Validating Shopify API requests in Node.js when scopes are modified

Other Questions Shopify
1

Hey everyone,

I’m working on a Shopify app using Node.js and I’ve run into a bit of a roadblock. I need to figure out how to check if a Shopify API request is still valid when the scope has been changed.

Here’s what I’m trying to do:

const validateRequest = (req) => {
  // Check if request is valid
  // Handle scope changes
  // Return true or false
}

app.use((req, res, next) => {
  if (validateRequest(req)) {
    next()
  } else {
    res.status(401).send('Unauthorized')
  }
})

Has anyone dealt with this before? I’m not sure how to handle scope changes in the validation process. Any tips or code examples would be super helpful. Thanks in advance!

2

yo dude, i’ve been there. one thing that worked for me was using a webhook. set it up to listen for app/uninstalled events. when it triggers, invalidate the token in ur db. then on each request, check if the token’s still valid. if not, force a re-auth. keeps things simple n works like a charm!

3

I’ve found a robust solution for this issue in my Shopify app projects. Instead of reinventing the wheel, I’d recommend using the ‘@shopify/shopify-api’ package. It provides a comprehensive set of tools for handling API validation, including scope changes.

Here’s a more detailed approach you could implement:

  1. Install the package: npm install @shopify/shopify-api
  2. Set up the Shopify API client with your app’s credentials
  3. Use the validateAuthCallback method for incoming requests

Your validateRequest function could look something like this:

const { Shopify } = require('@shopify/shopify-api');

const validateRequest = async (req) => {
  try {
    const valid = await Shopify.Auth.validateAuthCallback(req, res, req.query);
    return valid;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Validation error:', error);
    return false;
  }
};

This approach handles scope changes automatically and provides a more maintainable solution in the long run.

4

I’ve encountered this issue in my Shopify app development work. One approach that’s served me well is implementing a token-based system with expiration checks. Here’s a brief overview:

Store the access token and its associated scopes in your database when the app is installed or authenticated. Include an expiration timestamp.

In your validateRequest function, retrieve the stored token and check its expiration. If it’s expired or the scopes don’t match the current request, initiate a re-authentication process.

This method provides a balance between security and performance, as you’re not making an API call to Shopify for every request. It also allows you to handle scope changes gracefully by forcing a new authentication flow when needed.

Remember to update your stored token and scopes whenever the app’s authentication status changes. This approach has proven robust in my experience.

5

I’ve encountered this issue in my Shopify app development journey. One effective approach I’ve used is implementing a custom middleware that checks the scopes on each request. Here’s a rough outline of how I tackled it:

First, I stored the current scopes in a database or cache when the app was installed or when scopes were updated. Then, in the middleware, I fetched the stored scopes and compared them with the scopes in the incoming request.

If there was a mismatch, I triggered a re-authentication flow. This ensured that the app always had the correct permissions.

It’s a bit more work upfront, but it saved me a lot of headaches down the line, especially when dealing with apps that frequently update their scope requirements. Just remember to keep your scope storage mechanism updated whenever changes occur in your app’s authentication process.

6

hey mate, i’ve dealt with this before. you gotta use shopify’s library for node.js to handle validation. it’s got built-in methods for checking scopes. something like:

const Shopify = require('@shopify/shopify-api');
const isValid = await Shopify.Auth.validateAuthCallback(req, res, query);

that should do the trick for ya. good luck!

7

yo, had similar probs. try this:

const validateRequest = async (req) => {
const storedScopes = await getStoredScopes(); // fetch from db
const reqScopes = req.query.scope.split(‘,’);
return storedScopes.every(scope => reqScopes.includes(scope));
};

update storedScopes when installing/changing. works for me, hope it helps!