7 Security Holes Hiding in Your AI-Built App

AI coding assistants are optimized to make something run, fast. Security is rarely part of that objective, so it gets skipped quietly. Here are the seven issues we find most often when we audit apps built with Replit, v0, Lovable, and friends.

1. Exposed API keys

Keys committed to the repo or shipped to the browser are the single most common finding. If a secret reaches the client, it’s public. Move every key to the server side and rotate anything that was ever exposed.

2. Unprotected database access

Default-open database rules let anyone read or write your data. Enforce access rules so each user can only touch their own records, and never trust the client to filter on your behalf.

3. Missing server-side authorization

Hiding a button is not security. If the API endpoint behind it doesn’t check who’s calling, anyone can hit it directly. Every protected action needs an authorization check on the server.

4. No input validation

Trusting whatever the client sends opens the door to injection and corrupted data. Validate and sanitize input on the server for every endpoint — type, shape, and limits.

5. Leaky error messages

Stack traces and raw database errors shown to users hand attackers a map of your system. Return generic messages to the client and keep the detail in your private logs.

6. No rate limiting

Without limits, a single script can brute-force logins, run up your API bills, or knock the app over. Add rate limiting to authentication and any expensive endpoint.

7. Outdated dependencies

Generated projects often pin old, vulnerable packages. Audit your dependencies, patch the known issues, and set up a way to stay current.

How to check your own app

You don’t need a full pentest to catch the obvious holes. We built a free audit prompt that scans for exactly these issues — paste it into ChatGPT or Claude and you’ll get a readable report in minutes. Fixing what it finds is the difference between a demo and something you can safely charge for.