Top Vulnerabilities Found in Startups (and How to Fix Them)

Top Vulnerabilities Found in Startups

In the rush to ship features, security often takes a backseat in startups. Here are the most common vulnerabilities we encounter during our audits.

1. Hardcoded Secrets

We frequently find API keys, database credentials, and secret tokens hardcoded in the codebase or committed to Git.

2. Insecure Defaults

Using default admin passwords or leaving database ports (like 3306 or 27017) open to the internet is a recipe for disaster. A thorough cloud security audit can identify these misconfigurations instantly.

3. Lack of Proper Authorization

Many startups implement authentication but fail at authorization, allowing 'User A' to read 'User B's' data simply by changing a URL parameter.

4. Outdated Dependencies

Startups often use open-source libraries with known critical vulnerabilities. Regular dependency scanning is essential.

5. No Security Headers

Missing CSP, HSTS, and X-Frame-Options headers make applications vulnerable to simple but effective attacks.