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security

cognitedata/builder-skills

Find and fix security issues in Flows apps before shipping—handles credentials, input validation, XSS, injection, and auth gaps.

What is security?

A mandatory security audit and remediation skill for Flows applications. Use it whenever fixing security issues, hardening features that handle credentials or user input, or before shipping any feature that processes external data. This skill actively finds and fixes problems across the attack surface, credential hygiene, dangerous DOM APIs, authentication, and input validation.

  • Maps the attack surface by identifying routes, auth guards, and data entry/exit points
  • Migrates all CDF access to the official Cognite SDK, removing raw HTTP calls
  • Finds and replaces hardcoded credentials with environment variables
  • Detects and fixes dangerous DOM APIs (dangerouslySetInnerHTML, eval, setTimeout strings)
  • Validates authentication guards on all routes showing CDF data
  • Adds runtime input validation for form fields, URL params, and query strings using Zod

How to install security

npx skills add https://github.com/cognitedata/builder-skills --skill security
Prerequisites
  • Node.js and pnpm installed
  • A Flows app with src/ directory structure
  • Vite config and package.json present
Claude Code
Cursor
Windsurf
Cline

How to use security

  1. 1.Read entry points (src/main.tsx, src/App.tsx, vite.config.ts, package.json) to map the attack surface
  2. 2.Search for and rewrite all raw HTTP calls (fetch, axios) to CDF endpoints using the Cognite SDK
  3. 3.Find hardcoded credentials and replace with import.meta.env.VITE_* variables; update .env.example
  4. 4.Detect dangerous DOM patterns (dangerouslySetInnerHTML, eval, setTimeout strings) and apply fixes using DOMPurify or function references
  5. 5.Verify all routes showing CDF data are behind auth guards and use short-lived OIDC tokens
  6. 6.Add Zod schemas and runtime validation for all form inputs, URL params, and query strings before CDF calls or DOM rendering

Use cases

Good for
  • Fixing a reported XSS or injection vulnerability in user-facing forms
  • Hardening a feature before production that accepts user credentials or API keys
  • Auditing a new integration with external data sources for security gaps
  • Remediating dependency vulnerabilities by checking SDK usage patterns
  • Ensuring OIDC token flow is correct and static API keys are removed
Who it's for
  • Full-stack developers building Flows applications
  • Security engineers reviewing code before deployment
  • Teams shipping features that handle sensitive data or user input
  • Developers integrating third-party APIs or Atlas agents

security FAQ

Do I need to run this skill every time I make a change?

No—run it when the user explicitly asks for a security fix, security hardening, vulnerability remediation, or before shipping a feature that handles credentials, user input, or external data. Do not skip it in those cases.

What if I have a legitimate raw HTTP call to a non-CDF service?

Leave it in place but add a comment documenting why it's needed. Acceptable patterns include calls to static asset CDNs, documented third-party APIs, or services explicitly noted in the app's README.

Can I use a static API key instead of OIDC tokens?

No. The CDF client must be initialized with short-lived OIDC tokens, not static API keys. Static keys are a security risk in production.

What if the app doesn't have a .env file yet?

Create .env.example with placeholder values (e.g., VITE_API_KEY=your-api-key-here), then add .env and .env.local to .gitignore. Users will copy .env.example to .env and fill in real values locally.

Do I need to validate data that only comes from CDF?

CDF data is generally trusted, but still validate user-supplied inputs (forms, URL params, query strings) before rendering or using them in CDF queries to prevent injection attacks.

Full instructions (SKILL.md)

Source of truth, from cognitedata/builder-skills.


name: security description: "MUST be used whenever fixing security issues in a Flows app, or before shipping any feature that handles credentials, user input, or external data. This skill finds AND fixes security problems — it does not just report them. Do NOT skip this when the user asks for a security fix, security hardening, or vulnerability remediation — run every step in order. Triggers: security, security fix, security hardening, vulnerability, XSS, injection, credentials, secrets, auth, authentication, authorization, token, sensitive data, input validation, CORS, CSP, dependency audit." allowed-tools: Read, Glob, Grep, Shell, Write metadata: argument-hint: "[file or directory to audit, or leave blank to audit the whole app]"

Security Fix

Find and fix security issues in $ARGUMENTS (or the whole app if no argument is given). Work through every step below in order. Every step that finds an issue must also fix it.


Step 1 — Map the attack surface

Read these files before checking anything:

  • src/main.tsx / src/App.tsx — entry point, routing, auth gating
  • vite.config.ts — dev server proxy, CORS, headers
  • package.json — list of third-party dependencies
  • Any file matching **/auth*, **/login*, **/token*, **/credential*

Identify:

  • All pages/routes and whether each is behind an auth guard
  • All places where external data enters the app (CDF SDK calls, fetch, user form input)
  • All places where data is written back (CDF upsert, fetch POST/PUT/DELETE)

Step 2 — Migrate all CDF access to the Cognite SDK

All traffic to Cognite Data Fusion (CDF) must go through the official Cognite SDK. Find any HTTP, WebSocket, or other network call to CDF-like hosts or APIs that bypasses the SDK and rewrite it to use the SDK.

Search for raw HTTP calls

# Find fetch, axios, XMLHttpRequest, and other HTTP client usage
grep -rn --include="*.ts" --include="*.tsx" --include="*.js" \
  -E "(fetch\(|axios\.|axios\(|XMLHttpRequest|\.ajax\(|http\.get\(|http\.post\(|request\()" src/

# Find raw URL construction that looks like CDF endpoints
grep -rn --include="*.ts" --include="*.tsx" \
  -E "(cognitedata\.com|cognite\.ai|/api/v1/projects|cdf\.|\.cognite\.)" src/

# Find custom Authorization or api-key headers
grep -rn --include="*.ts" --include="*.tsx" \
  -E "(Authorization|api-key|apikey|x-api-key)" src/ | grep -v "node_modules"

How to fix

For each raw CDF call found, read the surrounding code to understand what CDF resource and operation it targets, then rewrite it using the appropriate SDK method. Remove the raw HTTP client import if it's no longer used.

PatternAction
fetch() or axios call to a CDF URL (*.cognitedata.com, /api/v1/projects/*)Rewrite to use the Cognite SDK (cognite.files.getDownloadUrls(...), cognite.timeseries.retrieve(...), client.instances.search(...), etc.)
Custom Authorization header with a CDF tokenRemove — the SDK handles auth automatically
WebSocket connection to CDF endpointsRewrite to use SDK streaming methods
Proxy endpoint that forwards to CDF internallyRewrite the proxy to use the SDK internally
fetch() to a non-CDF URL (static assets, documented third-party API)Leave — but add a comment documenting why it's needed

After rewriting all CDF calls, remove any axios or fetch-related imports that are no longer used.

What is acceptable

  • All CDF reads/writes through sdk.files.*, sdk.timeseries.*, client.instances.*, etc.
  • Non-CDF network calls that are:
    • To known static asset hosts (CDNs, image services)
    • To documented third-party APIs required by the product
    • Explicitly noted in the app's README or architecture docs

Step 3 — Find and fix credential & secret hygiene

Search for hard-coded credentials and sensitive values:

# Look for anything that smells like a secret in source files
grep -rn --include="*.ts" --include="*.tsx" --include="*.js" \
  -E "(password|secret|apikey|api_key|token|bearer|private_key)\s*=\s*['\"]" src/

For each hardcoded secret, replace it with an environment variable. Create or update .env.example with a placeholder. Add .env to .gitignore if missing.

How to fix

  1. Replace each hardcoded secret with an import.meta.env.VITE_* reference. For example:

    • const apiKey = "sk-abc123"const apiKey = import.meta.env.VITE_API_KEY
    • const token = "eyJhbG..."const token = import.meta.env.VITE_AUTH_TOKEN
  2. Add the variable to .env.example with a placeholder value (e.g., VITE_API_KEY=your-api-key-here). Create .env.example if it doesn't exist.

  3. Ensure .env and .env.local are in .gitignore — add them if missing.

  4. Remove any console.log, console.error, or similar calls that print a CDF token, user object, or API key.


Step 4 — Find and fix dangerous DOM APIs

Search for patterns that allow arbitrary script execution or HTML injection:

grep -rn --include="*.tsx" --include="*.ts" \
  -E "dangerouslySetInnerHTML|innerHTML\s*=|eval\(|new Function\(|setTimeout\(['\"]|setInterval\(['\"]" src/

For each dangerous DOM pattern, apply the fix directly. Install DOMPurify with pnpm add dompurify and pnpm add -D @types/dompurify if needed.

How to fix

  • dangerouslySetInnerHTML: Wrap the value with DOMPurify.sanitize(). Add import DOMPurify from 'dompurify' to the file. Example:

    // Before
    <div dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{ __html: userContent }} />
    // After
    import DOMPurify from 'dompurify';
    <div dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{ __html: DOMPurify.sanitize(userContent) }} />
    
  • eval() / new Function(): Rewrite using a data-driven approach. Use JSON.parse() for data parsing, or a lookup table / switch statement for dynamic logic dispatch. Never pass user-controlled strings to code evaluation.

  • setTimeout/setInterval with a string argument: Convert to a function reference:

    // Before
    setTimeout("doSomething()", 1000)
    // After
    setTimeout(() => doSomething(), 1000)
    

Step 5 — Find and fix authentication & authorization gaps

Read the auth setup (likely src/contexts/, src/hooks/, or setup-flows-auth output):

  • Every route that shows CDF data must be behind the Flows auth guard (useCogniteClient returns a non-null sdk before rendering).
  • The CDF client must be initialized with short-lived OIDC tokens, not a static API key.
  • User role/capability checks must happen server-side (CDF ACLs) — do not rely solely on hiding UI elements.

Check the useAtlasChat / Atlas agent integration:

  • The agentExternalId must not be constructed from user-supplied input.
  • Tool execute functions must not trust args blindly — validate or guard before using values in CDF queries.

How to fix

For each unguarded route that shows CDF data, wrap it with the auth guard component. For example, ensure the route element is wrapped in a component that checks useCogniteClient and renders a loading/login state when the SDK is not ready.

For Atlas tool execute functions, add argument validation at the top of each function. Validate that each args field is the expected type and within expected bounds before using it in any CDF query.


Step 6 — Find and fix input validation gaps

Every value that comes from a form, URL param, or query string before it reaches a CDF call or is rendered to the DOM must be validated:

# Find useSearchParams, URLSearchParams, and form onChange handlers
grep -rn --include="*.tsx" --include="*.ts" \
  -E "useSearchParams|URLSearchParams|searchParams\.get|e\.target\.value" src/

For each unvalidated external input, add runtime validation. Install Zod if not present (pnpm add zod). Create a schema that matches the expected shape and use .safeParse() instead of type casts.

How to fix

  1. Add Zod schemas for URL params and form inputs. Example:

    import { z } from 'zod';
    const paramSchema = z.object({
      id: z.string().min(1),
      page: z.coerce.number().int().positive().default(1),
    });
    const result = paramSchema.safeParse({ id: searchParams.get('id'), page: searchParams.get('page') });
    if (!result.success) { /* handle error */ }
    
  2. Replace as MyType casts on external data with Zod .safeParse() — never trust data from URL params, form inputs, or API responses without validation.

  3. Add nullish fallbacks for searchParams.get() — always handle the case where the param is missing or empty.


Step 7 — Find and fix Vite / server configuration

Read vite.config.ts and any server.ts / express.ts files.

How to fix

Add any missing security headers to the vite.config.ts server.headers section. If the section doesn't exist, create it. The minimum required headers are:

server: {
  headers: {
    'Content-Security-Policy': "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; style-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline'; img-src 'self' data: https:; connect-src 'self' https://*.cognitedata.com",
    'X-Frame-Options': 'DENY',
    'X-Content-Type-Options': 'nosniff',
  },
}

Adjust the Content-Security-Policy to match the app's actual needs (e.g., adding specific CDN hosts for fonts or images).

Also:

  • Remove any define entries in vite.config.ts that embed raw secrets into the bundle. Use import.meta.env instead.
  • Confirm the dev proxy (server.proxy) does not expose internal endpoints in production builds.

Step 8 — Find and fix dependency vulnerabilities

pnpm audit --audit-level=high

How to fix

  1. Run pnpm audit fix first to auto-fix what's possible.
  2. For any remaining high/critical CVEs, manually update the package version in package.json and run pnpm install.
  3. If a vulnerable package has no fix available, document it as a known risk and check if there's an alternative package.

Step 9 — Report remaining findings

Report only issues that could not be auto-fixed (e.g., architectural decisions that need human judgment, packages with no available fix, or patterns that require significant refactoring).

Summarize what was fixed in each step:

StepWhat was fixedRemaining issues
2 — CDF SDKMigrated N raw calls to SDK(any that couldn't be migrated)
3 — CredentialsReplaced N hardcoded secrets with env vars(any that need human decision)
4 — DOMSanitized N dangerous patterns(any that need refactoring)
5 — AuthWrapped N unguarded routes(any architectural gaps)
6 — ValidationAdded Zod schemas to N inputs(any that need custom logic)
7 — Vite configAdded N security headers(any CSP tuning needed)
8 — DependenciesFixed N vulnerable packages(any with no available fix)

If any remaining issues require immediate action before deployment, list them explicitly.


Done

State what was fixed and confirm the app is more secure. List any remaining items that require human judgment before the next deployment.

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