backend/src/main/java/com/recipeapp/recipe/RecipeService.java

@@ -191,11 +191,11 @@ public class RecipeService {
     // ── Image validation ──
 
     private static final java.util.regex.Pattern ALLOWED_IMAGE_PATTERN =
-            java.util.regex.Pattern.compile("^data:image/(jpeg|jpg|png|gif|webp);base64,");
+            java.util.regex.Pattern.compile("data:image/(jpeg|jpg|png|gif|webp);base64,.*");
 
     private void validateHeroImageUrl(String heroImageUrl) {
         if (heroImageUrl == null || heroImageUrl.isBlank()) return;
-        if (!ALLOWED_IMAGE_PATTERN.matcher(heroImageUrl).find()) {
+        if (!ALLOWED_IMAGE_PATTERN.matcher(heroImageUrl).matches()) {
             throw new ValidationException("Ungültiger Bildtyp. Erlaubt sind: JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP.");
         }
     }

backend/src/main/java/com/recipeapp/recipe/dto/RecipeCreateRequest.java

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ public record RecipeCreateRequest(
         Integer serves,
         Integer cookTimeMin,
         @NotBlank @Pattern(regexp = "easy|medium|hard") String effort,
-        String heroImageUrl,
+        @Size(max = 7_000_000) String heroImageUrl,
         @NotEmpty @Valid List<IngredientEntry> ingredients,
         @Valid List<StepEntry> steps,
         @NotEmpty List<UUID> tagIds

backend/src/test/java/com/recipeapp/recipe/RecipeControllerTest.java

@@ -161,6 +161,33 @@ class RecipeControllerTest {
         verify(recipeService).deleteRecipe(HOUSEHOLD_ID, RECIPE_ID);
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void createRecipeWithOversizedHeroImageShouldReturn400() throws Exception {
+        String heroImageUrl = "data:image/jpeg;base64," + "A".repeat(7_000_000);
+        String body = "{\"name\":\"Test\",\"effort\":\"easy\",\"tagIds\":[\"" + UUID.randomUUID() + "\"]," +
+                "\"ingredients\":[{\"quantity\":1,\"unit\":\"g\",\"newIngredientName\":\"x\",\"sortOrder\":0}]," +
+                "\"heroImageUrl\":\"" + heroImageUrl + "\"}";
+
+        mockMvc.perform(post("/v1/recipes")
+                        .principal(() -> "sarah@example.com")
+                        .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
+                        .content(body))
+                .andExpect(status().isBadRequest());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void createRecipeWithEmptyIngredientsListShouldReturn400() throws Exception {
+        var body = """
+                {"name":"Test","effort":"easy","tagIds":["%s"],"ingredients":[]}
+                """.formatted(UUID.randomUUID());
+
+        mockMvc.perform(post("/v1/recipes")
+                        .principal(() -> "sarah@example.com")
+                        .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
+                        .content(body))
+                .andExpect(status().isBadRequest());
+    }
+
     @Test
     void createRecipeWithCapitalisedEffortShouldReturn400() throws Exception {
         var body = """