# mapbox-token-security

Security guidelines for Mapbox access tokens: scope management, URL restrictions, and client initialization guards.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1900 installs · ★ 83
- Author: mapbox
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/mapbox/mapbox-agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/mapbox-token-security/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/mapbox-token-security

## What it does

The skill instructs coding assistants on securing Mapbox access tokens. It separates keys into public `pk.*`, secret `sk.*`, and temporary `tk.*` tokens capped at 1 hour. Client-side tokens receive only minimal scopes like `styles:read` and `fonts:read`, reserving write privileges for server-side operations.

In frontend code, the skill enforces token guards before running `new mapboxgl.Map`. Skipping the check yields a blank canvas without visible errors. It also warns against combining `import.meta.env` with `process.env` in one expression because that triggers a runtime `ReferenceError` in browsers.

Public tokens receive strict domain allowlists. Secret keys stay in environment variables and rotate every 90 days.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add mapbox/mapbox-agent-skills --skill mapbox-token-security -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/mapbox-token-security/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/mapbox-token-security/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add mapbox/mapbox-agent-skills --skill mapbox-token-security -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/mapbox-token-security/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add mapbox/mapbox-agent-skills --skill mapbox-token-security -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/mapbox-token-security/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install mapbox/mapbox-agent-skills mapbox-token-security
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/mapbox-token-security/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add mapbox/mapbox-agent-skills --skill mapbox-token-security -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/mapbox/mapbox-agent-skills --path skills/mapbox-token-security
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/mapbox-token-security/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add mapbox/mapbox-agent-skills --skill mapbox-token-security -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/mapbox/mapbox-agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/mapbox-token-security/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- configure least-privilege scopes for client-facing Mapbox tokens
- restrict public token usage by exact URL patterns
- add runtime guards before calling `mapboxgl.Map`
- separate access tokens across development, staging, and production

## Example prompts
- Review my Vite application for Mapbox token security issues
- Generate a restricted public token config for our frontend domain
- Show how to safely handle Mapbox secret tokens on a backend server

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 1e330837b2b3898b.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 1e330837b2b3898b
````text
---
name: mapbox-token-security
description: Security best practices for Mapbox access tokens, including scope management, URL restrictions, rotation strategies, and protecting sensitive data. Use when creating, managing, or advising on Mapbox token security.
---

# Mapbox Token Security Skill

This skill provides security expertise for managing Mapbox access tokens safely and effectively.

## Token Types and When to Use Them

### Public Tokens (pk.\*)

**Characteristics:**

- Can be safely exposed in client-side code
- Limited to specific public scopes only
- Can have URL restrictions
- Cannot access sensitive APIs

**When to use:**

- Client-side web applications
- Mobile apps
- Public-facing demos
- Embedded maps on websites

**Allowed scopes:**

- `styles:tiles` - Display style tiles (raster)
- `styles:read` - Read style specifications
- `fonts:read` - Access Mapbox fonts
- `datasets:read` - Read dataset data
- `vision:read` - Vision API access

### Secret Tokens (sk.\*)

**Characteristics:**

- **NEVER expose in client-side code**
- Full API access with any scopes
- Server-side use only
- Can create/manage other tokens

**When to use:**

- Server-side applications
- Backend services
- CI/CD pipelines
- Administrative tasks
- Token management

**Common scopes:**

- `styles:write` - Create/modify styles
- `styles:list` - List all styles
- `tokens:read` - View token information
- `tokens:write` - Create/modify tokens
- User feedback management scopes

### Temporary Tokens (tk.\*)

**Characteristics:**

- Short-lived (max 1 hour)
- Created by secret tokens
- Single-purpose use
- Automatically expire

**When to use:**

- One-time operations
- Temporary delegated access
- Short-lived demos
- Security-conscious workflows

## Scope Management Best Practices

### Principle of Least Privilege

**Always grant the minimum scopes needed:**

❌ **Bad:**

```javascript
// Overly permissive - don't do this
{
  scopes: ['styles:read', 'styles:write', 'styles:list', 'styles:delete', 'tokens:read', 'tokens:write'];
}
```

✅ **Good:**

```javascript
// Only what's needed for displaying a map
{
  scopes: ['styles:read', 'fonts:read'];
}
// Add 'styles:tiles' if your map uses raster tile sources
{
  scopes: ['styles:read', 'fonts:read', 'styles:tiles'];
}
```

### Scope Combinations by Use Case

**Public Map Display (client-side):**

```json
{
  "scopes": ["styles:read", "fonts:read", "styles:tiles"],
  "note": "Public token for map display",
  "allowedUrls": ["https://myapp.com/*"]
}
```

**Style Management (server-side):**

```json
{
  "scopes": ["styles:read", "styles:write", "styles:list"],
  "note": "Backend style management - SECRET TOKEN"
}
```

**Token Administration (server-side):**

```json
{
  "scopes": ["tokens:read", "tokens:write"],
  "note": "Token management only - SECRET TOKEN"
}
```

**Read-Only Access:**

```json
{
  "scopes": ["styles:list", "styles:read", "tokens:read"],
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 1e330837b2b3898b

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 1e330837b2b3898b tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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