diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 0d374fe..d1f5e76 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
       "dependencies": {
         "@nestjs/throttler": "^6.5.0",
         "class-transformer": "^0.5.1",
-        "class-validator": "^0.15.1"
+        "class-validator": "^0.15.1",
+        "helmet": "^8.1.0"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
         "@release-it/bumper": "^7.0.1",
@@ -14434,6 +14435,14 @@
         "node": ">= 0.4"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/helmet": {
+      "version": "8.1.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/helmet/-/helmet-8.1.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-jOiHyAZsmnr8LqoPGmCjYAaiuWwjAPLgY8ZX2XrmHawt99/u1y6RgrZMTeoPfpUbV96HOalYgz1qzkRbw54Pmg==",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=18.0.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/himalaya": {
       "version": "1.1.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/himalaya/-/himalaya-1.1.1.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c4f6c20..4c2acab 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
   "dependencies": {
     "@nestjs/throttler": "^6.5.0",
     "class-transformer": "^0.5.1",
-    "class-validator": "^0.15.1"
+    "class-validator": "^0.15.1",
+    "helmet": "^8.1.0"
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/backend/.env.default b/src/backend/.env.default
index bb3fbac..e5ff276 100644
--- a/src/backend/.env.default
+++ b/src/backend/.env.default
@@ -19,3 +19,9 @@ YT_DOWNLOADS_PER_MINUTE=3
 # Optional local hardening. Set AUTH_ENABLED=true and choose a strong token.
 AUTH_ENABLED=false
 SPOOTY_AUTH_TOKEN=
+
+
+# Optional frontend origin restriction
+CORS_ORIGIN=http://localhost:4200
+
+NODE_ENV=development
diff --git a/src/backend/.env.docker b/src/backend/.env.docker
index 39e0da7..4459351 100644
--- a/src/backend/.env.docker
+++ b/src/backend/.env.docker
@@ -17,3 +17,9 @@ YT_DOWNLOADS_PER_MINUTE=3
 # Optional local hardening. Set AUTH_ENABLED=true and choose a strong token.
 AUTH_ENABLED=false
 SPOOTY_AUTH_TOKEN=
+
+
+# Optional frontend origin restriction
+CORS_ORIGIN=http://localhost:4200
+
+NODE_ENV=production
diff --git a/src/backend/src/environmentEnum.ts b/src/backend/src/environmentEnum.ts
index fb2d9b3..8208771 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/environmentEnum.ts
+++ b/src/backend/src/environmentEnum.ts
@@ -10,4 +10,6 @@ export enum EnvironmentEnum {
   YT_COOKIES_FILE = 'YT_COOKIES_FILE',
   AUTH_ENABLED = 'AUTH_ENABLED',
   SPOOTY_AUTH_TOKEN = 'SPOOTY_AUTH_TOKEN',
+  CORS_ORIGIN = 'CORS_ORIGIN',
+  NODE_ENV = 'NODE_ENV',
 }
diff --git a/src/backend/src/main.ts b/src/backend/src/main.ts
index fd890c6..58cb61a 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/backend/src/main.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { AppModule } from './app.module';
 import * as fs from 'fs';
 import { resolve } from 'path';
 import { exec } from 'child_process';
+import helmet from 'helmet';
 import { EnvironmentEnum } from './environmentEnum';
 
 function envFlag(name: string): boolean {
@@ -46,6 +47,28 @@ async function bootstrap() {
   );
 
   app.useGlobalFilters(new HttpExceptionFilter());
+
+  app.use(
+    helmet({
+      crossOriginResourcePolicy: false,
+    }),
+  );
+
+  const corsOrigin =
+    process.env[EnvironmentEnum.CORS_ORIGIN] || 'http://localhost:4200';
+
+  app.enableCors({
+    origin: corsOrigin,
+    credentials: false,
+  });
+
+  if (
+    process.env[EnvironmentEnum.NODE_ENV] === 'production' &&
+    !envFlag(EnvironmentEnum.AUTH_ENABLED)
+  ) {
+    console.warn('[SECURITY] AUTH_ENABLED is false while NODE_ENV=production');
+  }
+
   app.setGlobalPrefix('api');
   await app.listen(process.env.PORT || 3000);
 }