Security-First Vibe Coding: 3 Critical Prompts for Safer AI-Generated Code
In today's "vibe coding" era, developers rely on AI to create code. Often, they don't fully understand how it works. This can lead to security being overlooked in favor of functionality. Such a gap creates risks, especially as AI apps transition from personal use to managing sensitive data.
Recent research highlights three key security issues vibe coders often miss. Below are actionable prompts to improve your AI assistant's security solutions!
1. Improper Input Validation and Sanitization
AI-generated code often focuses on the "happy path" and skips proper input validation and sanitization. This leaves applications open to SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other vulnerabilities that can cause data breaches.
Security-First Prompts for Input Validation
Ensure comprehensive input validation and sanitization for all user inputs in this code. Specifically:
1. Validate all form inputs on both client and server sides.
2. Sanitize data that could be rendered in HTML to prevent XSS.
3. Use parameterized queries for all database operations.
4. Implement error handling that doesn't reveal implementation details.
5. Validate edge cases like empty inputs, extremely long inputs, and special characters.
6. Explain the security reasoning behind each validation measure you implement.
Review this code for input validation vulnerabilities. Check specifically for:
1. SQL injection possibilities.
2. XSS vulnerabilities in output rendering.
3. Improper handling of file uploads.
4. Missing validation on user-provided parameters.
5. Suggested fixes for any vulnerabilities found.
2. Inadequate Rate Limiting and Resource Control
Many vibe-coded applications lack proper rate limiting and resource controls. This makes them vulnerable to denial-of-service attacks and high infrastructure costs. This risk increases when integrating with external APIs, where unlimited requests can lead to hefty bills.
Security-First Prompts for Rate Limiting
Implement proper rate limiting and resource control for this API endpoint. Specifically:
1. Add IP-based rate limiting to prevent abuse.
2. Set user-based quotas for authenticated users.
3. Add timeout mechanisms for costly operations.
4. Limit maximum size for file uploads and data inputs.
5. Set up monitoring and alerts for unusual usage patterns.
6. Gracefully handle rate limit violations.
7. Track API usage for billing purposes.
Audit this code for resource control vulnerabilities. Check for:
1. Missing rate limits on public endpoints.
2. Unbounded loops that could cause DoS.
3. Uncontrolled resource allocation (memory, disk space, etc.).
4. API calls that could lead to unexpected costs.
5. Lack of timeouts on external service calls.
3. Hardcoded Credentials and Exposed Secrets
AI coding assistants often suggest hardcoding credentials in source code, which creates serious security risks. If secrets aren't managed well, these credentials might get into version control systems. This can expose sensitive information.
Security-First Prompts for Secrets Management
Refactor this code to properly handle secrets and credentials. Use environment variables instead of hardcoded values. Specifically:
1. Remove any hardcoded API keys, passwords, or connection strings.
2. Implement a secrets management solution using environment variables.
3. Add code to check that required environment variables are present.
4. Document the required environment variables.
5. Implement error handling for missing credentials.
6. Ensure no secrets appear in logs or error messages.
Set up a secure configuration system for this application that:
1. Loads sensitive configuration from environment variables.
2. Separates code from configuration clearly.
3. Uses different values for development, testing, and production.
4. Validates that all required configuration is present.
5. Provides meaningful error messages when configuration is missing.
6. Never logs or exposes sensitive values.
The Responsible Approach to Vibe Coding
Vibe coding can still be secure coding. By using these security prompts, you can benefit from AI assistance while keeping strong security practices.
Remember: AI can generate functional code quickly, but security needs human oversight. Know how your code affects security. This is key when you deal with user data or sensitive info.
The most secure code is code you understand—even when AI helps you write it.