convex-security-check

Convex Security Check

A quick security audit checklist for Convex applications covering authentication, function exposure, argument validation, row-level access control, and environment variable handling.

Documentation Sources

Before implementing, do not assume; fetch the latest documentation:

• Primary: https://docs.convex.dev/auth
• Production Security: https://docs.convex.dev/production
• Functions Auth: https://docs.convex.dev/auth/functions-auth
• For broader context: https://docs.convex.dev/llms.txt

Instructions

Security Checklist

Use this checklist to quickly audit your Convex application's security:

1. Authentication

• [ ] Authentication provider configured (Clerk, Auth0, etc.)
• [ ] All sensitive queries check ctx.auth.getUserIdentity()
• [ ] Unauthenticated access explicitly allowed where intended
• [ ] Session tokens properly validated

2. Function Exposure

• [ ] Public functions (query, mutation, action) reviewed
• [ ] Internal functions use internalQuery, internalMutation, internalAction
• [ ] No sensitive operations exposed as public functions
• [ ] HTTP actions validate origin/authentication

3. Argument Validation

• [ ] All functions have explicit args validators
• [ ] All functions have explicit returns validators
• [ ] No v.any() used for sensitive data
• [ ] ID validators use correct table names

4. Row-Level Access Control

• [ ] Users can only access their own data
• [ ] Admin functions check user roles
• [ ] Shared resources have proper access checks
• [ ] Deletion functions verify ownership

5. Environment Variables

• [ ] API keys stored in environment variables
• [ ] No secrets in code or schema
• [ ] Different keys for dev/prod environments
• [ ] Environment variables accessed only in actions

Authentication Check

// convex/auth.ts
import { query, mutation } from './_generated/server'
import { v } from 'convex/values'
import { ConvexError } from 'convex/values'

// Helper to require authentication
async function requireAuth(ctx: QueryCtx | MutationCtx) {
  const identity = await ctx.auth.getUserIdentity()
  if (!identity) {
    throw new ConvexError('Authentication required')
  }
  return identity
}

// Secure query pattern
export const getMyProfile = query({
  args: {},
  returns: v.union(
    v.object({
      _id: v.id('users'),
      name: v.string(),
      email: v.string(),
    }),
    v.null(),
  ),
  handler: async (ctx) => {
    const identity = await requireAuth(ctx)

    return await ctx.db
      .query('users')
      .withIndex('by_tokenIdentifier', (q) =>
        q.eq('tokenIdentifier', identity.tokenIdentifier),
      )
      .unique()
  },
})

Function Exposure Check

// PUBLIC - Exposed to clients (review carefully!)
export const listPublicPosts = query({
  args: {},
  returns: v.array(
    v.object({
      /* ... */
    }),
  ),
  handler: async (ctx) => {
    // Anyone can call this - intentionally public
    return await ctx.db
      .query('posts')
      .withIndex('by_public', (q) => q.eq('isPublic', true))
      .collect()
  },
})

// INTERNAL - Only callable from other Convex functions
export const _updateUserCredits = internalMutation({
  args: { userId: v.id('users'), amount: v.number() },
  returns: v.null(),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    // This cannot be called directly from clients
    await ctx.db.patch(args.userId, {
      credits: args.amount,
    })
    return null
  },
})

Argument Validation Check

// GOOD: Strict validation
export const createPost = mutation({
  args: {
    title: v.string(),
    content: v.string(),
    category: v.union(v.literal('tech'), v.literal('news'), v.literal('other')),
  },
  returns: v.id('posts'),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    const identity = await requireAuth(ctx)
    return await ctx.db.insert('posts', {
      ...args,
      authorId: identity.tokenIdentifier,
    })
  },
})

// BAD: Weak validation
export const createPostUnsafe = mutation({
  args: {
    data: v.any(), // DANGEROUS: Allows any data
  },
  returns: v.id('posts'),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    return await ctx.db.insert('posts', args.data)
  },
})

Row-Level Access Control Check

// Verify ownership before update
export const updateTask = mutation({
  args: {
    taskId: v.id('tasks'),
    title: v.string(),
  },
  returns: v.null(),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    const identity = await requireAuth(ctx)

    const task = await ctx.db.get(args.taskId)

    // Check ownership
    if (!task || task.userId !== identity.tokenIdentifier) {
      throw new ConvexError('Not authorized to update this task')
    }

    await ctx.db.patch(args.taskId, { title: args.title })
    return null
  },
})

// Verify ownership before delete
export const deleteTask = mutation({
  args: { taskId: v.id('tasks') },
  returns: v.null(),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    const identity = await requireAuth(ctx)

    const task = await ctx.db.get(args.taskId)

    if (!task || task.userId !== identity.tokenIdentifier) {
      throw new ConvexError('Not authorized to delete this task')
    }

    await ctx.db.delete(args.taskId)
    return null
  },
})

Environment Variables Check

// convex/actions.ts
'use node'

import { action } from './_generated/server'
import { v } from 'convex/values'

export const sendEmail = action({
  args: {
    to: v.string(),
    subject: v.string(),
    body: v.string(),
  },
  returns: v.object({ success: v.boolean() }),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    // Access API key from environment
    const apiKey = process.env.RESEND_API_KEY

    if (!apiKey) {
      throw new Error('RESEND_API_KEY not configured')
    }

    const response = await fetch('https://api.resend.com/emails', {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: {
        Authorization: `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
      },
      body: JSON.stringify({
        from: 'noreply@example.com',
        to: args.to,
        subject: args.subject,
        html: args.body,
      }),
    })

    return { success: response.ok }
  },
})

Examples

Complete Security Pattern

// convex/secure.ts
import { query, mutation, internalMutation } from './_generated/server'
import { v } from 'convex/values'
import { ConvexError } from 'convex/values'

// Authentication helper
async function getAuthenticatedUser(ctx: QueryCtx | MutationCtx) {
  const identity = await ctx.auth.getUserIdentity()
  if (!identity) {
    throw new ConvexError({
      code: 'UNAUTHENTICATED',
      message: 'You must be logged in',
    })
  }

  const user = await ctx.db
    .query('users')
    .withIndex('by_tokenIdentifier', (q) =>
      q.eq('tokenIdentifier', identity.tokenIdentifier),
    )
    .unique()

  if (!user) {
    throw new ConvexError({
      code: 'USER_NOT_FOUND',
      message: 'User profile not found',
    })
  }

  return user
}

// Check admin role
async function requireAdmin(ctx: QueryCtx | MutationCtx) {
  const user = await getAuthenticatedUser(ctx)

  if (user.role !== 'admin') {
    throw new ConvexError({
      code: 'FORBIDDEN',
      message: 'Admin access required',
    })
  }

  return user
}

// Public: List own tasks
export const listMyTasks = query({
  args: {},
  returns: v.array(
    v.object({
      _id: v.id('tasks'),
      title: v.string(),
      completed: v.boolean(),
    }),
  ),
  handler: async (ctx) => {
    const user = await getAuthenticatedUser(ctx)

    return await ctx.db
      .query('tasks')
      .withIndex('by_user', (q) => q.eq('userId', user._id))
      .collect()
  },
})

// Admin only: List all users
export const listAllUsers = query({
  args: {},
  returns: v.array(
    v.object({
      _id: v.id('users'),
      name: v.string(),
      role: v.string(),
    }),
  ),
  handler: async (ctx) => {
    await requireAdmin(ctx)

    return await ctx.db.query('users').collect()
  },
})

// Internal: Update user role (never exposed)
export const _setUserRole = internalMutation({
  args: {
    userId: v.id('users'),
    role: v.union(v.literal('user'), v.literal('admin')),
  },
  returns: v.null(),
  handler: async (ctx, args) => {
    await ctx.db.patch(args.userId, { role: args.role })
    return null
  },
})

Best Practices

• Never run npx convex deploy unless explicitly instructed
• Never run any git commands unless explicitly instructed
• Always verify user identity before returning sensitive data
• Use internal functions for sensitive operations
• Validate all arguments with strict validators
• Check ownership before update/delete operations
• Store API keys in environment variables
• Review all public functions for security implications

Common Pitfalls

1. Missing authentication checks - Always verify identity
2. Exposing internal operations - Use internalMutation/Query
3. Trusting client-provided IDs - Verify ownership
4. Using v.any() for arguments - Use specific validators
5. Hardcoding secrets - Use environment variables

References

• Convex Documentation: https://docs.convex.dev/
• Convex LLMs.txt: https://docs.convex.dev/llms.txt
• Authentication: https://docs.convex.dev/auth
• Production Security: https://docs.convex.dev/production
• Functions Auth: https://docs.convex.dev/auth/functions-auth