Security Analysis

Is Turso Safe?

Last updated: January 12, 2026

An honest security analysis of Turso for developers considering it for their projects.

Quick Answer

Safe - understand embedded replica exposure

Turso is safe for edge SQLite with unique embedded replica architecture. Unlike Neon/PlanetScale (centralized), Turso replicates to edge locations and even INTO your app. Auth tokens control access. Main concern: embedded replicas in client apps expose read-only data.

Security Assessment

Security Strengths

  • libSQL (SQLite fork) is battle-tested embedded database technology
  • Token-based auth: create read-only vs full-access tokens
  • Edge replication keeps data close to users with encryption in transit
  • Group-based organization for multi-tenant isolation
  • Embedded replicas sync automatically - no direct database exposure

Security Concerns

  • Embedded replicas in client apps contain readable data (read-only, but visible)
  • Auth tokens in client code can be extracted - use read-only tokens only
  • No Row Level Security - SQLite doesn't support RLS natively
  • Edge locations mean data exists in multiple geographic jurisdictions
  • Sync conflicts on embedded replicas could cause data inconsistencies

Security Checklist for Turso

  • 1
    Use read-only tokens for client/embedded replicas - never full-access
  • 2
    Store full-access tokens server-side only (API routes, Edge Functions)
  • 3
    Understand that embedded replica data IS readable by client app
  • 4
    Implement application-level access control (no RLS in SQLite)
  • 5
    Use groups to isolate multi-tenant data
  • 6
    Monitor token usage in Turso dashboard for anomalies

The Verdict

Turso's edge SQLite architecture is innovative but requires understanding the security model. Embedded replicas in client apps expose data (read-only) - this is by design for offline-first apps. Use read-only tokens for clients, keep full-access tokens server-side. No RLS means application-level authorization.

Security Research & Industry Data

Understanding Turso security in the context of broader industry trends and research.

10.3%

of Lovable applications (170 out of 1,645) had exposed user data in the CVE-2025-48757 incident

Source: CVE-2025-48757 security advisory

4.45 million USD

average cost of a data breach in 2023

Source: IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023

500,000+

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.

Simon WillisonSecurity Researcher, Django Co-creator

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.

Security Research CommunityCollective wisdom from security researchers

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Turso embedded replicas?

Embedded replicas sync a read-only copy of your database INTO your application (mobile app, Electron, etc.). This enables offline access and fast reads. Security implication: data in embedded replicas is accessible to anyone with the app. Use for non-sensitive data or encrypt at application level.

Does Turso support Row Level Security?

No. Turso uses libSQL (SQLite fork) which doesn't have RLS. Unlike Supabase/Neon (PostgreSQL with RLS), you must implement access control in your application layer. This is a fundamental SQLite limitation, not Turso-specific.

How do Turso auth tokens work?

Turso uses JWT tokens with configurable permissions. Create read-only tokens for client apps and embedded replicas. Keep full-access tokens server-side only. Tokens can be scoped to specific databases. Rotate tokens if exposed.

Is Turso safe for sensitive data?

For server-side access with full-access tokens, yes. For embedded replicas in client apps, be careful - the data is readable. Encrypt sensitive fields at application level before storing, or keep sensitive data in server-only databases. Turso is ideal for edge caching of non-sensitive data.

Verify Your Turso App Security

Don't guess - scan your app and know for certain. VAS checks for all the common security issues in Turso applications.