Fix guide · high · honeycomb_api_key

Honeycomb API key in your client bundle

What this rule means

A string matching hcaik_* was found in your deployed JavaScript.

Why it matters

Submit fake events, query existing telemetry, modify triggers. Automated scrapers harvest these keys from public bundles within hours; assume the key is compromised the moment it shipped.

How to fix it

  1. Revoke the key immediately at https://ui.honeycomb.io/account.
  2. Move the new key to server-only env vars. Never use a name with the NEXT_PUBLIC_, VITE_, or PUBLIC_ prefix.
  3. Pattern your calls as client → your API → Honeycomb. Never client → Honeycomb directly.
  4. Set a spend or rate limit in the Honeycomb console as a safety net.
  5. Add a CI gate to fail any future deploy that includes the key pattern: vibecheck https://your-deploy.com --exit-on critical.

Did vibecheck flag this on your app?

If you reached this page from a vibecheck inspection report, the redacted match in your scan output is the exact string we found in your bundle. After applying the fix above, run the inspection again — the finding should clear.

Run another inspection