Security Issues in Databutton Code
Critical security vulnerabilities commonly found in Databutton-generated apps. Learn what to check and how to fix them before going to production.
Security risks in Databutton apps
Data apps built with Databutton commonly expose entire tables through unprotected API endpoints. Database queries often fetch more data than needed. Python scripts may run with database superuser credentials rather than a restricted service account. FastAPI endpoints may have no authentication or rate limiting
How to fix them
Create a least-privilege database user for the application with only the specific permissions it needs. Add FastAPI dependency injection for authentication on all non-public routes. Restrict API responses to only the fields and rows the authenticated user should see. Add rate limiting with slowapi to prevent data scraping
Authentication and authorization
Every Databutton app needs authentication — verifying who the user is — and authorization — verifying what they're allowed to do. Check that every API route and server action verifies the user's identity before processing requests. Check that users can only access their own data. A common Databutton pattern is adding auth to the UI but not the API, which means anyone with the endpoint URL can access data directly.
Data validation
Never trust data coming from the client. Every form submission, URL parameter, and API request body should be validated server-side before processing. Use a schema validation library like Zod to define expected shapes and reject anything that doesn't match. This prevents injection attacks, data corruption, and unexpected crashes.
Security headers
Configure security headers to protect against common web attacks: Content-Security-Policy to prevent XSS, Strict-Transport-Security to enforce HTTPS, X-Frame-Options to prevent clickjacking, and X-Content-Type-Options to prevent MIME sniffing. Most hosting platforms let you configure these in a headers file or configuration.
When to get a professional review
If your app handles user data, processes payments, or stores sensitive information, a professional security review is essential before launch. Our security scan ($19) checks for the most critical vulnerabilities, and our full security review service provides a comprehensive assessment with remediation guidance.
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Related guides
How to Deploy Your Databutton-Built App
Step-by-step guide to deploying your Databutton app to production.
Common Bugs in Databutton-Generated Code
The most common bugs we find in Databutton apps and how to fix them.
Optimizing Databutton-Generated Code for Performance
How to make your Databutton app faster.
Adding Tests to Your Databutton Project
How to add a testing framework to your Databutton app.
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