TL;DR
Cursor is a powerful AI-powered IDE that generates working code quickly. However, it prioritizes functionality over security. Common issues include hardcoded API keys, missing auth checks, and insecure database access. Use the security checklist below, add security rules to your project, and scan before deploying.
Cursor is an AI-powered code editor built on VS Code that has become the tool of choice for many vibe coders. It's remarkably good at understanding what you want and generating code that works. The challenge is that "works" and "secure" are different things.
This guide covers the security considerations specific to Cursor-generated code, how to catch common vulnerabilities, and how to make Cursor produce more secure output.
Is Cursor Itself Safe?
Yes, Cursor as a tool is safe to use. The company follows reasonable security practices for handling your code. The security concerns are about the code it generates, not the tool itself.
When you use Cursor, your code is sent to AI models for processing. Cursor offers privacy settings to limit data retention, and for sensitive projects, you can use local models or adjust these settings.
Common Security Issues in Cursor Projects
Based on our analysis of hundreds of Cursor-generated applications, these are the most common security problems:
| Issue | Frequency | How It Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Hardcoded API keys | Very Common | Cursor puts keys in code for quick testing |
| Missing route protection | Common | Auth checks not added to protected pages |
| Insecure database queries | Common | String concatenation instead of parameterized queries |
| Missing input validation | Common | User input trusted without sanitization |
| Exposed admin routes | Occasional | Admin pages accessible without auth |
| CORS misconfiguration | Occasional | Wildcard (*) origins allowed |
Cursor Security Checklist
Use this checklist before deploying any Cursor project:
Before You Deploy
- Search your codebase for API keys. Look for sk-, pk_, api_key, apiKey, secret, and password.
- Check .env is in .gitignore. Never commit environment files.
- Review authentication on all routes. Can you access /admin or /dashboard without logging in?
- Check database access controls. Is RLS enabled if using Supabase? Are security rules set for Firebase?
- Test form inputs. What happens if you enter HTML or SQL in form fields?
- Run an automated security scan. Catch what manual review misses.
How to Make Cursor Generate Secure Code
Cursor generates what you ask for. If you want secure code, you need to ask for it explicitly.
Use Specific Security Prompts
Instead of vague requests, be specific about security requirements:
// Bad prompt:
"Create a login form"
// Good prompt:
"Create a secure login form with:
- Password hashing using bcrypt
- Rate limiting (max 5 attempts per minute)
- CSRF protection
- Input validation and sanitization
- Secure session management"
Add Security Rules to Your Project
Create a .cursorrules file in your project root with security guidelines:
# .cursorrules
Security Requirements:
- Never hardcode API keys or secrets in code
- Always use environment variables for sensitive values
- Add authentication checks to all protected routes
- Use parameterized queries for all database operations
- Validate and sanitize all user inputs
- Set secure HTTP headers on all responses
- Use HTTPS for all external API calls
When generating authentication code:
- Use established libraries (NextAuth, Clerk, Auth.js)
- Hash passwords with bcrypt or argon2
- Implement session management securely
- Add rate limiting to auth endpoints
Cursor will reference these rules when generating code, making secure patterns the default.
Pro Tip: Ask Cursor to review its own code for security issues. After generating code, prompt: "Review the above code for security vulnerabilities and suggest improvements."
Framework-Specific Security
Cursor generates code for many frameworks. Here are security considerations for the most common ones:
Next.js Projects
- API Routes: Check that sensitive operations are in /api routes, not client code
- Environment Variables: Only NEXT_PUBLIC_ prefixed vars are client-safe
- Middleware: Use middleware.ts for route protection instead of client checks
- Headers: Add security headers in next.config.js
React Projects (Vite, CRA)
- No Server-Side Secrets: Pure React apps have no secure server. Use a backend.
- Environment Variables: VITE_ or REACT_APP_ prefixed vars are exposed to clients
- External APIs: Never call APIs requiring secret keys directly from React
Node.js/Express Projects
- Helmet: Ask Cursor to add helmet for security headers
- CORS: Configure specific origins, not wildcard (*)
- Rate Limiting: Add express-rate-limit to prevent abuse
- Input Validation: Use express-validator or zod for input checking
What Cursor Can't Do For You
Even with good prompts and rules, some security work requires human judgment:
- Business logic security: Cursor doesn't understand your specific access control requirements
- Threat modeling: Understanding what attackers might target in your app
- Compliance requirements: GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS require specific implementations
- Infrastructure security: Server configuration, network security, deployment settings
For these, you need either human expertise or specialized tools that understand your business context.
Is Cursor safe to use for building apps?
Cursor is safe as a development tool. However, like all AI coding assistants, it can generate code with security vulnerabilities. The key is to review the code it produces, especially around authentication, API key handling, and database access. Running security scans before deployment catches most common issues.
What are the most common security issues in Cursor-generated code?
The most common issues are API keys hardcoded in frontend code, missing authentication checks on protected routes, insecure database queries, and missing input validation. Cursor optimizes for functionality over security, so you need to explicitly ask for secure implementations or review the code yourself.
How do I make Cursor generate more secure code?
Be explicit in your prompts. Instead of asking for "a login form," ask for "a secure login form with password hashing, rate limiting, and protection against SQL injection." You can also add security instructions to your project's .cursorrules file to apply security patterns automatically.
Does Cursor store or share my code?
Cursor processes code through AI models to provide suggestions. They offer privacy settings to limit data retention and options for using local models. For sensitive projects, review their privacy policy and adjust settings accordingly.
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