Block Malicious URL Entry

Block Malicious URL Entry

Use this skill when a user asks to block a malicious zws.im short URL, its redirected destination, or a target hostname/domain.

This is a production-adjacent workflow. Treat PostgreSQL and Redis writes as high risk, keep secrets out of output, and verify with public/API requests before reporting completion.

Required inputs

• Suspicious zws.im URL and/or target URL.
• Target hostname/domain when the user already knows it.
• Production environment scope, normally Railway production and service API.

Safety rules

• Never print DATABASE_URL, REDIS_URL, API keys, passwords, or full environment output.
• Prefer Railway CLI railway run --service API --environment production -- ... over local .env for production data.
• Always run a dry run before applying changes unless the user explicitly instructs an immediate production block.
• Use parameterized SQL and transactions. Never use broad unscoped UPDATE or any DELETE.
• Update only:
  • blocked_hostnames.hostname
  • urls.blocked
  • Redis set blocked-hostnames
• If the target domain is ambiguous, stop and clarify before applying.

Workflow

1. Inspect the relevant code paths if needed:

   • apps/api/src/db/schema.ts
   • apps/api/src/blocked-hostnames/blocked-hostnames.service.ts
   • apps/api/src/blocked-urls/blocked-urls.service.ts
   • apps/api/src/urls/urls.service.ts
   • apps/api/src/urls/dtos/short.dto.ts
   • apps/web/app/[short]/page.tsx

2. Determine the target:

   • Decode the short path with decodeURIComponent.
   • Apply SHORT_REWRITES if configured.
   • Base64 encode the decoded short ID for urls.short_base64.
   • Fetch the short URL with redirect: 'manual' to read Location without following malicious content.

3. Run a dry run with the API helper script:

   cd apps/api
   railway run --service API --environment production -- \
     node scripts/block-malicious-url.ts \
       --dry-run \
       --url 'https://zws.im/...' \
       --hostname 'example.com'
   

4. Review the JSON output:

   • shortBase64 should be present for a zws short URL.
   • resolvedTargetUrl should match the malicious redirect target when available.
   • existingShortRow or existingTargetRows should identify rows to block.
   • existingBlockedHostname shows whether the domain is already blocked.

5. Apply the block:

   cd apps/api
   railway run --service API --environment production -- \
     node scripts/block-malicious-url.ts \
       --apply \
       --url 'https://zws.im/...' \
       --hostname 'example.com'
   

6. Verify:

   • API should return 410 Gone for the short URL.
   • Web URL should not externally redirect to the malicious domain. It may return 200 with the blocked URL page.
   • Redis output should show the domain was added or already present.

Verification commands

Use read-only HTTP checks after applying:

node --input-type=module <<'EOF'
const url = 'https://zws.im/...';
const api = new URL(url);
api.hostname = 'api.zws.im';
const [web, apiResponse] = await Promise.all([
	fetch(url, { redirect: 'manual' }),
	fetch(api, { redirect: 'manual' }),
]);
console.log(JSON.stringify({
	web: { status: web.status, location: web.headers.get('location') },
	api: {
		status: apiResponse.status,
		location: apiResponse.headers.get('location'),
		body: await apiResponse.text(),
	},
}, null, 2));
EOF

Expected API result:

{
	"status": 410,
	"location": null
}

Troubleshooting

• psql not found: use the Node helper script with the pg dependency in apps/api.
• Cannot find package 'pg': run from apps/api and ensure workspace dependencies are installed.
• Local .env has the wrong DB: use railway run --service API --environment production -- ...; do not trust local row counts for production.
• Railway MCP unauthorized: use the Railway CLI if railway status works.
• railway run heredoc times out: use node -e or the helper script path instead of heredocs.
• SELF_SIGNED_CERT_IN_CHAIN: try the helper through Railway production env first. For direct local DB testing, ssl: { rejectUnauthorized: false } may be required.
• SQL syntax error near ): usually shell interpolation ate $1 placeholders. Use the helper script instead of inline SQL.
• Public web returns 200 after blocking: this can be correct if it renders the blocked page. Verify the API returns 410.
• DB says blocked but behavior has not changed: update Redis set blocked-hostnames or wait for the 30-minute cache expiry.

Success criteria

• Target hostname exists in blocked_hostnames.
• Target short URL row is blocked = true when a short URL was provided.
• Redis set blocked-hostnames contains the hostname for immediate enforcement.
• API returns 410 Gone for the malicious short URL.
• Final response summarizes what was blocked and the proof from verification.