Security Middleware in Django
Introduction
In the world of web development, security is of utmost importance. Django, a high-level Python web framework, offers several built-in security features. One of the key components in ensuring security in a Django application is the use of middleware. Middleware is a way to process requests globally before they reach the view or after the view has processed them.
What is Middleware?
Middleware is a framework of hooks into Django's request/response processing. It's a lightweight, low-level "plugin" system for globally altering Django's input or output. Each middleware component is responsible for doing some specific function.
For example, Django includes a SessionMiddleware, which manages sessions across requests, and a CommonMiddleware, which performs a number of tasks like URL rewriting and setting response headers.
Security Middleware in Django
Django provides several security-related middleware classes to help protect your application from various types of attacks. Some of the key security middleware provided by Django include:
- SecurityMiddleware: Provides several security enhancements to the HTTP headers.
- XContentOptionsMiddleware: Sets the X-Content-Type-Options header to prevent MIME type sniffing.
- XFrameOptionsMiddleware: Prevents clickjacking by setting the X-Frame-Options header.
- CSRF Middleware: Helps protect against Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks.
Configuring Security Middleware
To configure security middleware, you need to add the respective middleware classes to the MIDDLEWARE setting in your settings.py file. Here's an example of how to add security middleware:
MIDDLEWARE = [
'django.middleware.security.SecurityMiddleware',
'django.middleware.clickjacking.XFrameOptionsMiddleware',
'django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware',
'django.middleware.csrf.CsrfViewMiddleware',
'django.middleware.gzip.GZipMiddleware',
'django.middleware.locale.LocaleMiddleware',
'django.middleware.common.BrokenLinkEmailsMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.ConditionalGetMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.ETagMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.LastModifiedMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.ContentTypeOptionsMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.XContentOptionsMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.XFrameOptionsMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.SecurityMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpMethodMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpProtocolMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpVersionMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpRequestMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpResponseMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpHeadersMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpCookiesMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpRedirectMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpXFrameOptionsMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpXContentOptionsMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpXXSSProtectionMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpStrictTransportSecurityMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpContentSecurityPolicyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpReferrerPolicyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpFeaturePolicyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpPermissionsPolicyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectCTMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpPublicKeyPinsMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectCTReportEndpointMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportEndpointMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware',
'django.middleware.http.HttpExpectStapleReportOnlyReportEndpointReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyReportOnlyMiddleware'
]
SecurityMiddleware
The SecurityMiddleware provides several security enhancements to the HTTP headers. It can enforce SSL, set HSTS headers, and prevent content sniffing. You can configure it in your settings.py file:
SECURE_SSL_REDIRECT = True SECURE_HSTS_SECONDS = 3600 SECURE_HSTS_INCLUDE_SUBDOMAINS = True