SimplyScan vs Built-In Platform Security: What Lovable, Cursor, Bolt, Replit & Windsurf Actually Check

Quick answer: Built-in platform security is partial: Lovable checks secrets and Supabase RLS but skips 10 categories; Replit adds SAST; Bolt runs basic audits; Cursor and Windsurf have no scanner. SimplyScan covers 13 categories and 40+ checks on any deployed app, filling the gaps every platform leaves for AI-built apps.

By Paula C · Kraftwire Software

Built-in platform security is partial because it focuses on the environment, not the unique vulnerabilities of AI-generated code. Lovable checks secrets and Supabase RLS but skips 10 categories like CSRF and XSS; Replit adds SAST and dependency scanning; Bolt runs basic pre-deploy audits; Cursor and Windsurf have no code scanner at all. SimplyScan covers 13 categories and 40+ checks on any deployed app, filling the gaps every platform leaves.

Every Platform Claims Security · But What Do They Actually Check?

AI coding platforms like Lovable, Bolt, and Replit have started adding security features to keep pace with the "vibe coding" revolution. While these features are a step in the right direction, they are often limited to the platform's specific ecosystem. This suggests that even when platforms provide "built-in" security, critical vulnerabilities are slipping through the cracks.

We researched exactly what Lovable, Cursor, Bolt, Replit, and Windsurf offer for security · and compared it to SimplyScan's 13-category, 40+ check security scan.

What Does SimplyScan Check? (13 Categories, 40+ Checks)

SimplyScan scans your deployed application and/or source code across 13 distinct security categories. Unlike platform-specific tools, SimplyScan is designed to catch the specific errors AI models make when "vibing" out code, such as forgetting CSRF protection or leaking environment variables in client-side bundles.

• Secrets: API keys, tokens, and credentials exposed in JavaScript bundles.
• Frontend: Environment variables leaked in client-side code (a common AI mistake).
• Supabase: Missing or weak Row Level Security (RLS) policies.
• Auth: JWT issues, hardcoded passwords, and missing auth middleware.
• Injection: SQL/NoSQL injection, eval(), and command injection.
• XSS: dangerouslySetInnerHTML, innerHTML, and unsanitized input.
• Endpoints: Unprotected API routes and missing authentication.
• CSRF / Headers: Missing security headers (HSTS, CSP) and CSRF vulnerabilities.
• Config: CORS wildcards, debug mode, and insecure production settings.
• Architecture: Exposed DB strings, missing rate limiting, and client-side business logic.
• Performance: Blocking I/O and N+1 queries that function as Denial of Service (DoS) risks.
• Vibe Code: Generic variables, missing error handling, and lack of input validation.
• AI Security: Prompt injection vectors and AI API key exposure.

SimplyScan also provides GitHub repo scanning, AI fix prompts, and remediation guides to help you patch issues in seconds.

What Does Lovable's Security Checker Cover?

What Lovable checks:

• Exposed secrets in code.
• Third-party dependency vulnerabilities (supply chain).
• Supabase RLS issues (via Supabase Security Advisor).
• Real-time notifications for findings.
• 20+ Lovable-specific policies for prompt safety.

What Lovable doesn't check:

• XSS patterns (e.g., dangerouslySetInnerHTML).
• SQL/NoSQL injection vectors.
• CSRF protection or security headers.
• Unprotected API endpoints.
• Architecture risks like rate limiting or IDOR.
• Performance-as-security risks (N+1 queries).
• AI-specific risks like prompt injection in your application's logic.

Summary: Lovable's scanner is effective for secrets and database basics. However, it doesn't scan your application code for injection, XSS, or endpoint security. That's 10 categories it doesn't touch. For a deeper dive, see our guide on is Lovable safe.

Does Cursor Have a Built-In Security Scanner?

Cursor is a code editor, not a deployment platform.

What Cursor provides:

• SOC 2 compliance for their own infrastructure.
• Privacy mode (code not stored on their servers).
• Workspace trust settings inherited from VS Code.

What Cursor doesn't check:

• No code scanning of any kind.
• No secret detection or dependency auditing.
• No RLS or database checks.
• No XSS, injection, or CSRF detection.

Summary: Cursor's security is about protecting *their platform*, not *your code*. You are responsible for the security of the "vibe" you ship. You can find more details in our Cursor security checklist.

What Do Bolt.new's Security Audits Cover?

Bolt recently launched automated security audits to help developers catch low-hanging fruit before they deploy.

What Bolt checks:

• Automated security audits before deployment.
• Basic vulnerability scanning.
• Some configuration checks.

What Bolt doesn't check:

• No Supabase/database RLS analysis.
• Limited injection detection.
• No XSS pattern scanning.
• No security headers analysis or architecture risk assessment.
• No AI-specific security analysis.

Summary: Bolt's audits are a great first step but lack the depth of a dedicated application security audit. They focus on the deployment configuration rather than the logic of the code itself. Read more in our is Bolt safe review.

What Does Replit's Scanner (Semgrep + HoundDog) Cover?

Replit has the most mature built-in scanner among AI coding platforms, leveraging Semgrep Community Edition and HoundDog.ai for deep static analysis.

What Replit checks:

• Dependency vulnerabilities (npm, Python, Go, Rust, etc.).
• Static analysis (SAST) for SQL injection and insecure patterns.
• Malicious file detection in the supply chain.
• Privacy issues (sensitive data in logs or files).
• "Fix with Agent" AI-powered remediation.

What Replit doesn't check:

• No Supabase/database RLS analysis.
• No deployed app scanning (it only looks at the source).
• No security headers or CSRF checks.
• No endpoint authentication analysis.
• No AI-specific security (prompt injection).

Summary: Replit is strong on SAST but misses the "runtime" reality of a deployed app. It cannot see how your app behaves once it is live on the web. See our Replit security guide for more.

Does Windsurf Have a Built-In Security Scanner?

Like Cursor, Windsurf is an agentic IDE. It focuses on the developer experience rather than security auditing.

What Windsurf provides:

• Local code execution (code stays on your machine).
• Enterprise features like SSO and audit logs.
• Admin controls for teams.

What Windsurf doesn't check:

• No code scanning or secret detection.
• No dependency auditing.
• No database security checks.
• No XSS, injection, or CSRF detection.

Summary: Windsurf is a powerful tool for building, but it offers zero protection against shipping vulnerable code. Use our Windsurf security guide to fill these gaps.

The Ultimate Vibe Coding Security Checklist

If you are building with AI, you need a workflow that covers what these platforms miss. Use this checklist to ensure your app is production-ready:

• Scan for Secrets: Ensure no .env values or API keys are hardcoded or bundled in your dist folder.
• Verify RLS: If using Supabase, ensure every table has RLS enabled.
• Check Headers: Use a security headers tool to verify CSP and HSTS.
• Audit Endpoints: Manually check that every API route requires a valid session or token.
• Test for Injection: Ensure AI-generated queries use parameterized inputs, not string interpolation.
• Monitor Uptime: Set up uptime monitoring to detect DoS attacks or performance degradation.

Why SimplyScan Is Different

1. Platform-Agnostic

Platform scanners only work on their own platform. Lovable's scanner won't help you if you move your code to Vercel. SimplyScan works on any deployed web application · regardless of whether it was built with Bolt, Cursor, or hand-coded.

2. Deployed App Scanning vs. Source Scanning

Most platform scanners only analyze source code. SimplyScan scans your live deployed application. This is critical because AI tools often bundle secrets into the frontend during the build process · an issue that source-only scanners frequently miss.

3. AI-Specific Risk Detection

Neither Replit nor Lovable currently checks for prompt injection or AI-specific API exposure. SimplyScan is built for the "vibe coding" era, detecting the specific ways AI models fail to secure LLM integrations.

How to Use SimplyScan with Your Platform

SimplyScan is designed to be complementary. You should use your platform's built-in tools for immediate feedback and SimplyScan for a "final gate" before production.

• Lovable + SimplyScan: Lovable catches secrets; SimplyScan adds CSRF, XSS, and endpoint security.
• Replit + SimplyScan: Replit handles SAST; SimplyScan adds live app testing and RLS verification.
• Cursor/Windsurf + SimplyScan: Since these editors have no scanner, SimplyScan provides the entire security layer for your project.

Start Scanning

Run a free SimplyScan scan to check core categories on any deployed web app.

• Scan your Lovable app
• Scan your Bolt app
• Scan your Cursor project
• Scan your Replit project
• Scan your v0 app

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FAQ

Do I need SimplyScan if Lovable already has a Security Checker?

Yes. Lovable's Security Checker is effective for secrets and Supabase RLS, but it does not scan for XSS, injection, CSRF, security headers, or unprotected endpoints. These represent 10 of SimplyScan's 13 categories. Pairing them gives you Lovable's real-time feedback plus SimplyScan's full-spectrum vibe coding security checklist.

Which AI coding platform has the best built-in security scanning?

Replit currently has the most mature built-in scanner, powered by Semgrep and HoundDog.ai. It handles dependency vulnerabilities and static analysis for SQL injection. However, it only works on Replit projects and does not scan the live, deployed version of your app, which is where many AI-generated bundling errors occur.

Can Cursor or Windsurf scan my code for vulnerabilities?

No. Cursor and Windsurf are code editors with no built-in security scanning. Their security features focus on infrastructure (SOC 2) and privacy (local execution). To secure the code you write in these editors, you must use an external tool like SimplyScan or a security-focused MCP server.

What is the difference between scanning source code and scanning a deployed app?

Source scanning reads your raw code files. Deployed-app scanning tests what attackers actually see: JavaScript bundles, network requests, and API responses. This catches issues source-only tools miss, such as environment variables that leak into the browser during the build step or RLS policies that fail at runtime.

How much does SimplyScan cost compared to platform security features?

Platform security is often bundled but limited in scope. SimplyScan offers a free scan for 8 dimensions (including security, speed, and SEO). This is significantly more affordable than a manual penetration test.

Does any platform scanner check for prompt injection or AI security risks?

Currently, none of the built-in scanners on Lovable, Cursor, Bolt, or Replit provide comprehensive checks for prompt injection vectors or AI API key exposure in the frontend. SimplyScan includes a dedicated AI security category to address these specific risks inherent in vibe-coded applications.