Security Research

Vibe Coding Security Risks

AI makes coding faster. It also makes insecure coding faster. Here are the real security risks of building applications with vibe coding tools—and how to protect yourself.

See which risks actually affect your application.

45%
of AI-generated code
contains security vulnerabilities (Veracode 2025)
73%
of vibe-coded apps
have at least one security issue (VAS data)
170+
apps affected
by CVE-2025-48757 RLS misconfiguration

The 6 Major Vibe Coding Security Risks

Exposed Credentials in Generated Code

critical

AI tools often generate code with hardcoded API keys, database passwords, and secrets directly in source files.

Real-World Example

Common to find OpenAI keys (sk-...), Stripe keys (sk_live_...), and database connection strings in AI-generated code.

Impact

Credential theft, unauthorized API access, financial losses from abused services.

Mitigation

Always review generated code for secrets. Move credentials to environment variables before deployment.

Missing Database Access Controls

critical

AI rarely configures Row Level Security (Supabase) or Security Rules (Firebase), leaving databases completely exposed.

Real-World Example

CVE-2025-48757: 170+ Lovable apps had exposed Supabase databases due to missing RLS configuration.

Impact

Complete data exposure. Anyone can read, modify, or delete all user data.

Mitigation

Enable RLS/Security Rules before deployment. Test by querying without authentication.

Client-Side Only Security

high

AI generates code that hides features with JavaScript but doesn't enforce security server-side.

Real-World Example

Admin panels hidden with CSS/JS but API endpoints remain unprotected.

Impact

Trivial bypass of access controls by calling APIs directly.

Mitigation

Always implement server-side authentication and authorization checks.

Insecure Data Fetching

high

Generated code often fetches data without checking if the user is authorized to access it.

Real-World Example

/api/users/123 returns user data without verifying the requester owns that data.

Impact

IDOR vulnerabilities allowing access to other users' data.

Mitigation

Verify ownership on every data access: WHERE user_id = auth.uid()

SQL/NoSQL Injection

critical

AI sometimes generates queries using string concatenation instead of parameterized queries.

Real-World Example

const query = `SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = '${userId}'` - vulnerable to injection.

Impact

Database compromise, data theft, potential server takeover.

Mitigation

Use ORMs or parameterized queries. Never concatenate user input into queries.

Missing Security Headers

medium

AI doesn't configure CSP, HSTS, X-Frame-Options, or other security headers.

Real-World Example

Deployed sites vulnerable to XSS, clickjacking, and downgrade attacks.

Impact

Increased attack surface for client-side attacks.

Mitigation

Configure security headers in hosting platform or application config.

Who's Most At Risk?

High Risk
  • Apps handling user data or payments
  • Production apps built entirely with AI
  • Apps using Supabase/Firebase without security review
Medium Risk
  • Internal tools with sensitive business data
  • Apps using third-party API keys
  • MVPs planning to scale

How to Reduce These Risks

  • Run automated security scans before every deployment
  • Configure database access controls (RLS/Security Rules) from day one
  • Move all credentials to environment variables—never commit secrets
  • Add server-side validation for all user input
  • Review AI-generated code for security before accepting
  • Configure security headers in your hosting platform
  • Enable email verification and enforce strong passwords

Find Your Risks Before Attackers Do

VAS scans your vibe-coded app for all these vulnerabilities automatically. Free scan, instant results.

Scan Your App Now

Frequently Asked Questions

What are vibe coding security risks?

Vibe coding security risks are vulnerabilities introduced when building applications with AI coding assistants. These include exposed credentials, missing database security, weak authentication, and other issues that arise because AI prioritizes functional code over secure code.

Why is AI-generated code insecure?

AI coding tools are trained to produce working code quickly, not secure code. They often skip security configurations (like RLS or Security Rules), suggest hardcoded credentials for convenience, and don't implement server-side validation. Security requires explicit configuration that AI rarely adds.

How many vibe-coded apps have security vulnerabilities?

Based on VAS scan data, approximately 73% of vibe-coded applications have at least one security vulnerability before review. Veracode's 2025 report found that 45% of AI-generated code contains security flaws. These aren't theoretical—they're real vulnerabilities.

Can I use vibe coding safely?

Yes, but you must review and secure the generated code. Run security scans before deployment, configure database access controls, move secrets to environment variables, and add security headers. The code needs hardening—AI generates the functionality, you add the security.

What's the biggest vibe coding security risk?

Missing database access controls (RLS/Security Rules) is the most critical risk. It leads to complete data exposure. CVE-2025-48757 showed this affects real apps at scale. Exposed API keys are the most common risk, appearing in the majority of unreviewed vibe-coded projects.

Last updated: January 16, 2026