Files
stack/packages/mosaic/framework/skills/vercel-react-best-practices/rules/server-auth-actions.md
T
fargo 1a822493ba format: apply repo prettier (3.8.1) to the folded skills tree
963 markdown files reformatted with the repository's pinned prettier so
pnpm format:check covers the folded tree like every other repo file.

The formatter's embedded-language pass also normalized code fences
(TS semicolons, closed HTML tags in examples, lowercased CSS hex colors,
one renumbered list that skipped an index). Alphanumeric token deltas vs
the fold commit were audited file-by-file; all are formatter-equivalent
markup normalizations plus the four sanitized skills.
2026-08-19 14:37:17 -05:00

2.6 KiB

title, impact, impactDescription, tags
title impact impactDescription tags
Authenticate Server Actions Like API Routes CRITICAL prevents unauthorized access to server mutations server, server-actions, authentication, security, authorization

Authenticate Server Actions Like API Routes

Impact: CRITICAL (prevents unauthorized access to server mutations)

Server Actions (functions with "use server") are exposed as public endpoints, just like API routes. Always verify authentication and authorization inside each Server Action—do not rely solely on middleware, layout guards, or page-level checks, as Server Actions can be invoked directly.

Next.js documentation explicitly states: "Treat Server Actions with the same security considerations as public-facing API endpoints, and verify if the user is allowed to perform a mutation."

Incorrect (no authentication check):

'use server';

export async function deleteUser(userId: string) {
  // Anyone can call this! No auth check
  await db.user.delete({ where: { id: userId } });
  return { success: true };
}

Correct (authentication inside the action):

'use server';

import { verifySession } from '@/lib/auth';
import { unauthorized } from '@/lib/errors';

export async function deleteUser(userId: string) {
  // Always check auth inside the action
  const session = await verifySession();

  if (!session) {
    throw unauthorized('Must be logged in');
  }

  // Check authorization too
  if (session.user.role !== 'admin' && session.user.id !== userId) {
    throw unauthorized('Cannot delete other users');
  }

  await db.user.delete({ where: { id: userId } });
  return { success: true };
}

With input validation:

'use server';

import { verifySession } from '@/lib/auth';
import { z } from 'zod';

const updateProfileSchema = z.object({
  userId: z.string().uuid(),
  name: z.string().min(1).max(100),
  email: z.string().email(),
});

export async function updateProfile(data: unknown) {
  // Validate input first
  const validated = updateProfileSchema.parse(data);

  // Then authenticate
  const session = await verifySession();
  if (!session) {
    throw new Error('Unauthorized');
  }

  // Then authorize
  if (session.user.id !== validated.userId) {
    throw new Error('Can only update own profile');
  }

  // Finally perform the mutation
  await db.user.update({
    where: { id: validated.userId },
    data: {
      name: validated.name,
      email: validated.email,
    },
  });

  return { success: true };
}

Reference: https://nextjs.org/docs/app/guides/authentication