app bypasses RapidAPI’s authentication mechanism. RapidAPI uses its own infrastructure and adds headers to requests before forwarding them to your API. By accessing your Heroku app directly, you’re circumventing these security headers.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!