With GenAI taking over almost everything we do, a great emerging use case is “vibe coding.” The formal defintion of vibe coding is: “an AI-dependent programming technique where a person describes a problem in a few sentences as a prompt to a large language model (LLM) tuned for coding.”
Basically it allows anyone to create applications without knowing how to code a single line. It has the potential to help accelerate velocity, untangle previous bottlenecks, and reduce the need to have every request go to R&D – allowing R&D to focus more on complex business logic.
The Power of Vibe Coding
Vibe coding reminds me of low-code and no-code platforms but on steroids. With vibe coding, anyone, and it does mean anyone, can become a “developer” or simply an “application generator,” They interact with the AI platform in plain English and then experiment with the output until they get the desired outcome.
The programming language of the future is… English!
Think of this for a minute. In the not so distant future, you won’t need to know any propreriary lanagues. You’ll interact with the platfom in plain English and that’s it.
So what does it mean for security?
The Security Risks of Vibe Coding
While vibe coding is revolutionizing development, it also introduces new attack surfaces and security blind spots:
- Unvetted AI-Generated Code – AI-driven coding assistants pull from vast datasets, but they don’t always differentiate between secure and insecure patterns. This could lead to vulnerabilities like SQL injections, insecure authentication mechanisms, or exposure of sensitive data.
- Over-Permissioned AI Agents – Many AI-powered coding tools require broad permissions to function effectively. If compromised, these tools could unintentionally expose source code, credentials, or other sensitive assets.
- Compliance and Governance Challenges – AI-generated code isn’t always auditable or explainable, making it difficult to ensure compliance with industry standards like OWASP, GDPR, or ISO 27001.
- Overreliance on AI Without Human Oversight – Humans may trust AI-generated code without proper validation, leading to undetected vulnerabilities in production applications.
- The Nature of Vibe-Developers – while “traditional” developers were trained on how to develop software with the right quality, funtionality and security, most employees in the enterprise were never trained in such a way.
A Holistic Approach to Secure Vibe Coding
To fully embrace vibe coding without compromising security, organizations must take a broader, more strategic approach:
- Security-First AI Development – AI models used in coding assistants should be trained with security in mind, embedding secure coding practices at the foundations of their design.
- Human-AI Collaboration – Instead of fully replacing human developers, AI should act as an assistant, with security teams integrating AI-generated code into their existing review and validation processes.
- Regulatory Alignment and Transparency – Organizations should ensure that AI-driven development adheres to compliance standards while demanding greater transparency from AI tool vendors regarding security practices.
- Continuous Monitoring and Threat Detection – Implement real-time monitoring to detect unusual AI-generated code patterns that could introduce vulnerabilities.
- Security Awareness and Upskilling – Developers should be trained not just in secure coding, but also in understanding the security risks unique to AI-generated code.
- Ethical AI and Bias Mitigation – AI models can inherit biases, including security weaknesses. Organizations should regularly audit and refine these models to minimize risks.
Conclusion
Vibe coding is reshaping software development, making coding more accessible and efficient. But just as low-code and no-code platforms introduced security challenges, AI-driven coding must be approached with a security-first mindset. By proactively addressing these risks with a holistic strategy, organizations can embrace the benefits of vibe coding while keeping their applications and data safe.