Audit steps:

grep -r "VITE_" . -g "*.env*"
Check import.meta.env.VITE_* usage in source
Common mistakes:
- VITE_API_SECRET (SHOULD be server-only)
- VITE_DATABASE_URL (MUST NOT use)
- VITE_STRIPE_SECRET_KEY (only publishable keys)

Env Files Priority

Vite loads in this order (later overrides earlier):

.env                # Always loaded
.env.local          # Always loaded, gitignored
.env.[mode]         # e.g., .env.production
.env.[mode].local   # e.g., .env.production.local, gitignored

Check: Are .env.local and .env.*.local in .gitignore?

envPrefix Overrides

If envPrefix is configured, Vite exposes any variables with those prefixes. MUST treat envPrefix as a security-sensitive setting.

Build-Time vs Runtime

Dangerous: Secrets in vite.config.ts

// CRITICAL: Secret in config (ends up in bundle)
export default defineConfig({
  define: {
    'process.env.API_KEY': JSON.stringify(process.env.API_KEY),
  },
});

// The above makes API_KEY available in client code!

Safe Pattern

// Only use VITE_ prefix for truly public values
export default defineConfig({
  define: {
    '__APP_VERSION__': JSON.stringify(process.env.npm_package_version),
  },
});

// Keep secrets on server (use a backend API)

Dev Server Security

Open to Network

// SHOULD NOT expose dev server to network without reason
export default defineConfig({
  server: {
    host: '0.0.0.0',  // or host: true
  },
});

This is dangerous on shared networks. MUST verify if intentional.

Proxy Misconfiguration

export default defineConfig({
  server: {
    proxy: {
      '/api': {
        target: 'http://localhost:3000',
        changeOrigin: true,
        // Missing secure options for production-like setup
      },
    },
  },
});

SPA Security Issues

Client-Side Auth Only

// "Protection" only in React Router - NOT actual security
const ProtectedRoute = ({ children }) => {
  const { user } = useAuth();
  if (!user) return <Navigate to="/login" />;
  return children;
};

// API calls still need server-side auth!
// This is UI convenience, not security.

Secrets in Bundle

# MUST check the built bundle for secrets
rg -a "(sk_live|sk_test|AKIA|api[_-]?key)" dist/

Source Maps in Production

// Check vite.config.ts
export default defineConfig({
  build: {
    sourcemap: true,  // SHOULD NOT expose source code in production
  },
});

Common Vulnerabilities

Issue	Where to Look	Severity
VITE_* secrets	`.env*`, source files	CRITICAL
Secrets in define	`vite.config.ts`	CRITICAL
Source maps in prod	`vite.config.ts`	MEDIUM
Dev server exposed	`vite.config.ts` server.host	MEDIUM
Client-only auth	Route guards without API auth	HIGH
API keys in bundle	`dist/` directory	CRITICAL

Quick Audit Commands

# Find VITE_ secrets
grep -r "VITE_" . -g "*.env*"

# Find import.meta.env usage
rg 'import\.meta\.env' . -g "*.ts" -g "*.tsx" -g "*.vue"

# Check define in config
rg 'define:' vite.config.*

# Scan built bundle for secrets
rg -a "(sk_live|AKIA|ghp_|api[_-]?key['\"]?\s*[:=])" dist/

# Check for source maps
fd '\.map$' dist/

Hardening Checklist

No secrets in VITE_* variables
.env.local and .env.*.local in .gitignore
sourcemap: false in production build
server.host is not 0.0.0.0 or true (unless intentional)
All sensitive API calls go through a backend (not direct from browser)
No secrets in vite.config.ts define block

security-vite

Environment Variable Exposure

The VITE_ Footgun