Cline Security Best Practices
Secure your Cline application with these essential practices. From authentication to deployment security.
Verify your app follows these best practices automatically.
Building with Cline requires attention to security. These best practices help you ship secure applications while maintaining development velocity.
Quick Wins
Security Best Practices
#1Use Environment Variables for All Secrets
criticalNever hardcode API keys, database credentials, or secrets in your code.
Implementation
Store secrets in environment variables, add .env to .gitignore
#2Implement Proper Authentication
criticalUse established authentication libraries rather than custom implementations.
Implementation
Use auth libraries like Auth0, Clerk, NextAuth, or platform-native auth
#3Validate Authorization on Every Request
criticalEnsure users can only access resources they're authorized to view or modify.
Implementation
Check user permissions server-side for every protected operation
#4Validate All User Input
highNever trust data from users. Validate type, length, and format on the server.
Implementation
Use validation libraries like Zod or Yup for input validation
#5Use HTTPS and Security Headers
highEncrypt all traffic and add security headers to prevent common attacks.
Implementation
Enforce HTTPS, add CSP, HSTS, X-Frame-Options headers
#6Keep Dependencies Updated
mediumRegularly update packages to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implementation
Run npm audit regularly, use Dependabot or similar
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Hardcoding secrets in code
Secrets get committed to git and exposed
Always use environment variables for credentials
Trusting client-side validation only
Client-side checks can be bypassed
Always validate on the server
Missing authorization checks
Users can access other users' data
Check permissions on every protected operation
Verify Your Cline App Security
Following best practices is the first step. Verify your app is actually secure with a comprehensive security scan.
Get Starter ScanFrequently Asked Questions
What's the minimum security I need for a Cline app?
At minimum: secrets in environment variables, proper authentication, authorization checks on all endpoints, and HTTPS. These basics prevent the most common attacks.
Should I run a security scan before launching?
Yes. A quick security scan can catch common issues like exposed secrets, missing headers, and misconfigurations that are easy to miss during development.
Is Cline secure by default?
Cline provides security features, but they require proper configuration. Follow security best practices and run a security scan before deploying to production.
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Last updated: January 2026