Code Review Security
Overview
Use this skill to identify exploitable weaknesses and data-protection risks before merge.
Scope Boundaries
- Use this skill when the task matches the trigger condition described in
description. - Do not use this skill when the primary task falls outside this skill's domain.
Inputs To Gather
- Changed trust boundaries (external input, authn/authz, storage, outbound calls).
- Sensitive data categories and handling paths.
- Existing security controls (validation, encoding, policy checks, audit logs).
- Threat model assumptions relevant to the changed area.
Deliverables
- Security findings with exploit path and severity.
- Risk acceptance/escalation items for unresolved issues.
- Required remediation and verification actions.
Finding Focus Areas
- Input validation and injection paths.
- Authn/authz bypass and privilege escalation.
- Secret leakage in code, logs, or telemetry.
- Sensitive data exposure at rest/in transit/in logs.
- Unsafe defaults, fallback auth, or policy bypass paths.
Quick Example
- Diff adds debug log containing full JWT token.
- Finding: high-severity secret exposure risk.
- Fix direction: redact token, log token hash/metadata only.
Quality Standard
- Findings describe concrete exploit scenario, not vague concern.
- Severity reflects impact + exploitability.
- Fix guidance removes root cause and prevents recurrence.
- Residual risk is explicit when immediate full fix is infeasible.
Workflow
- Map changed code to trust boundaries and assets.
- Evaluate exploit paths across input, auth, and data handling.
- Verify security controls are present and correctly ordered.
- Identify regressions introduced by fallback or bypass logic.
- Publish prioritized findings and remediation requirements.
Failure Conditions
- Stop when high-severity vulnerabilities remain unresolved.
- Escalate when risk acceptance exceeds policy or lacks approver.
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