Is Cursor Safe?
Cursor itself is safe to install and use as a local AI code editor. The real risk is what its AI writes into your codebase · leaked API keys, weak auth checks, and missing input validation are common in AI-generated code and need review before you ship.
Known risks
- AI-generated secrets in code · Cursor sometimes inlines API keys, database URLs, or service-role tokens directly in source files instead of reading from env vars.
- Weak authorization checks · Generated route handlers may forget to verify the caller, exposing admin endpoints or letting users read other users' data.
- Third-party model data exposure · Depending on your settings, code and files you edit can be sent to Anthropic or OpenAI. Turn on Privacy Mode for regulated projects.
How to make it safer
- Enable Privacy Mode · In Cursor settings, toggle Privacy Mode so your code isn't retained by upstream model providers.
- Scan your repo before shipping · Run a full security scan on the built app · SimplyScan catches leaked keys, missing RLS, and unauth endpoints in 30 seconds.
- Never trust the diff blindly · Read every line of AI-generated auth, RLS, and secrets handling. That's where 90% of vibe-coding vulnerabilities live.
Frequently asked
Does Cursor send my code to third parties?
By default it sends context to Anthropic or OpenAI to power completions. Enabling Privacy Mode prevents retention on their side.
Is Cursor safe for production apps?
The editor is fine. The generated code needs the same security review any pull request needs · scan it before deployment.
What's the biggest Cursor security risk?
AI-generated code that skips authorization or leaks secrets. SimplyScan detects both.
Scan your Cursor app →