Windsurf
security
Windsurf Generated API Routes Without Auth Middleware
Windsurf's Cascade generated API routes and server endpoints that process requests without verifying the user is authenticated or authorized. Anyone who knows the URL can access, modify, or delete data without logging in.
This happens frequently when Cascade creates new CRUD endpoints, admin routes, or data export functionality. The generated handlers focus on the business logic but skip the authentication and authorization layer entirely. Your app may have a login page, but the API behind it is wide open.
You might discover this when testing your API directly with curl or Postman and realizing it returns data without any authentication header, or when a user accesses another user's data by changing an ID in the URL.
Error Messages You Might See
200 OK (but should be 401 Unauthorized)
Data returned without authentication header
User A can see User B's records
No authorization header required
Common Causes
- No middleware applied to new routes — Cascade generated route handlers but didn't wrap them with your existing auth middleware
- Auth check missing on individual endpoints — Some routes have auth, others don't, because they were generated in separate Cascade sessions
- No authorization checks — Routes verify the user is logged in but don't check if they have permission to access the specific resource
- Public endpoints exposing private data — API routes intended for internal use are accessible without authentication
- Missing user scoping on queries — Database queries return all records instead of filtering by the authenticated user's ID
How to Fix It
- Audit all your routes — List every API endpoint in your app and mark which ones require authentication. Any endpoint that reads or writes user data must be protected
- Apply auth middleware globally — Set up authentication middleware at the router level so all routes are protected by default, then explicitly mark public routes
- Add authorization checks — After verifying identity, check that the user has permission to access the specific resource (e.g., only the owner can edit their profile)
- Scope all database queries — Always filter queries by the authenticated user's ID: WHERE user_id = $currentUser instead of returning all rows
- Test with unauthenticated requests — Use curl or Postman to hit every endpoint without an auth token and verify you get 401 responses
- Enable Supabase RLS if applicable — Turn on Row Level Security and create policies that restrict data access at the database level
Real developers can help you.
Jen Jacobsen
I’m a Full-Stack Developer with over 10 years of experience building modern web and mobile applications. I enjoy working across the full product lifecycle — turning ideas into real, well-built products that are intuitive for users and scalable for businesses.
I particularly enjoy building mobile apps, modern web platforms, and solving complex technical problems in a way that keeps systems clean, reliable, and easy to maintain.
Franck Plazanet
I am a Strategic Engineering Leader with over 8 years of experience building high-availability enterprise systems and scaling high-performing technical teams. My focus is on bridging the gap between complex technology and business growth.
Core Expertise:
🚀 Leadership: Managing and coaching teams of 15+ engineers, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
🏗️ Architecture: Enterprise Core Systems, Multi-system Integration (ERP/API/ETL), and Core Database Structure.
☁️ Cloud & Scale: AWS Expert; architected systems handling 10B+ monthly requests and managing 100k+ SKUs.
📈 Business Impact: Aligning tech strategy with P&L goals to drive $70k+ in monthly recurring revenue.
I thrive on "out-of-the-box" thinking to solve complex technical bottlenecks and am always looking for ways to use automation to improve business productivity.
Rudra Bhikadiya
I build and fix web apps across Next.js, Node.js, and DBs.
Comfortable jumping into messy code, broken APIs, and mysterious bugs.
If your project works in theory but not in reality, I help close that gap.
Caio Rodrigues
I'm a full-stack developer focused on building practical and scalable web applications. My main experience is with **React, TypeScript, and modern frontend architectures**, where I prioritize clean code, component reusability, and maintainable project structures.
I have strong experience working with **dynamic forms, state management (Redux / React Hook Form), and complex data-driven interfaces**. I enjoy solving real-world problems by turning ideas into reliable software that companies can actually use in their daily operations.
Beyond coding, I care about **software quality and architecture**, following best practices for componentization, code organization, and performance optimization.
I'm also comfortable working across the stack when needed, integrating APIs, handling business logic, and helping transform prototypes into production-ready systems.
My goal is always to deliver solutions that are **simple, efficient, and genuinely useful for the people using them.**
Meïr Ankri
Full-stack developer specializing in React / Next.js / Node.js with 6+ years of experience. I've worked across various sectors including automotive (Reezocar/Société Générale), healthcare (Medical Link SaaS), and e-commerce (Glasman). I build web apps end-to-end, from architecture to production, with a focus on scalability, performance, and code quality. I also mentor junior developers and contribute to technical decisions and code reviews.
Kingsley Omage
Fullstack software engineer passionate about AI Agents, blockchain, LLMs.
Taufan
I’m a product-focused engineer and tech leader who builds scalable systems and turns ideas into production-ready platforms.
Over the past years, I’ve worked across startups and fast-moving teams, leading backend architecture, improving system reliability, and shipping products used by thousands of users. My strength is not just writing code — but connecting product vision, technical execution, and business impact.
Pratik
SWE with 15+ years of experience building and maintaining web apps and extensive BE infrastructure
Matthew Jordan
I've been working at a large software company named Kainos for 2 years, and mainly specialise in Platform Engineering. I regularly enjoy working on software products outside of work, and I'm a huge fan of game development using Unity. I personally enjoy Python & C# in my spare time, but I also specialise in multiple different platform-related technologies from my day job.
Richard McSorley
Full-Stack Software Engineer with 8+ years building high-performance applications for enterprise clients. Shipped production systems at Walmart (4,000+ stores), Cigna (20M+ users), and Arkansas Blue Cross. 5 patents in retail/supply chain tech. Currently focused on AI integrations, automation tools, and TypeScript-first architectures.
You don't need to be technical. Just describe what's wrong and a verified developer will handle the rest.
Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
How do I know which endpoints are unprotected?
Use curl or Postman to make requests to each API endpoint without any authentication headers. Any endpoint that returns 200 instead of 401 is unprotected. Also review your route files for handlers that don't reference auth middleware.
Should I protect every single endpoint?
Almost every endpoint should require authentication. The exceptions are typically: login/signup, password reset, public content pages, health checks, and webhook receivers. Everything that touches user data must be protected.