Next.js NEXT_PUBLIC_ Prefix Can Silently Expose Secret API Keys in Browser
A common Next.js misconfiguration can cause secret API keys to be embedded in plain text inside publicly downloadable JavaScript bundles. The framework's NEXT_PUBLIC_ environment variable prefix is designed to expose values to the browser at build time, but developers sometimes mistakenly apply it to private credentials like Stripe secret keys or database URLs. Because the application continues to function normally with no errors, the leak produces no visible warning and can go undetected in production indefinitely. The mistake is often introduced by following tutorials or AI-generated code snippets that use the prefix without explaining its security implications. Developers are advised to audit their deployed bundles immediately and ensure only genuinely public values carry the NEXT_PUBLIC_ prefix.
This is an AI-generated summary. ShortSingh links to the original source for the complete article.
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