The most common security vulnerabilities in Firebase applications—and how to fix them before attackers find them.
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Common vulnerabilities found in Firebase applications
Security Rules still set to allow all reads/writes.
Anyone can read, modify, or delete all data.
Check Firebase Console > Rules for 'allow read, write: if true'.
Replace test rules with authenticated rules checking request.auth.
Firebase Admin SDK credentials exposed in client code.
Full administrative access. Bypass all security rules.
Search for service account JSON or admin SDK imports in frontend.
Remove immediately. Admin SDK is server-side only.
Rules check request.auth != null but not ownership.
Any authenticated user can access any other user's data.
Test accessing other users' data while authenticated.
Add request.auth.uid == userId checks to rules.
Collections without explicit rules default to deny, but subcollections may be exposed.
Data leakage through improperly secured subcollections.
Enumerate subcollection access paths.
Add explicit rules for all collection paths including wildcards.
Cloud Storage buckets without security rules.
Public file access, malicious uploads, storage abuse.
Try accessing storage paths without authentication.
Write storage.rules with proper request.auth checks.
Rules check auth but don't validate data structure.
Malformed data, potential injection, data integrity issues.
Try writing invalid data structures to database.
Add data validation: request.resource.data.keys().hasOnly(['field1', 'field2'])
Firebase API key not restricted to specific domains/apps.
Key can be used from unauthorized sources for abuse.
Check Google Cloud Console API key restrictions.
Add HTTP referrer and app restrictions to the API key.
VAS scans your Firebase app for all these issues automatically. Free scan, instant results.
Scan Your App NowThe most common issues are: exposed API keys/secrets, missing database access controls (RLS or Security Rules), weak authentication configuration, and missing security headers. These account for over 80% of vulnerabilities in Firebase applications.
Run a VAS security scan for automated detection of common vulnerabilities. Manually check: database access controls, search code for hardcoded secrets, verify authentication settings, and test security headers. VAS catches all of these automatically.
Yes, nearly all Firebase security issues are configuration problems with straightforward fixes. Missing RLS, exposed secrets, weak auth—all have clear remediation steps. Most fixes take under an hour to implement.
Exposed databases and API keys can be discovered within minutes using automated scanners. Attackers actively scan for common patterns. This is why security configuration must happen before deployment, not after.
Firebase provides security features, but they require configuration. Security isn't automatic—you must enable database access controls, manage secrets properly, configure auth settings, and add security headers. The tools exist; you must use them.
Last updated: January 16, 2026