Compliance & Security Vibe Code Cleanup

What AI Gets Wrong in Security

AI-generated code is functionally correct and security-blind. The most common issue: broken access control. AI builds a /api/users/:id endpoint that returns user data for any authenticated user, regardless of whether they should see that specific user’s data. Change the ID in the URL, access any user’s records. This pattern appears in nearly every AI-built application we review.

Input validation is surface-level or absent. AI generates endpoints that accept user input and pass it to database queries, file operations, or external APIs without proper validation or sanitization. SQL injection, path traversal, and server-side request forgery vulnerabilities appear because AI focuses on the happy path.

Audit logging doesn’t exist. There’s no record of who accessed what data, who modified what records, or who performed sensitive operations. When a security incident occurs, there’s no evidence. When compliance requires access logs, there’s nothing to show.

Our Security Cleanup Process

We scan the codebase with automated tools (Semgrep, Snyk) for known vulnerability patterns, then perform manual review for business logic flaws that tools miss. Each finding is classified by severity and exploitability. Critical vulnerabilities - SQL injection, broken access control in production - are fixed first.

Authorization is implemented systematically. Every API endpoint gets an authorization check that verifies the requesting user has permission to perform the operation on the specific resource. Ownership checks, role-based access, and scope validation are added where missing. We test authorization by attempting unauthorized access for every endpoint.

Audit logging is added for all sensitive operations. User data access, authentication events, administrative actions, and data modifications all generate audit entries. These entries include who, what, when, and from where. The audit log becomes the foundation for compliance evidence and security investigation.

Compliance Readiness

Security cleanup is the prerequisite for compliance, not the same thing. Once vulnerabilities are remediated and access controls are in place, we map your application’s security posture against your target compliance framework - SOC 2, HIPAA, or GDPR. The gap analysis identifies what’s already covered by the security work and what additional controls are needed.

For SOC 2, audit logging and access controls cover a significant portion of the Common Criteria. We help establish the remaining controls: change management procedures, incident response documentation, vendor risk assessments, and data retention policies. The security remediation work we’ve already completed becomes direct evidence for your auditor.

For applications handling protected health information, HIPAA requires encryption at rest and in transit, minimum necessary access controls, and audit trails for PHI access. AI-generated code almost never encrypts sensitive fields at the database level or implements field-level access controls. We add column-level encryption for sensitive data, enforce TLS for all connections, and ensure audit logs capture every PHI access event with sufficient detail for breach notification requirements.

GDPR compliance requires data subject access requests, right to erasure, and consent management. We implement endpoints that can export all data associated with a user and permanently delete it on request, including data propagated to third-party services and backup systems.

Before and After

Before: API endpoints accessible by any authenticated user. SQL queries built from user input. No audit trail. Zero compliance controls. One determined user away from a data breach.

After: Authorization checks on every endpoint. Input validation and parameterized queries. Comprehensive audit logging. Security headers on all responses. Dependency vulnerabilities remediated. A security posture that withstands enterprise security review and provides a foundation for compliance certification.