secure-by-default

name	secure-by-default
description	Check for common vulnerabilities and enforce safe patterns in React Native and Next.js apps. Use for auth, input validation, secrets handling, and dependency scanning workflows.
metadata	{"short-description":"Secure-by-default review"}

Secure-by-Default

Use this skill to review and harden a React Native + Next.js codebase with practical, high-signal checks.

Principles:

• Prefer “deny by default” at trust boundaries (server APIs, server actions, deep links).
• Every finding must include (1) evidence and (2) a concrete remediation.
• Don’t demand tooling the repo doesn’t use; but do call out missing guardrails.

Workflow

1. Identify entry points and trust boundaries.

• Next.js: API routes, server actions, middleware, auth flows, data fetching.
• React Native: network calls, deep links, local storage, push notification handlers.

2. Check common risk areas (prioritize likely, exploitable issues).

• Auth:
  • session handling, token storage, cookie flags, logout/invalidation
  • authorization checks at every server boundary (not just UI gating)
  • CSRF posture for cookie-based auth (Next.js forms/actions/APIs)
• Input validation:
  • server-side validation for API routes/server actions
  • schema validation for externally supplied data
  • strict allowlists for enums and identifiers
• Data exposure:
  • logging PII/tokens, leaking stack traces, returning overbroad objects
  • client-side secrets (API keys, service credentials) accidentally bundled
• Injection:
  • SQL/NoSQL injection, unsafe query building
  • SSRF (fetching user-controlled URLs on the server)
  • command execution, unsafe eval/Function/dynamic imports
• Transport:
  • HTTPS-only assumptions, insecure redirects, mixed content
  • certificate pinning only if the repo already uses it (mobile)
• Abuse resistance:
  • missing rate limiting on public endpoints
  • missing request size limits/timeouts for expensive operations

3. Dependency and configuration review (if tooling exists).

• Look for existing audit or security scan scripts.
• Report outdated or vulnerable dependencies only if scan data exists.
• Prefer pnpm audit / npm audit / yarn npm audit only when already used by the repo.

4. React Native specific checks.

• Avoid storing tokens in AsyncStorage; prefer secure storage libraries.
• Ensure deep links are validated and routed safely (no arbitrary URL execution).
• Confirm sensitive screens prevent screenshots/screen recording if required by policy.
• Confirm TLS is used for all network calls; avoid custom trust managers unless required and audited.

5. Next.js specific checks.

• Verify security headers (CSP, HSTS, frame protection, content-type sniffing) if configured.
• Ensure server actions/API routes validate input and enforce auth.
• Ensure server-only code is not imported into client bundles (secrets, admin SDKs).
• Ensure environment variables follow Next.js conventions (NEXT_PUBLIC_ only for non-secrets).

Fast Static “Red Flag” Greps (No New Tools)

Use simple search to spot high-risk patterns quickly (then confirm with code reading):

• Secrets:
  • NEXT_PUBLIC_ used for sensitive values
  • obvious key patterns (sk_, AIza, -----BEGIN, ghp_, xoxb-)
• Dangerous APIs:
  • eval(, new Function(, child_process, exec(, spawn(
• Open redirects:
  • redirect( where destination comes from query params without an allowlist
• SSRF:
  • server-side fetch(urlFromUser) without allowlist/URL parsing
• RN:
  • WebView with javaScriptEnabled and untrusted content without navigation restrictions

When reporting, include the exact file/line region and how to exploit (high-level, not step-by-step).

Resources

• Secret and red-flag scan script: scripts/scan_redflags.sh
• Next.js and React Native checklists: references/nextjs-security.md, references/react-native-security.md

Output Format

Provide:

• Findings (severity: High/Medium/Low)
• Evidence (file references)
• Recommended Fixes (minimal, aligned to repo patterns)
• Follow-up Checks (if tooling or docs are missing)
• “Verification” (how to confirm the fix worked, using existing scripts or minimal repro steps)

Notes

• Do not introduce new dependencies unless asked.
• If a security policy exists in the repo, follow it.