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The signature covers the full webhook payload: id, delivered_at, event. Two signature algorithms are supported depending on the keyType:
  1. Create a payload object: id, delivered_at, event
  2. JSON.stringify(payload)
  3. Encode the JSON string to Base64
  4. Sign using ED25519 (ed25519.signAsync)
  5. Encode the signature to Base64

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Legacy (Deprecated)

  1. Create a payload object: id, delivered_at, event
  2. JSON.stringify(payload)
  3. Encode the JSON string to Base64
  4. SHA256 hash (privateKey + data)
  5. Encode the hash to Base64

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Security Details:

  • The signature covers all fields, including id and delivered_at
  • A unique id prevents replay attacks
  • Timestamp validation prevents accepting outdated webhooks (16-minute window)
  • The 16-minute window accounts for retries (immediate + 5 min + 10 min) + network buffer
  • ED25519 provides cryptographic authenticity

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Retry Logic

  1. First attempt: Immediately
  2. Second attempt: delay of 300 seconds (5 minutes)
  3. Third attempt: delay of 600 seconds (10 minutes)
  4. Error: task is removed from the queue and logged
IMPORTANT: Always verify webhooks to prevent forgery and replay attacks.

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Full Verification Algorithm

import * as ed25519 from '@noble/ed25519';

interface WebhookPayload {
  id: string;
  delivered_at: string;
  event: {
    event_type: string;
    timestamp: string;
    data: any;
  };
  signature: string;
}

async function verifyWebhook(
  webhook: WebhookPayload,
  publicKey: string,
  seenWebhookIds: Set<string>
): Promise<boolean> {
  // 1. Replay Protection: Check if webhook ID already processed
  if (seenWebhookIds.has(webhook.id)) {
    throw new Error('Replay attack detected: webhook ID already processed');
  }

  // 2. Timestamp Validation: Reject webhooks older than 16 minutes or from future
  // Max delivery time: 15 min (immediate + 5min retry + 10min retry) + 1min network buffer
  const deliveredAt = new Date(webhook.delivered_at);
  const now = Date.now();
  const timeDiff = Math.abs(now - deliveredAt.getTime());

  if (timeDiff > 960000) { // 16 minutes
    throw new Error('Webhook timestamp outside acceptable window');
  }

  // 3. Signature Verification: Verify signature covers entire payload
  const payload = {
    id: webhook.id,
    delivered_at: webhook.delivered_at,
    event: webhook.event
  };

  // Reconstruct signed data (same as server)
  const json = JSON.stringify(payload);
  const data = Buffer.from(json, 'utf8').toString('base64');

  // Decode signature and public key
  const signatureBytes = Buffer.from(webhook.signature, 'base64');
  const publicKeyBytes = Buffer.from(publicKey, 'hex');
  const dataBytes = Buffer.from(data, 'utf8');

  // Verify with ED25519
  const isValid = await ed25519.verifyAsync(signatureBytes, dataBytes, publicKeyBytes);

  if (!isValid) {
    throw new Error('Invalid signature: webhook authentication failed');
  }

  // 4. Store webhook ID to prevent future replay
  seenWebhookIds.add(webhook.id);

  return true;
}

​
ED25519 Verification Steps

  1. Replay protection - check webhook.id that it has not been seen before
  2. Timestamp validation - validate delivery_at within 16 minutes (maximum delivery time + buffer)
  3. Payload reconstruction - id, delivery_at, event
  4. Signature verification - ed25519.verifyAsync (signature, payload, publicKey)
  5. Store the webhook ID - store it to prevent replay in the future”