Is v0.dev Safe?
Last updated: January 12, 2026
An honest security analysis of v0.dev for developers considering it for their projects.
Quick Answer
Safe - UI-only generation limits attack surfacev0.dev by Vercel is very safe - it ONLY generates frontend UI components using shadcn/ui and React. Unlike Lovable or Bolt.new, v0 doesn't generate backends, databases, or authentication, which dramatically reduces the attack surface. Security depends on how you integrate the UI into your full-stack application.
Understanding v0.dev Security
When evaluating whether v0.dev is safe for your project, it's important to understand the distinction between platform security and application security. v0.dev 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 v0.dev 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 v0.dev 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 v0.dev for your specific use case.
Platform Security
Platform security refers to the security measures v0.dev 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 v0.dev Apps
Based on security scans of thousands of v0.dev 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
- UI-ONLY: No database, auth, or backend code = minimal security vectors
- Uses shadcn/ui + Radix UI - well-audited, accessible component libraries
- React's JSX escapes content by default, preventing most XSS attacks
- Built by Vercel - same team behind Next.js with strong security track record
- Generated code is copy-paste, so you own and can audit every line
Security Concerns
- dangerouslySetInnerHTML may be suggested for rich text - XSS risk
- Form components need YOUR backend validation - v0 doesn't generate it
- File upload components need server-side type/size validation
- OAuth buttons are UI-only - you must implement secure OAuth flows
- No rate limiting or CSRF protection in generated forms
Security Checklist for v0.dev
- 1Search generated code for 'dangerouslySetInnerHTML' - sanitize input or remove
- 2Add server-side validation for all form inputs (v0 only generates client UI)
- 3Implement proper OAuth flows when using v0's auth UI components
- 4Add CSRF tokens to forms connecting to your backend
- 5Validate file uploads server-side, not just in the UI component
- 6Configure CSP headers on your hosting to match v0's inline style usage
The Verdict
v0.dev is inherently safer than full-stack AI tools because it only generates UI. There's no database to misconfigure, no RLS to forget, no API keys to expose. The risk comes from how YOU integrate v0 components into your backend. Review dangerouslySetInnerHTML usage and remember that all validation must happen server-side.
Security Research & Industry Data
Understanding v0.dev 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
“There's a new kind of coding I call 'vibe coding', where you fully give in to the vibes, embrace exponentials, and forget that the code even exists.”
“It's not really coding - I just see stuff, say stuff, run stuff, and copy paste stuff, and it mostly works.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is v0.dev safe for production?
Yes, v0.dev is safe for production UI components. Since it only generates frontend code using well-audited libraries (shadcn/ui, Radix), there are no database or backend security concerns. The security of your app depends on your backend integration, not v0 itself.
Does v0.dev generate backend code?
No, v0.dev ONLY generates frontend React/UI components. Unlike Lovable (generates full Supabase apps) or Bolt.new (generates full-stack apps), v0 focuses solely on UI. This is actually a security advantage - there's no database configuration to get wrong.
Can v0-generated code have XSS vulnerabilities?
React escapes content by default, preventing most XSS. However, watch for dangerouslySetInnerHTML which v0 may suggest for rich text rendering. If present, ensure you sanitize HTML input with a library like DOMPurify before rendering.
How is v0 different from Lovable or Bolt.new security-wise?
v0 only generates UI components - no databases, no authentication flows, no API keys. Lovable and Bolt.new generate full-stack apps with Supabase/Firebase backends that need security configuration. v0's limited scope means fewer security concerns but also less out-of-the-box functionality.
Do v0 form components include validation?
v0 generates client-side form UI with basic HTML validation attributes, but this is easily bypassed. You MUST implement server-side validation for all form inputs. Never trust client-side validation alone - treat v0 form components as UI shells that need backend security.
Verify Your v0.dev App Security
Don't guess - scan your app and know for certain. VAS checks for all the common security issues in v0.dev applications.