# How to conduct a full security audit within a Bubble.io app environment: Step-by

- Tool: Bubble
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Time required: 30-40 min
- Compatibility: All Bubble plans
- Last updated: March 2026

## TL;DR

Conduct a systematic security audit of your Bubble app by checking privacy rules on every data type, reviewing API security settings, scanning for exposed sensitive data, validating admin access controls, and testing for common Bubble-specific vulnerabilities. This tutorial provides a complete audit checklist.

## Overview: Security Auditing Your Bubble App

Security audits identify vulnerabilities before attackers find them. Bubble apps have specific security considerations around privacy rules, API exposure, and client-side data visibility. This tutorial provides a systematic checklist for non-technical founders to audit their own apps.

## Before you start

- A Bubble account with an app in development or production
- Admin access to all app settings
- Basic understanding of privacy rules and API settings
- A test user account (non-admin) for testing

## Step-by-step guide

### 1. Audit privacy rules on every data type

Go to Data tab → Privacy. Check every Data Type one by one. For each, verify: (1) Are there any rules at all? Types with no rules are accessible to everyone. (2) Does each rule have the correct condition? (3) Are sensitive fields (email, phone, payment info) restricted to the owner? (4) Is 'Find in searches' restricted appropriately? Test by logging in as a non-admin user and checking what data appears.

> Pro tip: Use Bubble's 'Run as' feature to test privacy rules from a regular user's perspective without logging out of your admin account.

**Expected result:** Every data type has appropriate privacy rules with no unintended data exposure.

### 2. Review API security settings

Go to Settings → API tab. Check: Is the Data API enabled? If yes, which Data Types are exposed? Are they necessary? Is the Workflow API enabled? If yes, which workflows are public? Review each exposed endpoint. Disable any API access that is not actively needed. Ensure API tokens are not shared or committed to version control.

**Expected result:** Only necessary APIs are enabled with minimum required data type exposure.

### 3. Scan for exposed data in the client

Open your live app in a browser. Open Developer Tools → Network tab. Navigate through your app and inspect the JSON responses. Look for sensitive data being sent to the browser that should not be there: other users' emails, payment details, admin-only fields. Remember: data type names and field names are visible in Bubble's JavaScript files — never use sensitive terms in names.

**Expected result:** No sensitive data appears in network responses that should be hidden by privacy rules.

### 4. Validate authentication and access controls

Test every protected page: (1) Log out and try to access admin pages directly by URL — they should redirect to login. (2) Log in as a regular user and try to access admin pages — they should redirect. (3) Check that 'Page is loaded' workflows enforce role checks. (4) Verify that sensitive workflow actions have 'Only when' conditions checking user roles. (5) Test password reset flow for proper token handling.

**Expected result:** All protected pages and actions are inaccessible to unauthorized users.

### 5. Check for common Bubble vulnerabilities

Run through this checklist: (1) Are API keys stored in private parameters (not client-safe)? (2) Are backend workflows with 'Ignore privacy rules' limited to necessary cases? (3) Is version control access restricted (if on Team plan)? (4) Are file upload types and sizes restricted? (5) Are there rate-limiting measures on login, signup, and contact forms? (6) Is the Bubble Security Scanner (scan.bubble.io) showing any issues?

**Expected result:** All common vulnerability points are addressed with no critical findings.

## Complete code example

File: `Workflow summary`

```text
SECURITY AUDIT — COMPLETE CHECKLIST
=====================================

PRIVACY RULES:
  [ ] Every Data Type has at least one privacy rule
  [ ] Sensitive fields restricted to owner/admin
  [ ] Find in searches restricted per type
  [ ] Tested with non-admin user account
  [ ] No unused types left unprotected

API SECURITY:
  [ ] Data API: only necessary types exposed
  [ ] Workflow API: only necessary workflows public
  [ ] API tokens not shared or in version control
  [ ] Unused API access disabled

CLIENT DATA EXPOSURE:
  [ ] No sensitive data in network responses
  [ ] No PII in data type or field names
  [ ] Hidden elements do not contain sensitive data
  [ ] File URLs not guessable for private files

AUTHENTICATION:
  [ ] Admin pages redirect unauthorized users
  [ ] Role checks on every protected page
  [ ] Role checks on sensitive workflow actions
  [ ] Password reset flow uses proper tokens
  [ ] Session timeout configured

COMMON VULNERABILITIES:
  [ ] API keys in Private parameters (not client-safe)
  [ ] Ignore privacy rules limited to necessary cases
  [ ] File upload restrictions (type and size)
  [ ] Rate limiting on login/signup forms
  [ ] Bubble Security Scanner clean
  [ ] HTTPS enforced (custom domain has SSL)
```

## Common mistakes

- **Leaving data types without any privacy rules** — Types without rules are accessible to any authenticated user via the Data API Fix: Add privacy rules to every data type, even if it is just 'Everyone can find and view'
- **Using 'Ignore privacy rules' in backend workflows unnecessarily** — This bypasses all security for that workflow, potentially exposing data Fix: Only check 'Ignore privacy rules' when the workflow genuinely needs admin-level access
- **Storing API keys in client-safe parameters** — Client-safe parameters are sent to the browser, exposing your API keys to anyone Fix: Always mark API keys and secrets as 'Private' in the API Connector — never 'Client safe'

## Best practices

- Audit security before every deployment to Live
- Test all access controls with a non-admin user account
- Keep API exposure to the minimum necessary
- Review privacy rules whenever you add new Data Types or fields
- Use Bubble's Security Scanner at scan.bubble.io regularly
- Document your security configuration for team reference
- Run a full audit at least quarterly

## Frequently asked questions

### How often should I run a security audit?

At minimum quarterly, and always before major deployments. Run spot checks after adding new data types or API integrations.

### Is there an automated security scanner for Bubble?

Yes. Bubble launched scan.bubble.io in October 2025. It scans for common vulnerabilities including exposed data and misconfigured privacy rules.

### Are Bubble apps inherently secure?

Bubble provides the tools for security (privacy rules, encrypted database), but you must configure them correctly. An unconfigured app is not secure by default.

### What is the biggest security risk in Bubble?

Misconfigured privacy rules — either missing entirely or too permissive. This is the most common vulnerability.

### Can users see my app's source code?

Bubble does not expose source code, but data type names, field names, and some logic are visible in JavaScript files. Never include sensitive information in names.

### Can RapidDev perform a security audit?

Yes. RapidDev conducts thorough security audits of Bubble applications including penetration testing, privacy rule review, and remediation of identified vulnerabilities.

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Source: https://www.rapidevelopers.com/bubble-tutorial/conduct-full-security-audit-bubble-app-environment
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