Supabase

Supabase Security Issues

The most common security vulnerabilities in Supabase applications—and how to fix them before attackers find them.

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73%
Of Vibe-Coded Apps
Have at least one security issue
Secrets
Most Common Issue
Exposed API keys and credentials
< 2 hrs
Avg Time to Fix
For standard misconfigurations

7 Security Issues Documented

Common vulnerabilities found in Supabase applications

2 Critical3 High2 Medium

Critical Security Issues

Tables Without RLS

critical

Tables with RLS disabled are completely open via the public API.

Impact

Full data exposure. Anyone with anon key can read everything.

How to Detect

Check pg_tables for relrowsecurity = false. Or query with anon key.

How to Fix

ALTER TABLE tablename ENABLE ROW LEVEL SECURITY; for every table.

Service Role Key in Frontend

critical

The service_role key bypasses RLS and should never be client-side.

Impact

Complete RLS bypass. Full admin database access.

How to Detect

Search frontend code for the service_role key value.

How to Fix

Remove immediately. Rotate key in Supabase dashboard. Use only server-side.

High Severity Issues

Overly Permissive Policies

high

RLS policies that grant too much access (e.g., TRUE for all operations).

Impact

Data accessible to more users than intended. Privacy violations.

How to Detect

Review policies: SELECT * FROM pg_policies WHERE policyname LIKE '%'

How to Fix

Rewrite policies with proper auth.uid() checks and ownership verification.

RPC Functions Without Auth

high

Database functions callable by anyone, including unauthenticated users.

Impact

Bypass of RLS through function calls. Data manipulation.

How to Detect

Check function definitions for missing auth.uid() checks.

How to Fix

Add IF auth.uid() IS NULL THEN RAISE EXCEPTION at function start.

Storage Buckets Open

high

Storage buckets without proper policies allow public read/write.

Impact

File theft, malicious file upload, storage abuse.

How to Detect

Try accessing storage URLs without authentication.

How to Fix

Configure storage policies in Supabase dashboard. Restrict by auth.

Medium Severity Issues

Using auth.uid() vs (select auth.uid())

medium

Using auth.uid() directly causes RLS policy re-evaluation per row.

Impact

Performance degradation on large tables. Potential timeouts.

How to Detect

Supabase linter warns about this. Check policy definitions.

How to Fix

Replace auth.uid() with (select auth.uid()) in all policies.

Missing Password Requirements

medium

Default auth settings allow weak passwords.

Impact

Easier brute force attacks. Compromised accounts.

How to Detect

Try creating account with simple password.

How to Fix

Configure password_min_length and requirements in auth config.

How to Prevent These Issues

  • Run automated security scans before every deployment
  • Configure database access controls (RLS/Security Rules) first
  • Store all secrets in environment variables, never in code
  • Enable email verification and strong password policies
  • Add security headers to your hosting configuration
  • Review AI-generated code for security before accepting

Find Issues Before Attackers Do

VAS scans your Supabase app for all these issues automatically. Free scan, instant results.

Scan Your App Now

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Supabase security issues?

The 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 Supabase applications.

How do I find security issues in my Supabase app?

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.

Are Supabase security issues fixable?

Yes, nearly all Supabase 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.

How quickly can Supabase security issues be exploited?

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.

Does Supabase have built-in security?

Supabase 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