CodeRabbit Data Handling
Overview
Manage code review data and sensitive patterns with CodeRabbit. Covers secret detection in PRs, sensitive file exclusion from AI review, review comment data retention, and configuring what code context gets sent to the AI engine.
Prerequisites
- CodeRabbit installed on repository
- Understanding of sensitive file patterns
- Repository admin access for configuration
- Secret scanning tools awareness
Instructions
Step 1: Exclude Sensitive Files from Review
reviews:
path_filters:
- "!**/.env*"
- "!**/credentials*"
- "!**/secrets*"
- "!**/*.pem"
- "!**/*.key"
- "!**/*.p12"
- "!**/serviceAccountKey*"
- "!**/terraform.tfstate*"
- "!**/*.tfvars"
- "!**/package-lock.json"
- "!**/pnpm-lock.yaml"
- "!**/yarn.lock"
- "!**/*.generated.*"
- "!**/dist/**"
- "!**/coverage/**"
Step 2: Secret Detection Instructions
reviews:
path_instructions:
- path: "**"
instructions: |
CRITICAL: Flag any of these patterns as HIGH SEVERITY:
- Hardcoded API keys, tokens, or passwords
- AWS access keys (AKIA...)
- Private keys or certificates
- Database connection strings with credentials
- JWT secrets or signing keys
- Webhook URLs with tokens in query params
If you find any secrets, add a comment:
"SECURITY: Hardcoded secret detected. Move to environment variable."
- path: "**/*.{yml,yaml}"
instructions: |
Check CI/CD files for:
- Secrets logged in step names or echo statements
- Unpinned GitHub Actions (use SHA, not tags)
- Missing secret masking in outputs
Step 3: Review Data Scope Management
reviews:
auto_review:
enabled: true
drafts: false
base_branches:
- "main"
- "develop"
ignore_title_keywords:
- "WIP"
- "DO NOT REVIEW"
- "DRAFT"
path_filters:
- "+src/**"
- "+lib/**"
- "+app/**"
- "+tests/**"
- "+.github/**"
- "!**/*.csv"
- "!**/*.json"
- "!**/fixtures/**"
- "!**/seeds/**"
Step 4: Sensitive Code Pattern Detection
reviews:
path_instructions:
- path: "src/db/**"
instructions: |
Review database code for:
- SQL injection vulnerabilities (string concatenation in queries)
- Unparameterized queries
- PII logged in error messages
- Missing data sanitization on inputs
- path: "src/api/**"
instructions: |
Review API endpoints for:
- User input not validated before processing
- Sensitive data in response bodies (passwords, tokens)
- Missing authentication checks
- Overly permissive CORS configuration
- PII in URL parameters (should be POST body instead)
- path: "src/auth/**"
instructions: |
SECURITY-CRITICAL PATH. Review for:
- Token expiry configuration
- Password hashing (must use bcrypt/argon2, never MD5/SHA)
- Session fixation vulnerabilities
- CSRF protection
Error Handling
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|
| Secret in reviewed PR | Not in exclusion list | Add pattern to path_filters |
| Large diff reviewed | Generated code included | Exclude generated file paths |
| Sensitive fixture data | Test data has real PII | Exclude fixtures directory |
| Review on draft PR | drafts setting enabled | Set drafts: false |
Examples
Minimal Secure Configuration
reviews:
auto_review:
enabled: true
drafts: false
path_filters:
- "!**/.env*"
- "!**/*.key"
- "!**/*.pem"
- "!**/secrets/**"
path_instructions:
- path: "**"
instructions: "Flag any hardcoded secrets, API keys, or credentials."
Output
- Sensitive files excluded from AI review via path_filters
- Secret detection instructions configured for all code paths
- Review scope limited to source code only (not data files)
- Security-focused path_instructions for database, API, and auth code
Resources
Next Steps
For security hardening, see coderabbit-security-basics.
