Implementing SMS OTP/2FA in Node.js and Express with Infobip - code-examples -

Frequently Asked Questions

Implement SMS OTP 2FA using Express.js, the Infobip 2FA API, and environment variables for API keys. This setup allows you to send and verify one-time passwords, enhancing security for actions like login or registration by requiring a second verification step beyond a password.
The Infobip 2FA API is used for sending and verifying one-time passwords (OTPs) via various channels like SMS, voice calls, or email. This guide focuses on SMS OTPs, adding an extra layer of security to user accounts.
The `express-rate-limit` middleware helps protect your Node.js application from abuse by limiting the number of OTP requests and verification attempts from a single IP address within a timeframe, enhancing security.
Always use environment variables for sensitive information like API keys. The dotenv module in Node.js helps manage environment variables, ensuring your credentials are not exposed in your source code.
Send a POST request to Infobip's /2fa/2/pin endpoint using a library like axios. Provide your application ID, message ID, and user's phone number. The response contains a pinId, which should be stored securely on the server.
Use the pinId received from the send OTP request, store it securely on the server, and the user-provided OTP to make a POST request to Infobip's /2fa/2/pin/{pinId}/verify endpoint. This process confirms if the OTP is valid.
The pinId is a unique identifier for each OTP sent by Infobip's 2FA API. It's crucial for server-side tracking and verifying the correct OTP against the user's attempt, maintaining security and preventing unauthorized access.
Rate limiting protects against brute-force attacks and prevents abuse. It limits how many OTP requests can be made within a certain timeframe, enhancing security.
Clean up the stored `pinId` and other OTP-related data immediately after successful verification or after a defined number of failed attempts, or upon expiry. This is important for security best practices.
No, storing pinId in an in-memory object like otpStore is NOT suitable for production. Use a database (like Redis, PostgreSQL, MongoDB) or proper session management (like express-session) with a persistent store instead.
Essential libraries include express for the web framework, dotenv for managing environment variables, axios for making API requests, and express-rate-limit for security. Optionally, a database connector or session management library is needed for production.
Handle errors by checking the error response from the Infobip API. For expected errors like WRONG_PIN, return false. For other errors, log details and return generic error messages to the client, protecting sensitive information.
The project includes server.js for the main application, infobipService.js for API interaction logic, .env for configuration, .gitignore for version control, node_modules, package.json, and package-lock.json. This structure organizes the core components of the application.