Is Retool Safe?
Last updated: January 12, 2026
An honest security analysis of Retool for developers considering it for their projects.
Quick Answer
Safe - configure access controlsRetool is safe for internal tools with proper access controls. Unlike no-code website builders, Retool is designed specifically for internal tools that connect to databases and APIs. Given it connects directly to production data sources (Postgres, MongoDB, APIs), configuration is critical - a misconfigured app could expose your entire database.
Understanding Retool Security
When evaluating whether Retool is safe for your project, it's important to understand the distinction between platform security and application security. Retool as a platform implements industry-standard security practices for its infrastructure, including encryption, access controls, and regular security audits.
However, the security of applications built with Retool depends significantly on how developers use the platform. AI-generated code and rapid development workflows can introduce vulnerabilities that exist independently of the platform's underlying security. Research from Stanford University found that AI coding assistants produce vulnerable code approximately 40% of the time when working on security-sensitive tasks.
The most common security issues in Retool applications stem from misconfigurations, exposed credentials, and missing security controls—problems that developers must address regardless of which platform they use. Understanding these patterns helps you make informed decisions about using Retool for your specific use case.
Platform Security
Platform security refers to the security measures Retool implements at the infrastructure level: how they protect their servers, encrypt data in transit and at rest, manage access to their systems, and respond to security incidents. These are controls the platform provider manages on your behalf.
Application Security
Application security is your responsibility as a developer. This includes properly configuring authentication, implementing authorization controls, protecting sensitive data, securing API endpoints, and avoiding common vulnerabilities like exposed credentials or SQL injection. These risks exist regardless of which platform you use.
Common Security Mistakes in Retool Apps
Based on security scans of thousands of Retool applications, these are the most frequently encountered vulnerabilities. Understanding these patterns helps you proactively secure your applications.
Exposed API Keys & Secrets
AI coding tools frequently embed API keys, database credentials, and other secrets directly in JavaScript bundles. These credentials become visible to anyone who inspects your application's source code in their browser.
Prevention: Use environment variables and server-side API routes to keep credentials secure.
Missing Database Security
Applications using Supabase or Firebase often launch without proper Row Level Security (RLS) policies or Security Rules. This allows unauthorized users to read, modify, or delete data they shouldn't have access to.
Prevention: Always enable and test RLS policies before deploying to production.
Insufficient Input Validation
AI-generated code often assumes valid input without implementing proper validation. This opens applications to injection attacks, XSS vulnerabilities, and data corruption.
Prevention: Validate all user input on both client and server side.
Missing Security Headers
HTTP security headers like Content-Security-Policy, X-Frame-Options, and Strict-Transport-Security are frequently missing from AI-generated applications, leaving them vulnerable to various attacks.
Prevention: Configure security headers in your hosting platform or application middleware.
Security Assessment
Security Strengths
- SOC 2 Type II certified - enterprise-grade compliance
- Self-hosted option (Retool On-Premise) for air-gapped deployments
- Comprehensive audit logging with user action tracking
- Granular RBAC - control access per app, resource, and query
- Query approval workflows for sensitive operations
- SSO integration (SAML, OIDC) for enterprise identity management
Security Concerns
- Resource credentials stored in Retool - potential blast radius if compromised
- SQL injection possible if using raw string interpolation in queries
- Apps default to accessible by all org members - explicit restriction needed
- API endpoints created by Retool are publicly addressable (auth required)
- Staging/dev apps may accidentally connect to production databases
Security Checklist for Retool
- 1Use parameterized queries: {{ table.selectedRow.id }} not raw SQL concatenation
- 2Set up Resource Groups to limit which databases each team can access
- 3Enable 'Protected Apps' for production tools requiring approval
- 4Configure query timeouts to prevent runaway queries
- 5Use read-only database credentials where possible
- 6Enable audit logs and set up alerts for sensitive queries
- 7Consider Retool On-Premise for SOC 2/HIPAA workloads
The Verdict
Retool is secure for internal tools when properly configured. The main risks are SQL injection from string interpolation and overly permissive app access. Use parameterized queries, resource groups, and protected apps for production workloads.
Security Research & Industry Data
Understanding Retool security in the context of broader industry trends and research.
of Lovable applications (170 out of 1,645) had exposed user data in the CVE-2025-48757 incident
Source: CVE-2025-48757 security advisory
average cost of a data breach in 2023
Source: IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023
developers using vibe coding platforms like Lovable, Bolt, and Replit
Source: Combined platform statistics 2024-2025
What Security Experts Say
“Vibe coding your way to a production codebase is clearly risky. Most of the work we do as software engineers involves evolving existing systems, where the quality and understandability of the underlying code is crucial.”
“The problem with AI-generated code isn't that it doesn't work - it's that it works just well enough to ship, but contains subtle security flaws that are hard to spot.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Retool different from Bubble or Webflow?
Retool is purpose-built for internal tools that connect to YOUR databases, while Bubble/Webflow are for customer-facing apps with their own data storage. Retool connects directly to Postgres, MongoDB, MySQL, REST APIs, etc. This means Retool has access to your production data - making proper RBAC and query security critical.
Can someone SQL inject through a Retool app?
Yes, if you use string interpolation. WRONG: `SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = '${textInput.value}'`. RIGHT: `SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = {{ textInput.value }}`. Retool's {{ }} syntax uses parameterized queries that prevent injection. Always use {{ }} for user inputs.
Should I use Retool Cloud or Self-Hosted?
Retool Cloud is fine for most internal tools - it's SOC 2 Type II certified. Use Retool On-Premise (self-hosted) if you: can't send data to third parties (HIPAA, air-gapped), need to connect to databases without public endpoints, or have regulatory requirements for data residency.
How do I prevent developers from accessing production data?
Use Resource Groups to separate prod/staging databases. Create a 'Production' group with read-only prod credentials and limit access to senior engineers. Create a 'Development' group with staging credentials for everyone else. Protected Apps add an additional approval layer.
Are Retool API endpoints secure?
Retool Workflows and APIs are publicly addressable URLs but require authentication. You can choose between Retool auth (user must be logged in) or API key auth. Never expose sensitive operations without auth. Use rate limiting and IP allowlisting for extra protection.
Verify Your Retool App Security
Don't guess - scan your app and know for certain. VAS checks for all the common security issues in Retool applications.