fix(security): stop reflecting submitted values in validation errors everywhere, cap credential lengths, close the login timing oracle

safeValidationErrors moves to utils/routeHelpers and replaces every
res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() }) in the routes, so no 400
body carries the submitted value any more (setup, customer auth and
customer change-password were still echoing rejected passwords).

Admin login, gallery verify, customer login/register/reset, customer
change-password and setup now cap username/slug at 255 and passwords at
MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH at the validator, so an oversized value never reaches
the lockout lookup, bcrypt or the failed-attempt log.

Admin and customer login run one bcrypt compare on every path; the unknown
account branch used to return in microseconds against ~100ms for a wrong
password, which enumerated usernames despite the generic message.

backend/__tests__/routes/passwordStrengthDos.test.js

@@ -65,8 +65,10 @@ describe('password validation length cap (zxcvbn DoS)', () => {
 
     // No route may hand errors.array() straight to the response.
     expect(src).not.toMatch(/errors:\s*errors\.array\(\)/);
-    // ...and the helper that replaces it must drop `value`.
+    // ...and the shared helper that replaces it must drop `value`.
-    expect(src).toMatch(/safeValidationErrors\s*=\s*\(errors\)\s*=>\s*errors\.array\(\)\.map\(\(\{ value, \.\.\.rest \}\)/);
+    const helper = require('fs').readFileSync(
+      require('path').join(__dirname, '../../src/utils/routeHelpers.js'), 'utf8');
+    expect(helper).toMatch(/safeValidationErrors\s*=\s*\(errors\)\s*=>\s*errors\.array\(\)\.map\(\(\{ value, \.\.\.rest \}\)/);
   });
 
   it('applies the cap through the context wrapper too', async () => {

backend/src/routes/adminApiTokens.js

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 const express = require('express');
 const { body, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
+const { safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { db, logActivity } = require('../database/db');
 const { adminAuth } = require('./../middleware/auth');
 const { requirePermission } = require('./../middleware/permissions');
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ router.post(
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
       if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-        return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+        return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
       }
       const { name, scopes, expires_at } = req.body;
       const { plaintext, hashed, preview } = generateApiToken();

backend/src/routes/adminCMS.js

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const path = require('path');
 const fs = require('fs').promises;
 const multer = require('multer');
 const { body, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
+const { safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { db, logActivity } = require('../database/db');
 const { adminAuth } = require('../middleware/auth');
 const { requirePermission } = require('../middleware/permissions');
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ router.put('/pages/:slug', adminAuth, requirePermission('cms.edit'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { slug } = req.params;

backend/src/routes/adminCategories.js

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 const express = require('express');
 const { body, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
+const { safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { db, logActivity } = require('../database/db');
 const { formatBoolean } = require('../utils/dbCompat');
 const { parseBooleanInput } = require('../utils/parsers');
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ router.post('/', adminAuth, requirePermission('settings.edit'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
     
     const { name, slug, is_global = true, event_id = null, is_folder = false } = req.body;
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ router.put('/:id', adminAuth, requirePermission('settings.edit'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { id } = req.params;
@@ -222,7 +223,7 @@ router.put('/:id/hero', adminAuth, requirePermission('settings.edit'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { id } = req.params;
@@ -312,7 +313,7 @@ router.post('/reorder', adminAuth, requirePermission('settings.edit'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const eventId = parseInt(req.body.event_id, 10);
@@ -394,7 +395,7 @@ router.post('/reorder-global', adminAuth, requirePermission('settings.edit'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const orderedIds = req.body.orderedIds.map((id) => parseInt(id, 10));

backend/src/routes/adminCssTemplates.js

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 const express = require('express');
 const router = express.Router();
 const { body, param, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
+const { safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { db, withRetry } = require('../database/db');
 const { adminAuth } = require('../middleware/auth');
 const { requirePermission } = require('../middleware/permissions');
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ router.get('/:slotNumber', adminAuth, requirePermission('branding.view'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { slotNumber } = req.params;
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ router.put('/:slotNumber', adminAuth, requirePermission('branding.edit'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { slotNumber } = req.params;
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ router.post('/:slotNumber/reset', adminAuth, requirePermission('branding.edit'),
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     await withRetry(() =>

backend/src/routes/adminEmail.js

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ const { requireFeatureFlag } = require('../middleware/requireFeatureFlag');
 const messagingGate = requireFeatureFlag('messaging');
 const { wrapEmailHtml, processEmailQueue, resolveFromIdentity } = require('../services/emailProcessor');
 const emailWebhookTransport = require('../services/emailWebhookTransport');
-const { errorResponse } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
+const { errorResponse, safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const logger = require('../utils/logger');
 const router = express.Router();
 
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ router.post('/config', [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const {
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ router.post('/incoming-config', [
 ], async (req, res) => {
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
-    if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+    if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     const { imap_host, imap_port, imap_secure, imap_user, imap_pass, imap_folder } = req.body;
     const { isHostAllowed } = require('../utils/networkValidation');
     if (!(await isHostAllowed(imap_host))) {
@@ -680,7 +680,7 @@ router.get('/queue', adminAuth, requirePermission('email.view'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const page = req.query.page ? parseInt(req.query.page, 10) : 1;

backend/src/routes/adminEventRename.js

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 const express = require('express');
 const { body, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
+const { safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { adminAuth } = require('../middleware/auth');
 const { requirePermission } = require('../middleware/permissions');
 const { requireEventOwnership } = require('../middleware/ownership');
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ router.post('/:eventId/rename', adminAuth, requirePermission('events.edit'), req
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ success: false, errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ success: false, errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { eventId } = req.params;
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ router.post('/:eventId/validate-rename', adminAuth, requirePermission('events.ed
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ valid: false, errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ valid: false, errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { eventId } = req.params;

backend/src/routes/adminEventTypes.js

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 const express = require('express');
 const { body, param, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
+const { safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { logActivity } = require('../database/db');
 const { adminAuth } = require('../middleware/auth');
 const { requirePermission } = require('../middleware/permissions');
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ router.get('/:id', adminAuth, requirePermission(['settings.view', 'event_types.v
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { id } = req.params;
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ router.post('/', adminAuth, requirePermission('event_types.manage'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const {
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ router.put('/:id', adminAuth, requirePermission('event_types.manage'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { id } = req.params;
@@ -196,7 +197,7 @@ router.delete('/:id', adminAuth, requirePermission('event_types.manage'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { id } = req.params;
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@ router.post('/reorder', adminAuth, requirePermission('event_types.manage'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { orderedIds } = req.body;

backend/src/routes/adminEvents/archiveBulk.js

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ const { adminAuth } = require('../../middleware/auth');
 const { requirePermission } = require('../../middleware/permissions');
 const { archiveEvent } = require('../../services/archiveService');
 const logger = require('../../utils/logger');
-const { errorResponse } = require('../../utils/routeHelpers');
+const { errorResponse, safeValidationErrors } = require('../../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { requireEventOwnership, filterOwnedEventIds } = require('../../middleware/ownership');
 const { deleteEventCascade } = require('./helpers');
 
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
       if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-        return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+        return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
       }
 
       const { eventIds } = req.body;
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
       if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-        return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+        return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
       }
 
       const { eventIds } = req.body;

backend/src/routes/adminEvents/crud.js

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ const { escapeLikePattern, likeWithEscape } = require('../../utils/sqlSecurity')
 const { validatePasswordInContext, getBcryptRounds } = require('../../utils/passwordValidation');
 const logger = require('../../utils/logger');
 const { sanitizeForLog, sanitizeValidationErrors } = require('../../utils/sanitizeForLog');
-const { errorResponse } = require('../../utils/routeHelpers');
+const { errorResponse, safeValidationErrors } = require('../../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { isUniqueViolation } = require('../../utils/dbErrors');
 const { buildShareLinkVariants } = require('../../services/shareLinkService');
 const { parseBooleanInput } = require('../../utils/parsers');
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
         // errors.array() embeds the SUBMITTED value per field — including a
         // rejected plaintext password (GHSA-r794).
         logger.error('Validation errors:', sanitizeValidationErrors(errors.array()));
-        return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+        return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
       }
 
       // Get field requirements from settings
@@ -1053,7 +1053,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
       if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-        return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+        return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
       }
 
       const { id } = req.params;
@@ -1169,7 +1169,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
       if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-        return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+        return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
       }
 
       const { id } = req.params;
@@ -1307,7 +1307,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
       if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-        return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+        return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
       }
 
       const { id } = req.params;
@@ -1624,7 +1624,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
       if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
         // Redact credentials — an invalid update still logs the whole body (GHSA-pgmp).
         logger.debug('Update event validation errors', { errors: sanitizeValidationErrors(errors.array()), body: sanitizeForLog(req.body) });
-        return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+        return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
       }
 
       const { id } = req.params;
@@ -2150,7 +2150,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
       if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-        return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+        return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
       }
 
       const { id } = req.params;

backend/src/routes/adminEvents/downloadResolutions.js

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const { db, logActivity } = require('../../database/db');
 const { formatBoolean } = require('../../utils/dbCompat');
 const { adminAuth } = require('../../middleware/auth');
 const { requirePermission } = require('../../middleware/permissions');
-const { errorResponse } = require('../../utils/routeHelpers');
+const { errorResponse, safeValidationErrors } = require('../../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { parseBooleanInput } = require('../../utils/parsers');
 const { requireEventOwnership } = require('../../middleware/ownership');
 const {
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
       if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-        return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Invalid download settings', details: errors.array() });
+        return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Invalid download settings', details: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
       }
 
       const event = await loadOwnedEvent(req);

backend/src/routes/adminEvents/faces.js

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const { adminAuth } = require('../../middleware/auth');
 const { requirePermission } = require('../../middleware/permissions');
 const { requireFeatureFlag } = require('../../middleware/requireFeatureFlag');
 const { requireEventOwnership } = require('../../middleware/ownership');
-const { errorResponse } = require('../../utils/routeHelpers');
+const { errorResponse, safeValidationErrors } = require('../../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { parseBooleanInput } = require('../../utils/parsers');
 const logger = require('../../utils/logger');
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     ],
     async (req, res) => {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
-      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
 
       try {
         const event = await loadOwnedEvent(req);
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     [body('person_a_id').isInt(), body('person_b_id').isInt()],
     async (req, res) => {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
-      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
 
       try {
         const event = await loadOwnedEvent(req);
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     ],
     async (req, res) => {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
-      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
 
       try {
         const event = await loadOwnedEvent(req);
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     [body('source_ids').isArray({ min: 1 }), body('target_id').isInt()],
     async (req, res) => {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
-      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
 
       try {
         const event = await loadOwnedEvent(req);
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     [body('face_ids').isArray({ min: 1 })],
     async (req, res) => {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
-      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
 
       try {
         const event = await loadOwnedEvent(req);
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     [body('enabled').isBoolean()],
     async (req, res) => {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
-      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
 
       try {
         const enabled = parseBooleanInput(req.body.enabled, false);

backend/src/routes/adminEvents/slideshow.js

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ const { formatBoolean } = require('../../utils/dbCompat');
 const { adminAuth } = require('../../middleware/auth');
 const { requirePermission } = require('../../middleware/permissions');
 const crypto = require('crypto');
-const { errorResponse } = require('../../utils/routeHelpers');
+const { errorResponse, safeValidationErrors } = require('../../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { parseBooleanInput } = require('../../utils/parsers');
 const { requireEventOwnership } = require('../../middleware/ownership');
 const { requireFeatureFlag } = require('../../middleware/requireFeatureFlag');
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ module.exports = (router) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
       if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-        return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Invalid slideshow settings', details: errors.array() });
+        return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Invalid slideshow settings', details: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
       }
 
       const event = await loadOwnedEvent(req);

backend/src/routes/adminPhotoExport.js

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const { adminAuth } = require('../middleware/auth');
 const { requirePermission } = require('../middleware/permissions');
 const { requireEventOwnership } = require('../middleware/ownership');
 const { PhotoFilterBuilder } = require('../utils/photoFilterBuilder');
-const { getPagination } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
+const { getPagination, safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { PhotoExportService } = require('../services/photoExportService');
 const photoAdminMarksService = require('../services/photoAdminMarksService');
 const feedbackService = require('../services/feedbackService');
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ router.get('/:eventId/filtered', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.view'), re
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const eventId = parseInt(req.params.eventId);
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ router.post('/:eventId/export', adminAuth, requirePermission('photos.download'),
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const eventId = parseInt(req.params.eventId);

backend/src/routes/adminRestore.js

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const { adminAuth } = require('../middleware/auth');
 const { requirePermission } = require('../middleware/permissions');
 const { body, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
 const logger = require('../utils/logger');
-const { getPagination } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
+const { getPagination, safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { db } = require('../database/db');
 const path = require('path');
 const fs = require('fs').promises;
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ router.post('/validate', requirePermission('backup.restore'), [
   if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
     return res.status(400).json({
       success: false,
-      errors: errors.array()
+      errors: safeValidationErrors(errors)
     });
   }
 
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ router.post('/start', requirePermission('backup.restore'), [
   if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
     return res.status(400).json({
       success: false,
-      errors: errors.array()
+      errors: safeValidationErrors(errors)
     });
   }
 
@@ -690,7 +690,7 @@ router.put('/settings', requirePermission('backup.restore'), [
   if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
     return res.status(400).json({
       success: false,
-      errors: errors.array()
+      errors: safeValidationErrors(errors)
     });
   }
 

backend/src/routes/adminSettings.js

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ const { upsertAppSetting } = require('../utils/appSettings');
 const { clearShareLinkSettingsCache } = require('../services/shareLinkService');
 const { invalidateSiteUrlCache, isEnvPinned, envPinnedBase } = require('../utils/frontendUrl');
 const { resetSecurityConfigCache } = require('../utils/authSecurity');
-const { errorResponse } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
+const { errorResponse, safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { measureLocalStorageUsage } = require('../services/localStorageUsage');
 const logger = require('../utils/logger');
 const router = express.Router();
@@ -705,7 +705,7 @@ router.put('/sso', adminAuth, requirePermission('settings.security'), [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
     const oidcService = require('../services/oidcService');
 
@@ -2045,7 +2045,7 @@ router.put('/security/rate-limit', adminAuth, requirePermission('settings.securi
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const {

backend/src/routes/adminShortUrls.js

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
  */
 const express = require('express');
 const { body, param, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
+const { safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { adminAuth } = require('../middleware/auth');
 const { requirePermission } = require('../middleware/permissions');
 const { requireEventOwnership } = require('../middleware/ownership');
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ router.get(
   requireEventOwnership,
   async (req, res) => {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
-    if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+    if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     try {
       const rows = await galleryShortUrlService.listForEvent(parseInt(req.params.eventId, 10));
       res.json({ shortUrls: rows });
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ router.post(
   requireEventOwnership,
   async (req, res) => {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
-    if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+    if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     try {
       const row = await galleryShortUrlService.createShortUrl({
         eventId: parseInt(req.params.eventId, 10),
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ router.delete(
   param('id').isInt({ min: 1 }),
   async (req, res) => {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
-    if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+    if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     try {
       const ok = await galleryShortUrlService.softDelete(
         parseInt(req.params.id, 10),

backend/src/routes/adminWebhooks.js

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 const express = require('express');
 const { body, query, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
+const { safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { db, logActivity } = require('../database/db');
 const { adminAuth } = require('../middleware/auth');
 const { requirePermission } = require('../middleware/permissions');
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ router.post(
   async (req, res) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
-      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
 
       const { name, url, events, active = true, filter, template } = req.body;
       const { plaintext, preview } = webhookService.generateSecret();
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@ router.put(
   async (req, res) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
-      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
 
       const row = await db('webhooks').where({ id: req.params.id }).first();
       if (!row) return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Webhook not found' });
@@ -245,7 +246,7 @@ router.post(
   async (req, res) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
-      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
 
       const row = await db('webhooks').where({ id: req.params.id }).first();
       if (!row) return res.status(404).json({ error: 'Webhook not found' });
@@ -297,7 +298,7 @@ router.get(
   async (req, res) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
-      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
 
       const webhookId = req.params.id;
       const exists = await db('webhooks').where({ id: webhookId }).first();

backend/src/routes/auth.js

@@ -3,15 +3,6 @@ const bcrypt = require('bcrypt');
 const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
 const { body, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
 
-/**
- * express-validator's errors.array() carries `value` -- the submitted input --
- * so returning it verbatim reflects the caller's password back in the 400 body.
- * Five routes in this file validate a password field, and the strength endpoint
- * is unauthenticated behind a 50mb JSON limit, which also made the rejection
- * itself an allocation amplifier. Everything except `value` is kept, so the
- * response shape both frontend consumers rely on (`msg`, `path`) is unchanged.
- */
-const safeValidationErrors = (errors) => errors.array().map(({ value, ...rest }) => rest);
 const { db, logActivity } = require('../database/db');
 const { formatBoolean } = require('../utils/dbCompat');
 const { verifyRecaptcha } = require('../services/recaptcha');
@@ -26,8 +17,11 @@ const {
 const { endSession } = require('../middleware/sessionTimeout');
 const { revokeToken } = require('../utils/tokenRevocation');
 const { timingSafeEqualStr } = require('../utils/timingSafe');
+// Well-formed bcrypt hash that matches nothing; compared against when there is
+// no account so the unknown-user path costs the same as a wrong password.
+const DUMMY_BCRYPT_HASH = '$2b$10$abcdefghijklmnopqrstuuABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ01234';
 const logger = require('../utils/logger');
-const { errorResponse } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
+const { errorResponse, safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const {
   setAdminAuthCookie,
   clearAdminAuthCookie,
@@ -123,8 +117,10 @@ async function completeAdminLogin(req, res, admin, ipAddress, userAgent, lockout
 
 // Admin login with enhanced security
 router.post('/admin/login', [
-  body('username').notEmpty().trim(),
+  // Length caps: an unbounded username reached the lockout lookup, bcrypt,
-  body('password').notEmpty(),
+  // the failed-attempt log line and login_attempts.identifier as sent.
+  body('username').isString().trim().notEmpty().isLength({ max: 255 }),
+  body('password').isString().notEmpty().isLength({ max: MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH }),
   // Optional and boolean-coerced: an absent or malformed value means "no",
   // so a client that never sends it keeps the 24h session it always had.
   body('remember_me').optional().isBoolean().toBoolean()
@@ -190,7 +186,13 @@ router.post('/admin/login', [
     // (#798) never authenticate locally — their random hash is unusable by
     // design, and the explicit check keeps that true even if a hash ever
     // gets set through some other path.
-    if (!admin || admin.auth_provider === 'oidc' || !await bcrypt.compare(password, admin.password_hash)) {
+    // Always run one bcrypt compare so an unknown username costs the same
+    // ~100ms as a wrong password; short-circuiting here was a timing oracle
+    // for username enumeration despite the generic message.
+    const passwordMatches = (admin && admin.auth_provider !== 'oidc')
+      ? await bcrypt.compare(password, admin.password_hash)
+      : await bcrypt.compare(password, DUMMY_BCRYPT_HASH).then(() => false);
+    if (!passwordMatches) {
       await trackFailedAttempt(username, ipAddress, userAgent);
       return res.status(401).json({ error: getGenericAuthError() });
     }
@@ -402,8 +404,8 @@ router.post('/logout', async (req, res) => {
 
 // Gallery password verification with enhanced security
 router.post('/gallery/verify', [
-  body('slug').notEmpty().trim(),
+  body('slug').isString().trim().notEmpty().isLength({ max: 255 }),
-  body('password').optional().isString()
+  body('password').optional().isString().isLength({ max: MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH })
 ], async (req, res) => {
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
@@ -420,7 +422,7 @@ router.post('/gallery/verify', [
 
     if (!event) {
       // Perform a dummy bcrypt compare to prevent timing-based slug enumeration
-      await bcrypt.compare(password || '', '$2b$10$abcdefghijklmnopqrstuuABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ01234');
+      await bcrypt.compare(password || '', DUMMY_BCRYPT_HASH);
       await trackFailedAttempt(`gallery:${slug}`, ipAddress, userAgent);
       return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Invalid gallery or password' });
     }

backend/src/routes/customer.js

@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ const bcrypt = require('bcrypt');
 const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
 const { body, param, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
 const { db, logActivity } = require('../database/db');
-const { getBcryptRounds } = require('../utils/passwordValidation');
+const { getBcryptRounds, MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH } = require('../utils/passwordValidation');
 const logger = require('../utils/logger');
-const { errorResponse } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
+const { errorResponse, safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { getClientIp } = require('../utils/requestIp');
 const { customerAuth } = require('../middleware/customerAuth');
 const { setGalleryAuthCookies } = require('../utils/tokenUtils');
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ router.get('/events/:slug/access-token', [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { slug } = req.params;
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ router.put('/profile', [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     // Normalise incoming values: trim strings, drop empty → null so the DB
@@ -328,14 +328,14 @@ router.put('/profile', [
  */
 router.post('/profile/password', [
   customerAuth,
-  body('currentPassword').isString().isLength({ min: 1 }),
+  body('currentPassword').isString().isLength({ min: 1, max: MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH }),
-  body('newPassword').isString().isLength({ min: 8 })
+  body('newPassword').isString().isLength({ min: 8, max: MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH })
     .withMessage('Password must be at least 8 characters'),
 ], async (req, res) => {
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { currentPassword, newPassword } = req.body;

backend/src/routes/customerAuth.js

@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ const express = require('express');
 const bcrypt = require('bcrypt');
 const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
 const { body, param, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
+const { safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
+const { MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH } = require('../utils/passwordValidation');
+const DUMMY_BCRYPT_HASH = '$2b$10$abcdefghijklmnopqrstuuABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ01234';
 const { db, logActivity } = require('../database/db');
 const { verifyRecaptcha } = require('../services/recaptcha');
 const {
@@ -64,12 +67,12 @@ const TOKEN_TTL_SECONDS = 24 * 60 * 60; // mirrors admin tokens
 //     gallery JWTs (instant per-gallery revocation).
 router.post('/login', [
   body('email').isEmail().normalizeEmail(IDENTITY_PRESERVING_NORMALIZE_EMAIL).withMessage('Valid email is required'),
-  body('password').isString().notEmpty(),
+  body('password').isString().notEmpty().isLength({ max: MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH }),
 ], async (req, res) => {
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
 
     const { email, password, recaptchaToken } = req.body;
@@ -98,7 +101,12 @@ router.post('/login', [
 
     const customer = await db('customer_accounts').where('email', email).first();
     // Generic error to prevent user enumeration — same wording as admin login.
-    if (!customer || !customer.password_hash || !await bcrypt.compare(password, customer.password_hash)) {
+    // One bcrypt compare on every path so an unknown email is not a timing
+    // oracle (the dummy hash matches nothing).
+    const passwordMatches = customer && customer.password_hash
+      ? await bcrypt.compare(password, customer.password_hash)
+      : await bcrypt.compare(password, DUMMY_BCRYPT_HASH).then(() => false);
+    if (!passwordMatches) {
       await trackFailedAttempt(lockoutKey, ipAddress, userAgent);
       return res.status(401).json({ error: getGenericAuthError() });
     }
@@ -272,7 +280,7 @@ router.post('/accept-invite', [
   // Length floor enforced again here for an early reject; the full
   // policy (uppercase + digit) is checked below so we can surface a
   // specific message rather than a generic validator error.
-  body('password').isString().isLength({ min: 8 })
+  body('password').isString().isLength({ min: 8, max: MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH })
     .withMessage('Password must be at least 8 characters'),
   // Optional structured profile from the accept-invite form. Mirrors
   // the admin prefill shape — anything the customer types here wins
@@ -295,7 +303,7 @@ router.post('/accept-invite', [
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
     if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     }
     const { token, name, password, profile } = req.body;
 
@@ -354,11 +362,11 @@ router.get('/password-reset/:token', [
  */
 router.post('/password-reset', [
   body('token').isLength({ min: 64, max: 64 }).matches(/^[a-f0-9]+$/i),
-  body('password').isString().isLength({ min: 8 }).withMessage('Password must be at least 8 characters'),
+  body('password').isString().isLength({ min: 8, max: MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH }).withMessage('Password must be at least 8 characters'),
 ], async (req, res) => {
   try {
     const errors = validationResult(req);
-    if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+    if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
     const policyError = validateCustomerPassword(req.body.password);
     if (policyError) {
       return res.status(400).json({

backend/src/routes/setup.js

@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 // rate-limited at the mount point in server.js (authRateLimiter).
 const express = require('express');
 const { body, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
+const { safeValidationErrors } = require('../utils/routeHelpers');
+const { MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH } = require('../utils/passwordValidation');
 const setupService = require('../services/setupService');
 const { getClientIp } = require('../utils/requestIp');
 const { setAdminAuthCookie } = require('../utils/tokenUtils');
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ router.post('/verify-token', [
 ], async (req, res) => {
   const errors = validationResult(req);
   if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-    return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+    return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
   }
   try {
     const valid = await setupService.verifySetupToken(req.body.token);
@@ -52,11 +54,11 @@ router.post('/verify-token', [
 router.post('/admin', [
   body('token').notEmpty().withMessage('Setup token is required'),
   body('email').isEmail().withMessage('A valid email is required'),
-  body('password').notEmpty().withMessage('Password is required'),
+  body('password').isString().notEmpty().isLength({ max: MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH }).withMessage('Password is required'),
 ], async (req, res) => {
   const errors = validationResult(req);
   if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-    return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+    return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
   }
   try {
     const { token, email, password } = req.body;

backend/src/routes/v1/events.js

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ const crypto = require('crypto');
 const multer = require('multer');
 const sharp = require('sharp');
 const { body, query, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
+const { safeValidationErrors } = require('../../utils/routeHelpers');
 const { db, logActivity } = require('../../database/db');
 const { apiTokenAuth, requireApiScope } = require('../../middleware/apiTokenAuth');
 const { requireEventOwnership, scopeEventsQuery } = require('../../middleware/ownership');
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ router.post(
   async (req, res) => {
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
-      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+      if (!errors.isEmpty()) return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
       const {
         event_name, event_type, event_date,
         customer_name = null, customer_email = null, customer_phone = null,
@@ -1008,7 +1009,7 @@ router.get(
     try {
       const errors = validationResult(req);
       if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-        return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() });
+        return res.status(400).json({ errors: safeValidationErrors(errors) });
       }
 
       const eventId = parseInt(req.params.id, 10);

backend/src/utils/feedbackValidation.js

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 const { body, param, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
+const { safeValidationErrors } = require('./routeHelpers');
 const validator = require('validator');
 const { IDENTITY_PRESERVING_NORMALIZE_EMAIL } = require('./emailNormalization');
 const { REACTION_EMOJIS } = require('../constants/reactions');
@@ -254,7 +255,7 @@ const checkValidation = (req, res, next) => {
   if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
     return res.status(400).json({
       error: 'Validation failed',
-      errors: errors.array()
+      errors: safeValidationErrors(errors)
     });
   }
   next();

backend/src/utils/routeHelpers.js

@@ -42,6 +42,15 @@ const handleAsync = (fn) => {
  *   // ... rest of handler
  * }));
  */
+
+/**
+ * express-validator's errors.array() carries `value` -- the submitted input.
+ * Returning it verbatim reflects whatever the caller sent (a rejected
+ * password, a 2mb string) back in the 400 body. Everything except `value` is
+ * kept, so consumers that read `msg` / `path` see no change.
+ */
+const safeValidationErrors = (errors) => errors.array().map(({ value, ...rest }) => rest);
+
 const validateRequest = (req) => {
   const errors = validationResult(req);
   if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
@@ -174,6 +183,7 @@ const paginatedResponse = (data, total, page, limit) => {
 module.exports = {
   handleAsync,
   validateRequest,
+  safeValidationErrors,
   successResponse,
   errorResponse,
   withValidation,