No hardcoded API keys or secrets in source code

Hardcoded secrets in source code are the most common high-severity finding in AI-built projects: the model fills in a working API key to make the code run, and the developer ships it without noticing. A Stripe secret key (sk_live_) hardcoded in lib/stripe.ts gives anyone with repo read access the ability to create charges, refund transactions, or read customer data. A hardcoded JWT secret lets an attacker forge authentication tokens. OWASP A07 (Identification and Authentication Failures) and CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials) directly describe this class of defect. PCI-DSS 4.0 Req 8.6.2 explicitly prohibits hard-coded credentials in any system component. Secrets in git history must be rotated even after removal from the code — the history is permanent.

Move every secret literal to an environment variable reference. The fix is mechanical — find the literal, move it to .env.local, and reference it via process.env.

// Before (DANGEROUS — rotate this key immediately):
const stripe = new Stripe('sk_live_abc123...')

// After (SAFE):
const stripe = new Stripe(process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY!)

After moving secrets to environment variables: rotate every exposed key immediately — assume any secret that ever appeared in your git history has been seen, regardless of whether the repo was private. Use git log -S 'sk_live_' to confirm the secret is gone from all commits; if it isn't, you need a history rewrite (git filter-repo).

• ID: no-hardcoded-secrets

• Severity: critical

• What to look for: Count all source code files searched and enumerate any hardcoded secret patterns found: API keys, tokens, passwords, connection strings. Only flag secret/private keys — not public keys that are intentionally embedded client-side. Look for:

  • Stripe secret keys: sk_live_, sk_test_ — flag these. Do NOT flag Stripe publishable keys (pk_live_, pk_test_) — these are designed to be public and are safely embedded in client-side code.
  • GitHub tokens: strings starting with ghp_, gho_, ghu_
  • AWS secret access keys: strings starting with AKIA (access key IDs) combined with a secret key value
  • password = "...", secret = "...", or apiKey = "..." with literal string values (not environment variable references)
  • Keys containing _secret_ in any API key pattern
  • Database connection strings with credentials embedded (usernames/passwords in the URL)
  • JWT signing secrets as literal strings
  • Any long alphanumeric string (32+ chars) assigned to a variable named key, secret, token, password, or credential

  Important: Only flag literal string values in source code. References to process.env.SECRET_KEY or import.meta.env.VITE_SECRET are correct and must NOT be flagged.

• Before evaluating: List each directory and file pattern searched (e.g., "Searched src/, lib/, app/, pages/, config/ for patterns: sk_live_, sk_test_, ghp_, AKIA, password =, secret =, apiKey ="). For any flagged item, quote the variable name and assignment pattern (not the actual secret value). Example: "Found const stripeKey = 'sk_test_...' in lib/stripe.ts line 4."

• Pass criteria: 0 hardcoded secrets or private keys found in source code after searching at least 3 source directories. All secrets are accessed via environment variables (process.env.*, import.meta.env.*). Publishable/public keys embedded in client code are acceptable.

• Fail criteria: At least 1 hardcoded secret key, private API key, password, or credential found as a literal string in source code files.

• Do NOT pass when: Absence of evidence alone is insufficient — actively search all source files, config files, and test fixtures for secret patterns. A cursory scan of only top-level files is not sufficient.

• Skip (N/A) when: Never — this check always applies.

• Detail on fail: "Hardcoded Stripe key found in lib/stripe.ts: sk_live_... value assigned directly instead of using process.env" or "Database connection string with credentials hardcoded in db/config.ts". Never include the actual secret value in the detail string.

• Remediation: Secrets in source code are the most common security issue in AI-built projects. Move all secrets to environment variables:

  // Before (DANGEROUS):
  const stripe = new Stripe('sk_live_abc123...')
  
  // After (SAFE):
  const stripe = new Stripe(process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY!)
  

  After fixing, rotate any exposed keys immediately — they should be considered compromised if they were ever in your git history. For application-level security analysis including auth flows and authorization, the SaaS Readiness Pack covers this in depth.