Vibe Coding Security: A Pre-Launch Checklist

1. Test whether users can access each other's data

Create two test accounts, A and B, with different records. Sign in as B and attempt to open an A-owned record using its direct URL. Repeat for editing and deletion, not only reading. Then sign out and retry. The expected outcome is denial unless sharing is an explicit product requirement. Hiding a link or button does not enforce a permission: the data access layer must reject unauthorised requests.

Write down the intended access rules before testing. Public articles may be readable without an account; private tasks should not be. Ownership checks must apply to every operation and cannot depend on a user ID that the browser can change. Use test data and authorised environments; never probe another person's application.

2. Keep private credentials out of browser code

Private API credentials belong in server-side secret storage, not in a page, browser bundle or public repository. A browser-visible value is available to visitors even if the interface never displays it. Public client keys are a different category: some services deliberately expose them, but their safety still depends on enforced access policies. Check the provider's documentation rather than assuming every key is either secret or harmless.

If a private credential has been exposed, remove it and rotate or revoke it with the provider. Deleting the visible text alone does not invalidate an old copy. Review logs and error messages as well: they should help diagnose a failure without returning tokens, credentials or unnecessary personal data.

3. Validate inputs where the action is performed

Test empty values, unexpected status names and oversized text. The server or data layer should reject invalid input even when a visitor bypasses the form. For uploads, restrict allowed types and sizes, and apply access rules to downloads too. Treat text supplied by users as data rather than executable HTML.

For a task tracker, try submitting a status outside To do, Doing and Done. The expected result is a clear rejection without saving the invalid record. Test duplicate submissions too: repeated clicks should not create unintended duplicate actions. These checks reduce common errors but do not cover every injection or abuse scenario.

4. Verify payments and privileged actions independently

If the app sells access, a success page is not proof of payment. Confirm payment status through a trusted server-side provider response or verified webhook before granting access. Test a cancelled payment, an unpaid account and a repeated event. The same principle applies to administration: removing an admin button does not prevent an unauthorised request from being sent.

If your app has no payments or administrative features, mark this section not applicable rather than adding them. Each extra feature creates another boundary to review. Do not launch financial or other high-impact functionality based only on a generated checklist.

5. Check failures and retest the published app

Try an expired session, a failed save and a temporarily unavailable service. The interface should not claim success when data was not saved. Make sure errors do not leak private details. After publication, repeat account-separation and core-action tests on the public URL, because production configuration can differ from the preview.

Keep a short release record: what was tested, what failed, what changed and what remains uncertain. Security is an ongoing process as features change. For personal data, sensitive workflows or business-critical use, seek a qualified review and define a response plan before exposing the app to real users.

Review this app's security boundaries without changing unrelated features. List where authentication, record ownership, input validation and private secrets are enforced. For each boundary, propose an authorised test with an expected result. Flag gaps and uncertainty; do not claim the app is secure merely because the interface works. Fix confirmed issues individually and rerun the corresponding test.

Frequently asked questions

Is vibe coding secure?

It can produce applications with appropriate controls, but the development method does not guarantee security. Review permissions, secrets, validation and deployment settings, then test important boundaries.

Does a login screen protect all app data?

No. Authentication identifies the user; authorisation determines which records and actions that user may access. Those checks must be enforced where requests are processed, not only in the interface.

What should I do if an API secret is exposed?

Revoke or rotate the credential through its provider, remove it from public code and review possible misuse. Put the replacement in server-side secret storage. Removing the original from the screen is not enough.

Is this checklist enough for a production security audit?

No. It covers practical starting checks for a small web app, not all threats or compliance requirements. Sensitive, regulated or high-impact systems need a qualified review appropriate to their risk.

Sources and further reading

• Lovable: security best practices
• Lovable: security overview
• OWASP: secure coding with AI