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supabase-extract-db-string — Claude Code skill for DB checks

Scans client-side code for PostgreSQL connection strings and exposed Supabase credentials. Use it when auditing an application before release.

Install into Claude Code · Skills CLI (Vercel) All methods and platforms ↓
npx skills add yoanbernabeu/supabase-pentest-skills --skill supabase-extract-db-string -a claude-code
Open on GitHub

What supabase-extract-db-string does

The skill looks for complete PostgreSQL connection strings, database-related environment variables, passwords exposed on their own, and ORM settings in client code. Findings include their locations and parsed connection details, along with an assessment of possible impact and remediation steps. Partial credential exposure is covered too.

It records results in .sb-pentest-context.json and actions in .sb-pentest-audit.log, updating both as the scan progresses. The target application must be accessible. Supabase detection needs to have run first, though the skill can start it when needed. An unreachable application cannot be checked this way.

What it helps with

  • find a PostgreSQL URL embedded in a client bundle
  • catch DATABASE_URL leaking into browser code
  • spot a database password exposed apart from its host
  • locate Prisma settings that connect directly to the database

Example prompts for the agent

  • Check https://myapp.example.com for database connection strings.
  • Run a deep scan of https://myapp.example.com for PostgreSQL credentials.

How to install supabase-extract-db-string

1Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add yoanbernabeu/supabase-pentest-skills --skill supabase-extract-db-string -a claude-code

2Manually: put the files in place

~/.claude/skills/supabase-extract-db-string/SKILL.md

Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/supabase-extract-db-string/

Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways

Questions about supabase-extract-db-string

How do I install supabase-extract-db-string in Claude Code?

Run npx skills add yoanbernabeu/supabase-pentest-skills --skill supabase-extract-db-string -a claude-code. The skill file is at ~/.claude/skills/supabase-extract-db-string/SKILL.md.

What does supabase-extract-db-string do?

It searches client-side code for PostgreSQL URLs, exposed credentials, standalone passwords, and ORM database settings. It saves findings with their locations and provides impact and remediation details.

What does the scan need to run?

The target application must be accessible, and Supabase detection must be complete. The skill can trigger that detection if it has not run yet.

Source text

SKILL.md · MIT
---
name: supabase-extract-db-string
description: CRITICAL - Detect exposed PostgreSQL database connection strings in client-side code. Direct DB access is a P0 issue.
---

# Database Connection String Detection

> 🔴 **CRITICAL: PROGRESSIVE FILE UPDATES REQUIRED**
>
> You MUST write to context files **AS YOU GO**, not just at the end.
> - Write to `.sb-pentest-context.json` **IMMEDIATELY after each discovery**
> - Log to `.sb-pentest-audit.log` **BEFORE and AFTER each action**
> - **DO NOT** wait until the skill completes to update files
> - If the skill crashes or is interrupted, all prior findings must already be saved
>
> **This is not optional. Failure to write progressively is a critical error.**

This skill detects if PostgreSQL database connection strings are accidentally exposed in client-side code.

## When to Use This Skill

- As part of every security audit
- When reviewing code before production
- When Supabase database access is suspected

## Prerequisites

- Target application accessible
- Supabase detection completed (auto-invokes if needed)

## Why This Is Critical

Exposed database connection strings allow:

| Impact | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| 🔴 Direct DB Access | Bypass API, connect directly to PostgreSQL |
| 🔴 Full Data Access | Read/write all data without RLS |
| 🔴 Schema Access | View and modify database structure |
| 🔴 User Enumeration | Access auth.users table directly |

**This is a P0 (Critical) finding requiring immediate action.**

## Connection String Patterns

### Supabase Database URL

```
postgresql://postgres:[password]@db.[project-ref].supabase.co:5432/postgres
```

### Connection String Components

| Component | Example | Sensitivity |
|-----------|---------|-------------|
| Host | `db.abc123.supabase.co` | Medium |
| Port | `5432` | Low |
| Database | `postgres` | Low |
| Username | `postgres` | Medium |
| Password | `[your-password]` | 🔴 Critical |

### Pooler Connection (Supavisor)

```
postgresql://postgres.[project-ref]:[password]@aws-0-us-east-1.pooler.supabase.com:6543/postgres
```

## Detection Patterns

### 1. Full Connection Strings

```javascript
// ❌ CRITICAL - Full connection string
const dbUrl = 'postgresql://postgres:[email protected]:5432/postgres'
```

### 2. Environment Variable Leaks

```javascript
// ❌ Exposed in client bundle
process.env.DATABASE_URL
process.env.POSTGRES_URL
process.env.SUPABASE_DB_URL
```

### 3. Partial Exposure

```javascript
// ⚠️ Password exposed separately
const DB_PASSWORD = 'MySecretPass123'
const DB_HOST = 'db.abc123.supabase.co'
```

### 4. ORM Configuration

```javascript
// ❌ Database config in client code
const prisma = new PrismaClient({
  datasources: {
    db: {
      url: 'postgresql://postgres:[email protected]:5432/postgres'
    }
  }
})
```

## Usage

### Basic Check

```
Check for database connection strings on https://myapp.example.com
```

### Deep Scan

```
Deep scan for DB credentials on https://myapp.example.com
```

## Output Format

### No Connection String Found (Good)

```
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 DATABASE CONNECTION STRING CHECK
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

 Status: ✅ No database connection strings detected

 Scanned:
 ├── JavaScript bundles: 5 files analyzed
 ├── PostgreSQL patterns: None found
 ├── Connection strings: None found
 └── Password patterns: None found

 Result: PASS - No direct database credentials exposed
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
```

### Connection String FOUND (Critical)

```
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 🔴 CRITICAL: DATABASE CONNECTION STRING EXPOSED
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

 Severity: P0 - CRITICAL
 Status: ❌ PostgreSQL connection string found in client code!

 ⚠️  IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED ⚠️

 Connection String:
 postgresql://postgres:MySecr***@db.abc123def.supabase.co:5432/postgres
 (Password partially redacted in display, full value in context file)

 Parsed Components:
 ├── Host: db.abc123def.supabase.co
 ├── Port: 5432
 ├── Database: postgres
 ├── Username: postgres
 └── Password: [EXPOSED] ← CRITICAL

 Location:
 └── /static/js/api.chunk.js (line 234)
     const DATABASE_URL = 'postgresql://postgres:...'

 Impact Assessment:
 ├── 🔴 Direct PostgreSQL access possible
 ├── 🔴 All RLS policies bypassed
 ├── 🔴 Can access auth.users table
 ├── 🔴 Can modify database schema
 └── 🔴 Full data exfiltration possible

 ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 IMMEDIATE REMEDIATION STEPS
 ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

 1. CHANGE DATABASE PASSWORD NOW
    → Supabase Dashboard > Settings > Database > Reset database password

 2. REMOVE FROM CLIENT CODE
    → Delete connection string from source code
    → Ensure DATABASE_URL is not in NEXT_PUBLIC_* or VITE_* env vars
    → Redeploy application

 3. AUDIT FOR ABUSE
    → Check Supabase logs for direct PostgreSQL connections
    → Review for unauthorized data access or modifications

 4. USE PROPER ARCHITECTURE
    → Client should ONLY use Supabase client library (REST API)
    → Direct DB access should ONLY be from:
      - Edge Functions
      - Server-side code
      - Migration tools

 Documentation:
 → https://supabase.com/docs/guides/database/connecting-to-postgres
 → https://supabase.com/docs/guides/functions

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
```

## Context Output

```json
{
  "findings": [
    {
      "id": "DB_CONNECTION_STRING_EXPOSED",
      "severity": "P0",
      "title": "PostgreSQL Connection String Exposed",
      "description": "Database connection string with password found in client-side code",
      "location": {
        "file": "/static/js/api.chunk.js",
        "line": 234
      },
      "evidence": {
        "host": "db.abc123def.supabase.co",
        "port": 5432,
        "database": "postgres",
        "username": "postgres",
        "password_exposed": true
      },
      "remediation": {
        "immediate": "Reset database password in Supabase Dashboard",
        "long_term": "Move DB operations to Edge Functions",
        "docs": "https://supabase.com/docs/guides/database/connecting-to-postgres"
      }
    }
  ],
  "supabase": {
    "db_string_exposed": true,
    "db_host": "db.abc123def.supabase.co"
  }
}
```

## Partial Exposure

Even partial exposure is concerning:

```
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 ⚠️ PARTIAL DATABASE CREDENTIALS FOUND
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

 Severity: P1 - High

 Found:
 ├── Database host: db.abc123def.supabase.co (line 45)
 ├── Database password: [16 char string] (line 89)
 └── Could potentially be combined for access

 Recommendation:
 → Rotate database password as precaution
 → Remove all DB-related values from client code
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
```

## Common Causes

| Cause | Solution |
|-------|----------|
| Wrong env prefix | Never use `NEXT_PUBLIC_DATABASE_URL` |
| SSR code in client | Ensure server-only code stays server-side |
| Bundler misconfiguration | Review webpack/vite config for env exposure |
| Copy-paste error | Double-check what you're committing |

## Architecture Guidance

### Wrong (Direct DB in Client)

```javascript
// ❌ NEVER in client code
import { Pool } from 'pg'
const pool = new Pool({
  connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL  // ❌
})
```

### Correct (API or Edge Function)

```javascript
// ✅ Client uses Supabase client
const { data } = await supabase
  .from('products')
  .select('*')

// OR call an Edge Function for complex queries
const { data } = await supabase.functions.invoke('complex-query')
```

### Edge Function (Server-Side)

```typescript
// supabase/functions/complex-query/index.ts
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js'

Deno.serve(async (req) => {
  // ✅ Direct DB access only on server
  const supabase = createClient(
    Deno.env.get('SUPABASE_URL'),
    Deno.env.get('SUPABASE_SERVICE_ROLE_KEY')
  )

  // Complex query that can't be done via REST
  const { data } = await supabase.rpc('complex_function')
  return new Response(JSON.stringify(data))
})
```

## MANDATORY: Progressive Context File Updates

⚠️ **This skill MUST update tracking files PROGRESSIVELY during execution, NOT just at the end.**

### Critical Rule: Write As You Go

**DO NOT** batch all writes at the end. Instead:

1. **Before starting any action** → Log the action to `.sb-pentest-audit.log`
2. **After each discovery** → Immediately update `.sb-pentest-context.json`
3. **After each significant step** → Log completion to `.sb-pentest-audit.log`

This ensures that if the skill is interrupted, crashes, or times out, all findings up to that point are preserved.

### Required Actions (Progressive)

1. **Update `.sb-pentest-context.json`** with findings:
   ```json
   {
     "supabase": {
       "db_string_exposed": true/false,
       "db_host": "db.[ref].supabase.co"
     },
     "findings": [
       {
         "id": "DB_CONNECTION_STRING_EXPOSED",
         "severity": "P0",
         ...
       }
     ]
   }
   ```

2. **Log to `.sb-pentest-audit.log`**:
   ```
   [TIMESTAMP] [supabase-extract-db-string] [START] Checking for DB connection strings
   [TIMESTAMP] [supabase-extract-db-string] [CRITICAL] Connection string EXPOSED
   [TIMESTAMP] [supabase-extract-db-string] [CONTEXT_UPDATED] .sb-pentest-context.json updated
   ```

3. **If files don't exist**, create them before writing.

**FAILURE TO UPDATE CONTEXT FILES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.**

## MANDATORY: Evidence Collection

📁 **Evidence Directory:** `.sb-pentest-evidence/02-extraction/db-string-exposure/`

### Evidence Files to Create (if DB string found)

| File | Content |
|------|---------|
| `db-string-exposure/connection-details.json` | Parsed connection string (password redacted) |
| `db-string-exposure/location.txt` | File path and line number |

### Evidence Format (P0 Finding)

```json
{
  "evidence_id": "EXT-DB-001",
  "timestamp": "2025-01-31T10:12:00Z",
  "category": "extraction",
  "type": "db_connection_string",
  "severity": "P0",
  "finding_id": "P0-002",

  "connection_string": {
    "pattern": "postgresql://postgres:[REDACTED]@db.abc123def.supabase.co:5432/postgres",
    "host": "db.abc123def.supabase.co",
    "port": 5432,
    "database": "postgres",
    "username": "postgres",
    "password_exposed": true,
    "password_length": 24
  },

  "location": {
    "file": "/static/js/api.chunk.js",
    "line": 234,
    "context": "const DATABASE_URL = 'postgresql://postgres:...' // [REDACTED]"
  },

  "impact": {
    "direct_db_access": true,
    "rls_bypass": true,
    "schema_access": true,
    "auth_users_access": true
  },

  "remediation": {
    "immediate": "Reset database password in Supabase Dashboard",
    "remove_from_code": "Delete DATABASE_URL from client code",
    "verify_env_vars": "Ensure not using NEXT_PUBLIC_DATABASE_URL or similar"
  }
}
```

### Add to timeline.md (P0)

```markdown
## [TIMESTAMP] - 🔴 P0 CRITICAL: Database Connection String Exposed
- PostgreSQL connection string with password found in client code
- Location: [file]:[line]
- Impact: Direct database access, full RLS bypass
- Evidence: `02-extraction/db-string-exposure/`
- **IMMEDIATE PASSWORD ROTATION REQUIRED**
```

## Related Skills

- `supabase-extract-service-key` — Check for service key exposure
- `supabase-audit-tables-read` — Test data access via API
- `supabase-report` — Generate comprehensive report

© yoanbernabeu · MIT · yoanbernabeu/supabase-pentest-skills

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