Base44
Security Checklist

Base44 Security Checklist

Last updated: January 12, 2026

Use this checklist to ensure your Base44 application is secure before launch. 5 critical items require immediate attention.

16
Total Items
5
Critical
8
Auto-Scanned

Why This Security Checklist Matters

Security checklists serve as systematic guides for identifying vulnerabilities that might otherwise be overlooked during rapid development cycles. For Base44 applications specifically, this checklist addresses the most common security gaps that emerge when using AI-assisted development workflows.

Research from multiple security organizations indicates that approximately 80% of AI-built applications contain at least one exploitable vulnerability at launch. The vulnerabilities are often predictable—they follow patterns that this checklist is designed to catch. By systematically reviewing each item, you significantly reduce the risk of launching an insecure application.

Unlike generic security checklists, this guide focuses specifically on vulnerabilities prevalent in Base44 applications. Each item has been prioritized based on real-world attack patterns and the potential impact of exploitation. Critical items should be addressed before any production deployment.

Critical Priority

Critical items can lead to complete application compromise, data breaches, or unauthorized access to all user accounts. These must be addressed before deploying to production. Attackers actively scan for these vulnerabilities.

High Priority

High priority items represent significant security risks that could allow unauthorized access to sensitive data or functionality. While not immediately catastrophic, these vulnerabilities should be fixed as soon as possible.

Medium/Low Priority

Medium and low priority items strengthen your overall security posture. While they may not be immediately exploitable, addressing them prevents attack chains and defense-in-depth gaps.

Manual vs Automated Security Checking

While manual security reviews are thorough, they're time-consuming and prone to human error. Automated scanning catches common vulnerabilities instantly, freeing you to focus on business logic and complex security decisions.

Items VAS Automates

  • Exposed API keys and secrets in JavaScript bundles
  • HTTP security header configuration
  • Supabase RLS policy testing
  • Firebase Security Rules validation
  • Cookie security attributes

Manual Review Still Required

  • Business logic vulnerabilities
  • Custom authentication implementations
  • Access control logic in API routes
  • Data validation requirements
  • Third-party integration security

Secret Management

critical

Remove hardcoded API keys from generated code

Auto

Base44 generates code with API keys inline — search for 'sk-', 'apiKey', 'api_key' and move all to env vars

critical

Use server-side environment variables

All secrets (OpenAI, Stripe, database credentials) must be in server-side env vars, not frontend code

critical

Add .env to .gitignore

Prevent environment files from being committed to version control

high

Use separate keys per environment

Don't reuse production API keys in development or staging

AI-Generated Code Review

critical

Review generated authentication flows

Base44's prompt-to-code generation often creates auth without rate limiting or account lockout

critical

Check for authorization in API routes

Generated endpoints may check authentication but skip authorization — verify users can only access their own data

high

Validate server-side input handling

AI-generated code often trusts user input — add validation with zod or joi on every endpoint

high

Audit generated database queries

Check for SQL injection, missing parameterized queries, and unscoped data access in generated code

medium

Disable source maps in production

Auto

Don't expose original generated code via source maps

Deployment Security

high

Verify HTTPS is enforced

Auto

Ensure all traffic is served over HTTPS with proper TLS configuration

high

Remove debug endpoints

Base44 may generate debug/test routes — remove before production deployment

high

Configure CORS for your domain only

Auto

Restrict Access-Control-Allow-Origin to your actual domain, not '*'

HTTP Security

high

Add Content-Security-Policy

Auto

Prevent XSS and injection attacks in generated frontend code

medium

Enable HSTS

Auto

Force HTTPS connections

medium

Set X-Frame-Options

Auto

Prevent clickjacking attacks

low

Configure X-Content-Type-Options

Auto

Prevent MIME sniffing

Don't Check Manually

VAS automatically checks 8 of these 16 items. Get instant results with detailed remediation guidance.

Run Automated Security Scan

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find exposed secrets in Base44 apps?

Search your codebase for common key patterns: 'sk-' (OpenAI), 'sk_live' (Stripe), 'api_key', and 'password'. Base44's prompt-to-code generation often embeds these directly in frontend JavaScript. Move all secrets to server-side environment variables.

Does Base44 generate secure authentication code?

Base44 generates functional auth flows but typically skips rate limiting, account lockout, and proper session management. Always review generated auth code manually and add brute-force protections before going to production.

What should I check before launching a Base44 app?

1) All API keys moved to environment variables, 2) Authentication code reviewed for rate limiting and authorization checks, 3) Input validation added to every API endpoint, 4) Security headers configured, 5) Source maps disabled in production.