CRITICAL - Detect exposed PostgreSQL database connection strings in client-side code. Direct DB access is a P0 issue.
Scanned 2/10/2026
Install via CLI
openskills install yoanbernabeu/supabase-pentest-skills---
name: supabase-extract-db-string
description: CRITICAL - Detect exposed PostgreSQL database connection strings in client-side code. Direct DB access is a P0 issue.
---
# Database Connection String Detection
> 🔴 **CRITICAL: PROGRESSIVE FILE UPDATES REQUIRED**
>
> You MUST write to context files **AS YOU GO**, not just at the end.
> - Write to `.sb-pentest-context.json` **IMMEDIATELY after each discovery**
> - Log to `.sb-pentest-audit.log` **BEFORE and AFTER each action**
> - **DO NOT** wait until the skill completes to update files
> - If the skill crashes or is interrupted, all prior findings must already be saved
>
> **This is not optional. Failure to write progressively is a critical error.**
This skill detects if PostgreSQL database connection strings are accidentally exposed in client-side code.
## When to Use This Skill
- As part of every security audit
- When reviewing code before production
- When Supabase database access is suspected
## Prerequisites
- Target application accessible
- Supabase detection completed (auto-invokes if needed)
## Why This Is Critical
Exposed database connection strings allow:
| Impact | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| 🔴 Direct DB Access | Bypass API, connect directly to PostgreSQL |
| 🔴 Full Data Access | Read/write all data without RLS |
| 🔴 Schema Access | View and modify database structure |
| 🔴 User Enumeration | Access auth.users table directly |
**This is a P0 (Critical) finding requiring immediate action.**
## Connection String Patterns
### Supabase Database URL
```
postgresql://postgres:[password]@db.[project-ref].supabase.co:5432/postgres
```
### Connection String Components
| Component | Example | Sensitivity |
|-----------|---------|-------------|
| Host | `db.abc123.supabase.co` | Medium |
| Port | `5432` | Low |
| Database | `postgres` | Low |
| Username | `postgres` | Medium |
| Password | `[your-password]` | 🔴 Critical |
### Pooler Connection (Supavisor)
```
postgresql://postgres.[project-ref]:[password]@aws-0-us-east-1.pooler.supabase.com:6543/postgres
```
## Detection Patterns
### 1. Full Connection Strings
```javascript
// ❌ CRITICAL - Full connection string
const dbUrl = 'postgresql://postgres:MySecretPass123@db.abc123.supabase.co:5432/postgres'
```
### 2. Environment Variable Leaks
```javascript
// ❌ Exposed in client bundle
process.env.DATABASE_URL
process.env.POSTGRES_URL
process.env.SUPABASE_DB_URL
```
### 3. Partial Exposure
```javascript
// ⚠️ Password exposed separately
const DB_PASSWORD = 'MySecretPass123'
const DB_HOST = 'db.abc123.supabase.co'
```
### 4. ORM Configuration
```javascript
// ❌ Database config in client code
const prisma = new PrismaClient({
datasources: {
db: {
url: 'postgresql://postgres:pass@db.abc123.supabase.co:5432/postgres'
}
}
})
```
## Usage
### Basic Check
```
Check for database connection strings on https://myapp.example.com
```
### Deep Scan
```
Deep scan for DB credentials on https://myapp.example.com
```
## Output Format
### No Connection String Found (Good)
```
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
DATABASE CONNECTION STRING CHECK
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Status: ✅ No database connection strings detected
Scanned:
├── JavaScript bundles: 5 files analyzed
├── PostgreSQL patterns: None found
├── Connection strings: None found
└── Password patterns: None found
Result: PASS - No direct database credentials exposed
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
```
### Connection String FOUND (Critical)
```
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
🔴 CRITICAL: DATABASE CONNECTION STRING EXPOSED
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Severity: P0 - CRITICAL
Status: ❌ PostgreSQL connection string found in client code!
⚠️ IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED ⚠️
Connection String:
postgresql://postgres:MySecr***@db.abc123def.supabase.co:5432/postgres
(Password partially redacted in display, full value in context file)
Parsed Components:
├── Host: db.abc123def.supabase.co
├── Port: 5432
├── Database: postgres
├── Username: postgres
└── Password: [EXPOSED] ← CRITICAL
Location:
└── /static/js/api.chunk.js (line 234)
const DATABASE_URL = 'postgresql://postgres:...'
Impact Assessment:
├── 🔴 Direct PostgreSQL access possible
├── 🔴 All RLS policies bypassed
├── 🔴 Can access auth.users table
├── 🔴 Can modify database schema
└── 🔴 Full data exfiltration possible
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
IMMEDIATE REMEDIATION STEPS
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
1. CHANGE DATABASE PASSWORD NOW
→ Supabase Dashboard > Settings > Database > Reset database password
2. REMOVE FROM CLIENT CODE
→ Delete connection string from source code
→ Ensure DATABASE_URL is not in NEXT_PUBLIC_* or VITE_* env vars
→ Redeploy application
3. AUDIT FOR ABUSE
→ Check Supabase logs for direct PostgreSQL connections
→ Review for unauthorized data access or modifications
4. USE PROPER ARCHITECTURE
→ Client should ONLY use Supabase client library (REST API)
→ Direct DB access should ONLY be from:
- Edge Functions
- Server-side code
- Migration tools
Documentation:
→ https://supabase.com/docs/guides/database/connecting-to-postgres
→ https://supabase.com/docs/guides/functions
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
```
## Context Output
```json
{
"findings": [
{
"id": "DB_CONNECTION_STRING_EXPOSED",
"severity": "P0",
"title": "PostgreSQL Connection String Exposed",
"description": "Database connection string with password found in client-side code",
"location": {
"file": "/static/js/api.chunk.js",
"line": 234
},
"evidence": {
"host": "db.abc123def.supabase.co",
"port": 5432,
"database": "postgres",
"username": "postgres",
"password_exposed": true
},
"remediation": {
"immediate": "Reset database password in Supabase Dashboard",
"long_term": "Move DB operations to Edge Functions",
"docs": "https://supabase.com/docs/guides/database/connecting-to-postgres"
}
}
],
"supabase": {
"db_string_exposed": true,
"db_host": "db.abc123def.supabase.co"
}
}
```
## Partial Exposure
Even partial exposure is concerning:
```
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
⚠️ PARTIAL DATABASE CREDENTIALS FOUND
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Severity: P1 - High
Found:
├── Database host: db.abc123def.supabase.co (line 45)
├── Database password: [16 char string] (line 89)
└── Could potentially be combined for access
Recommendation:
→ Rotate database password as precaution
→ Remove all DB-related values from client code
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
```
## Common Causes
| Cause | Solution |
|-------|----------|
| Wrong env prefix | Never use `NEXT_PUBLIC_DATABASE_URL` |
| SSR code in client | Ensure server-only code stays server-side |
| Bundler misconfiguration | Review webpack/vite config for env exposure |
| Copy-paste error | Double-check what you're committing |
## Architecture Guidance
### Wrong (Direct DB in Client)
```javascript
// ❌ NEVER in client code
import { Pool } from 'pg'
const pool = new Pool({
connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL // ❌
})
```
### Correct (API or Edge Function)
```javascript
// ✅ Client uses Supabase client
const { data } = await supabase
.from('products')
.select('*')
// OR call an Edge Function for complex queries
const { data } = await supabase.functions.invoke('complex-query')
```
### Edge Function (Server-Side)
```typescript
// supabase/functions/complex-query/index.ts
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js'
Deno.serve(async (req) => {
// ✅ Direct DB access only on server
const supabase = createClient(
Deno.env.get('SUPABASE_URL'),
Deno.env.get('SUPABASE_SERVICE_ROLE_KEY')
)
// Complex query that can't be done via REST
const { data } = await supabase.rpc('complex_function')
return new Response(JSON.stringify(data))
})
```
## MANDATORY: Progressive Context File Updates
⚠️ **This skill MUST update tracking files PROGRESSIVELY during execution, NOT just at the end.**
### Critical Rule: Write As You Go
**DO NOT** batch all writes at the end. Instead:
1. **Before starting any action** → Log the action to `.sb-pentest-audit.log`
2. **After each discovery** → Immediately update `.sb-pentest-context.json`
3. **After each significant step** → Log completion to `.sb-pentest-audit.log`
This ensures that if the skill is interrupted, crashes, or times out, all findings up to that point are preserved.
### Required Actions (Progressive)
1. **Update `.sb-pentest-context.json`** with findings:
```json
{
"supabase": {
"db_string_exposed": true/false,
"db_host": "db.[ref].supabase.co"
},
"findings": [
{
"id": "DB_CONNECTION_STRING_EXPOSED",
"severity": "P0",
...
}
]
}
```
2. **Log to `.sb-pentest-audit.log`**:
```
[TIMESTAMP] [supabase-extract-db-string] [START] Checking for DB connection strings
[TIMESTAMP] [supabase-extract-db-string] [CRITICAL] Connection string EXPOSED
[TIMESTAMP] [supabase-extract-db-string] [CONTEXT_UPDATED] .sb-pentest-context.json updated
```
3. **If files don't exist**, create them before writing.
**FAILURE TO UPDATE CONTEXT FILES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.**
## MANDATORY: Evidence Collection
📁 **Evidence Directory:** `.sb-pentest-evidence/02-extraction/db-string-exposure/`
### Evidence Files to Create (if DB string found)
| File | Content |
|------|---------|
| `db-string-exposure/connection-details.json` | Parsed connection string (password redacted) |
| `db-string-exposure/location.txt` | File path and line number |
### Evidence Format (P0 Finding)
```json
{
"evidence_id": "EXT-DB-001",
"timestamp": "2025-01-31T10:12:00Z",
"category": "extraction",
"type": "db_connection_string",
"severity": "P0",
"finding_id": "P0-002",
"connection_string": {
"pattern": "postgresql://postgres:[REDACTED]@db.abc123def.supabase.co:5432/postgres",
"host": "db.abc123def.supabase.co",
"port": 5432,
"database": "postgres",
"username": "postgres",
"password_exposed": true,
"password_length": 24
},
"location": {
"file": "/static/js/api.chunk.js",
"line": 234,
"context": "const DATABASE_URL = 'postgresql://postgres:...' // [REDACTED]"
},
"impact": {
"direct_db_access": true,
"rls_bypass": true,
"schema_access": true,
"auth_users_access": true
},
"remediation": {
"immediate": "Reset database password in Supabase Dashboard",
"remove_from_code": "Delete DATABASE_URL from client code",
"verify_env_vars": "Ensure not using NEXT_PUBLIC_DATABASE_URL or similar"
}
}
```
### Add to timeline.md (P0)
```markdown
## [TIMESTAMP] - 🔴 P0 CRITICAL: Database Connection String Exposed
- PostgreSQL connection string with password found in client code
- Location: [file]:[line]
- Impact: Direct database access, full RLS bypass
- Evidence: `02-extraction/db-string-exposure/`
- **IMMEDIATE PASSWORD ROTATION REQUIRED**
```
## Related Skills
- `supabase-extract-service-key` — Check for service key exposure
- `supabase-audit-tables-read` — Test data access via API
- `supabase-report` — Generate comprehensive report
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