# Insecure Defaults

Detects fail-open insecure defaults (hardcoded secrets, weak auth, permissive security)...

- Repository: https://github.com/vigolium/vigolium (1141 stars)
- Category: Security
- License: see repository
- Last updated: 2026-10-25
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add vigolium/vigolium --skill insecure-defaults -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add vigolium/vigolium --skill insecure-defaults -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add vigolium/vigolium --skill insecure-defaults -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add vigolium/vigolium --skill insecure-defaults -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Detects fail-open insecure defaults (hardcoded secrets, weak auth, permissive security) that allow apps to run insecurely in production. Use when auditing security, reviewing config management, or analyzing environment variable handling.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Insecure Defaults Detection

Finds **fail-open** vulnerabilities where apps run insecurely with missing configuration. Distinguishes exploitable defaults from fail-secure patterns that crash safely.

- **Fail-open (CRITICAL):** `SECRET = env.get('KEY') or 'default'` → App runs with weak secret
- **Fail-secure (SAFE):** `SECRET = env['KEY']` → App crashes if missing

## When to Use

- **Security audits** of production applications (auth, crypto, API security)
- **Configuration review** of deployment files, IaC templates, Docker configs
- **Code review** of environment variable handling and secrets management
- **Pre-deployment checks** for hardcoded credentials or weak defaults

## When NOT to Use

Do not use this skill for:
- **Test fixtures** explicitly scoped to test environments (files in `test/`, `spec/`, `__tests__/`)
- **Example/template files** (`.example`, `.template`, `.sample` suffixes)
- **Development-only tools** (local Docker Compose for dev, debug scripts)
- **Documentation examples** in README.md or docs/ directories
- **Build-time configuration** that gets replaced during deployment
- **Crash-on-missing behavior** where app won't start without proper config (fail-secure)

When in doubt: trace the code path to determine if the app runs with the default or crashes.

## Rationalizations to Reject

- **"It's just a development default"** → If it reaches production code, it's a finding
- **"The production config overrides it"** → Verify prod config exists; code-level vulnerability remains if not
- **"This would never run without proper config"** → Prove it with code trace; many apps fail silently
- **"It's behind authentication"** → Defense in depth; compromised session still exploits weak defaults
- **"We'll fix it before release"** → Document now; "later" rarely comes

## Workflow

Follow this workflow for every potential finding:

### 1. SEARCH: Perform Project Discovery and Find Insecure Defaults

The rest: https://github.com/vigolium/vigolium/blob/HEAD/platform/vigolium-audit/src/content/skills/insecure-defaults/SKILL.md