Security Headers Every Vibe-Coded App Needs

AI can ship an app in an afternoon, but security headers are often forgotten. Here are the essential HTTP security headers and how to implement them.

When you vibe-code an app, AI generates the functionality fast. But it often skips the security fundamentals that protect your users. Here's what you need to add.

Why Security Headers Matter

HTTP security headers are instructions your server sends to browsers that prevent common attacks like cross-site scripting (XSS), clickjacking, and protocol downgrade attacks. Without them, your app is vulnerable even if the code itself is solid.

VibbleLaunch scans every listed app and assigns security grades from A+ to F based on these headers. Apps with better security rank higher on our Security Leaderboard.

The Essential Headers

1. Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS)

Forces browsers to use HTTPS. Without it, users could be tricked into using insecure HTTP connections.

2. Content-Security-Policy (CSP)

Controls which resources the browser can load. This is your strongest defense against XSS attacks.

3. X-Frame-Options

Prevents your site from being embedded in iframes on other domains, blocking clickjacking attacks.

4. X-Content-Type-Options

Stops browsers from guessing file types, preventing MIME-type confusion attacks.

5. Referrer-Policy

Controls how much URL information is shared when users navigate away from your site.

6. Permissions-Policy

Restricts which browser features your app can use — camera, microphone, geolocation, etc.

How to Add Them

Most deployment platforms make this easy. On Vercel, add a vercel.json with headers configuration. On Netlify, use _headers file. For custom servers, set them in your middleware or server configuration.

Check Your Score

List your app on VibbleLaunch and we'll scan it automatically. You can also rescan anytime from your dashboard to see if your improvements raised your grade. The most secure apps are showcased on our Security Leaderboard.