Cursor Security Checklist
Last updated: January 12, 2026
Use this checklist to ensure your Cursor application is secure before launch. 5 critical items require immediate attention.
Why This Security Checklist Matters
Security checklists serve as systematic guides for identifying vulnerabilities that might otherwise be overlooked during rapid development cycles. For Cursor 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 Cursor 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
Privacy & Data Security
Enable Privacy Mode for sensitive projects
In Settings > Features, enable Privacy Mode to prevent code from being stored on Cursor servers
Create .cursorignore file
AutoAdd .env, credentials.json, secrets/, private keys, and other sensitive paths to .cursorignore
Review codebase indexing settings
Control which directories are indexed for AI context in Settings > Features > Codebase Indexing
Audit installed MCP servers
Review all MCP servers in Settings > MCP Servers, remove any untrusted or unused servers
Check Rules for AI settings
Review .cursorrules file for any security-relevant instructions that might be overridden
AI-Generated Code Review
Review authentication code before accepting
AI may suggest insecure auth patterns like client-side only validation or weak session handling
Check database queries for injection vulnerabilities
AI-generated SQL/NoSQL queries may be vulnerable to injection - use parameterized queries
Verify secret handling in suggestions
AutoNever accept suggestions that hardcode API keys, passwords, or other secrets in source code
Test error handling in generated code
AI often skips proper error handling which can leak sensitive information in stack traces
Review input validation logic
AI-generated forms and APIs may lack proper input sanitization and validation
Team & Collaboration Security
Configure team member permissions
Use Cursor for Teams to control access levels and audit AI usage across the team
Set up SSO if available
Enterprise plans support SSO for centralized authentication and better access control
Establish code review process for AI suggestions
Require human review before merging any AI-generated code, especially for security-sensitive areas
Deployment Security
Don't commit AI-suggested placeholder secrets
AutoAI sometimes suggests placeholder values like 'your-api-key-here' that get accidentally committed
Run security scan before deployment
AutoUse VAS to catch vulnerabilities in AI-generated code before production deployment
Disable source maps in production builds
AutoAI may configure builds with source maps enabled, exposing your code
Don't Check Manually
VAS automatically checks 5 of these 16 items. Get instant results with detailed remediation guidance.
Run Automated Security ScanFrequently Asked Questions
Does Cursor send my code to external servers?
Yes, Cursor sends code context to cloud servers for AI processing. Enable Privacy Mode in settings to prevent code from being stored. Use .cursorignore to exclude sensitive files from being sent at all.
Are MCP servers safe to install?
MCP servers can execute arbitrary code on your machine. Only install from trusted sources, review what permissions they require, and remove any you're not actively using. Treat them like any other software you install.
How do I prevent secrets from being exposed to AI?
Create a .cursorignore file and add all sensitive files: .env, credentials.json, private keys, etc. Note that secrets hardcoded in files you're editing may still be visible. Use environment variables and never hardcode secrets.