Low-Code Security Testing: Checklist for Teams

Table of contents

Low-Code Security Testing: Checklist for Teams

Low-code platforms simplify application development but introduce unique security challenges. Misconfigured integrations, poor credential management, and overlooked data vulnerabilities can expose sensitive workflows to risks. Addressing these issues requires a structured approach to testing and securing low-code environments.

Key Takeaways:

Authentication: Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and Single Sign-On (SSO) to safeguard workflows.
Data Validation: Test for injection attacks, enforce input restrictions, and secure sensitive data through encryption.
Credential Management: Store API keys and passwords securely, avoid hardcoding, and implement regular rotation policies.
Third-Party Integrations: Validate API connections, use encryption, and test for prompt injection in AI integrations.
Monitoring: Enable detailed logs and alerts to track security events and ensure compliance.

With Latenode, teams can streamline these practices. Its built-in credential management, database security tools, and AI integration safeguards allow users to build secure workflows while maintaining control over sensitive data. By combining these features with regular audits and robust documentation, teams can minimize risks and maintain a strong security posture.

Webcast: OWASP Top 10 Security Risks for Low-code/No-code

OWASP

Preparing Your Team for Security Testing

Laying the groundwork for security testing is an essential step in ensuring safe low-code development. This process begins well before examining workflows - it starts with equipping your team and organizing documentation.

Team Training and Knowledge

To address the unique risks of low-code platforms, team training is critical. Traditional coding education often overlooks the specific challenges posed by visual workflows, such as vulnerabilities arising from misinterpreted drag-and-drop actions. Teams need to understand how data flows through these workflows to identify potential weak points.

For teams working with Latenode, specialized training is vital. Focus on areas like managing credentials in browser automation, processing data with AI model integrations, and leveraging built-in database access controls. Since every platform has its own quirks, generic training might not cover all necessary details.

Assign clear roles within your team for tasks like reviewing permissions, validating data handling processes, and monitoring integrations. This role-based approach ensures that security responsibilities are consistently addressed, even during fast-paced development cycles.

Once your team is well-prepared, the next step is to thoroughly document your workflows.

Document Your Workflows

Comprehensive documentation is a powerful tool for uncovering hidden vulnerabilities. Consistent documentation practices help create a clear picture of your workflows and their potential risks ^[1].

Incorporate metadata into your documentation, such as sensitivity tags, logic descriptions, and ownership details, to highlight high-risk workflows ^[2]. Organize workflows into modular designs to avoid overly complex layouts. Use structured naming conventions to maintain version history, which makes it easier to track changes, identify when vulnerabilities were introduced, and roll back to previous versions if needed ^[2].

Visualize data flows and integration points through diagrams. These should detail how information moves between systems, where credentials are stored, and which external services access your data. This level of documentation is critical for assessing the potential impact of a breach and ensuring no blind spots are overlooked.

Accurate and detailed documentation lays the foundation for effective use of testing tools.

Set Up Testing Tools

With clear documentation in hand, you can deploy tools to test your low-code workflows from multiple angles, both static and dynamic.

Start by enabling audit and monitoring features within your low-code platform. Look for tools that offer change tracking, error logging, and SLA alerts to keep a close eye on workflow performance ^[2]. Centralized governance tools can also be invaluable, helping you oversee workflow development, track who is responsible for what, enforce group assignments, and maintain comprehensive audit trails ^[1].

Plan regular audits - quarterly reviews of workflows, permissions, and data access are a good standard ^[2]. Additionally, prepare tools to test external integrations and API connections, as these are often key components of low-code workflows and require rigorous security controls.

Low-Code Security Testing Checklist

Testing your low-code workflows for security vulnerabilities is critical to protecting your applications and data. This checklist provides a structured approach to identify and address common risks in low-code environments.

Authentication and Access Control

Strong authentication measures are essential to prevent breaches and ensure compliance with regulations ^[3].

Implement Single Sign-On (SSO) and assign clearly defined user roles ^[6].
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) as an additional security layer ^[3]^[4]^[5]. Ensure authentication timeout settings align with your organization's policies ^[6].
Thoroughly test Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to confirm that users can only access resources permitted under the principle of least privilege ^[3]. Be especially cautious with citizen developers, who may unintentionally create workflows with excessive permissions ^[1].
Use centralized governance tools to consistently manage roles, permissions, and access levels across your applications ^[3]^[1].
Test privilege escalation scenarios to ensure users cannot gain unauthorized access to higher-level functions.

Once access controls are secure, focus on validating data inputs to prevent vulnerabilities.

Input and Data Validation

Data validation is a common weak point in low-code applications, making it crucial to sanitize all user inputs before processing. This includes form fields, API parameters, file uploads, and data imported from external sources.

Simulate potential attacks like SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and oversized data packets to test your validation rules.
Enforce data type restrictions at every stage. For example, numeric fields should reject non-numeric inputs, date fields should require proper formatting, and email fields must follow correct syntax.
Test boundary conditions by submitting data that exceeds expected limits or falls outside acceptable ranges.
For workflows handling sensitive information, ensure data masking and encryption are applied where necessary.
Validate error handling to confirm that system messages provide useful feedback without revealing sensitive details.

With input security in place, examine how your workflows handle sensitive credentials.

Secrets and Credential Management

Poor credential management can lead to serious security risks. Ensure that sensitive information like API keys, database passwords, and service account credentials are stored securely.

Use dedicated vaults to store credentials instead of hardcoding them into workflows.
Encrypt sensitive data both at rest and during transmission. Verify that credential rotation processes are in place and functioning correctly.
Check that access logs track retrievals only by authorized workflows and users. Test expired or revoked credentials to ensure they no longer grant access.
For workflows generating temporary tokens or session keys, confirm that expiration and cleanup procedures are in place to prevent reuse.
Review how credentials are shared between workflow components, ensuring that secrets are not exposed in logs or transmitted through insecure channels.

Next, focus on securing third-party integrations, which often introduce external risks.

Third-Party Integration Security

External integrations can expose your workflows to vulnerabilities outside your direct control. Testing these connections is critical.

Confirm that SSL/TLS certificate validation is enabled for all external API calls. Reject connections using invalid, expired, or self-signed certificates.
Ensure data transmission adheres to current encryption standards and does not fall back to insecure protocols.
Test API rate limiting and error handling to prevent sensitive data exposure or workflow instability during temporary service outages.
Validate API responses rigorously before processing them.
For AI model integrations, assess the risk of prompt injection attacks to prevent malicious inputs from altering model behavior.
Verify that webhook endpoints authenticate incoming requests and validate payload signatures. Unauthorized calls should be rejected without processing or logging sensitive details.

Finally, establish a strong logging and monitoring framework to detect and respond to security incidents.

Logging and Monitoring Setup

Comprehensive logging is essential for identifying and addressing security incidents quickly. Your monitoring systems must be both thorough and secure.

Ensure logs capture key events, such as authentication attempts, permission changes, and access to sensitive data. Logs should provide enough detail for forensic analysis without exposing confidential information.
Test that security events trigger timely alerts and confirm that log retention policies meet compliance requirements.
Protect log files from unauthorized access or tampering to maintain their integrity.
Review monitoring dashboards to ensure they provide a clear and actionable overview of security status. Validate that anomaly detection systems are effective without generating excessive false positives.

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Latenode-Specific Security Testing

Latenode

Latenode introduces powerful features that require precise security measures. The following sections outline how to assess Latenode's unique functionalities while adhering to broader security best practices.

Testing Latenode's Built-In Database

Latenode’s integrated database simplifies workflow management by allowing structured data to be handled directly within its platform. However, this convenience demands robust security checks to guard against unauthorized access and potential data breaches.

Access Control Validation: Create workflows with varying permission levels to ensure proper data isolation between users and projects. Test that access restrictions function as intended across different roles.
Custom Query Security: Pay close attention to custom JavaScript queries. Ensure these scripts sanitize inputs effectively to block injection attacks, especially when handling user-provided data.
Data Protection: Verify that sensitive information stored in the database is encrypted at rest. Check that access logs comprehensively record all interactions with the database.
Backup and Recovery: Test backup and recovery procedures to confirm that data integrity remains intact. For workflows managing sensitive information, ensure data retention policies are enforced and that deleted records are irretrievable through queries.

Once the database is secured, consider how browser automations handle session data and credentials.

Securing Browser Automations

Latenode’s headless browser automation is a powerful tool for interacting with web applications, but it also introduces risks due to its ability to manage sensitive data. Security assessments should focus on protecting credentials, session data, and handling potentially harmful web elements.

Session Isolation: Ensure that browser sessions securely isolate data across workflows. Authentication credentials must remain confidential and never be logged.
Sensitive Data Masking: Since browser automations can capture screenshots or extract content, verify that sensitive details like personal data or credit card numbers are masked or excluded from logs and execution history.
Unexpected Content Handling: Test workflows against malicious web elements, such as harmful JavaScript or redirects to untrusted domains. For workflows submitting data through web forms, confirm that input validation is enforced both within the workflow logic and by the target web application.

With browser automation safeguarded, attention can shift to the security of AI integrations, another standout feature of Latenode.

Testing AI Model Integrations

Latenode supports over 200 AI models, enabling advanced automation capabilities. However, these integrations require specific testing to address risks like prompt injection and ensure that AI-generated outputs don’t compromise workflows.

Prompt Injection Checks: Submit malicious inputs to identify vulnerabilities in prompt handling. Ensure that user data in prompt templates is properly escaped to prevent injection attacks.
Data Anonymization: For workflows involving sensitive information, verify that data is anonymized or masked before being sent to external AI services.
Rate Limiting and Error Handling: Assess how workflows handle rate limits and temporary service outages. Ensure these scenarios don’t expose sensitive data or disrupt critical operations.

For teams using self-hosting, additional steps are necessary to secure the environment.

Self-Hosting Security Configuration

Self-hosting Latenode provides full control over data and infrastructure, but it also places the responsibility for security squarely on the hosting team. Rigorous testing is essential to ensure a secure setup.

Encryption and Access Controls: Validate that all communications are encrypted, only necessary ports are exposed, and multi-factor authentication is in place. Confirm that sensitive data isn’t exposed in log files.
Backup and Compliance: Test backup and disaster recovery processes to ensure rapid restoration without data loss. For organizations with compliance requirements, verify that your configuration aligns with standards like SOC 2, HIPAA, or GDPR.
Patch and Monitoring Systems: Ensure update procedures allow for quick application of security patches without disrupting workflows. Monitoring systems should detect and alert on security events, such as unauthorized access attempts or unusual resource usage.

Ongoing Security Practices for Low-Code Workflows

Security in low-code workflows isn’t a one-and-done task - it’s an ongoing process that demands constant attention and regular updates to counter emerging threats. By adopting a proactive approach, you can ensure your workflows remain secure over time. Below are key practices to maintain robust security.

Enforce Least Privilege

A cornerstone of secure workflows is the principle of least privilege. Each component, integration, and user should only have the access they absolutely need to perform their roles. This limits exposure and reduces the risk of potential breaches caused by compromised accounts or insider threats.

Start by auditing all workflow permissions. Remove administrative rights from users who only need to execute workflows, not modify them. For example, configure Latenode database access to restrict queries to only the required tables and fields. Similarly, custom JavaScript code should operate with limited permissions, ensuring it doesn’t access sensitive system functions or make unauthorized external network calls.

Third-party integrations also require careful attention. Define narrow scopes for each service. For instance, if a workflow reads data from Google Sheets, it shouldn’t have write permissions. Likewise, a Slack integration used for notifications should avoid accessing private channels or user information unnecessarily.

As workflows evolve and teams expand, regular permission reviews become essential. Schedule quarterly audits to identify unused permissions, deactivate accounts for former employees, and ensure access levels match current roles. Update workflow documentation to reflect these changes for better transparency.

Schedule Regular Security Reviews

Frequent security reviews are vital for identifying vulnerabilities before they become serious problems. A structured schedule ensures all aspects of your low-code security are assessed throughout the year.

Monthly reviews: Focus on operational concerns like failed authentication attempts, unusual patterns in execution logs, and the security of current integrations.
Quarterly reviews: Dive deeper into architecture, validate encryption settings, and test data backup and recovery procedures.
Annual reviews: Include penetration tests, compliance assessments, and evaluations of security tools to ensure they meet evolving requirements. For teams using Latenode’s self-hosting option, this should also involve infrastructure security checks and disaster recovery planning.

To maintain consistency, use standardized checklists for each review type. Document findings and track remediation efforts to show progress and address recurring issues effectively.

Using Latenode for Secure Automation

Latenode offers built-in security tools that simplify the process of maintaining secure workflows. Its architecture combines visual workflow design with custom code capabilities, allowing teams to enforce strict security measures without compromising functionality.

Leverage Latenode’s security features, such as OAuth 2.0, encrypted API communications, and isolated execution environments. These tools help enforce best practices while protecting sensitive data. For example, Latenode’s credential management system securely stores API keys and tokens, eliminating the need to hardcode them into workflows.

For workflows requiring custom JavaScript, Latenode ensures isolation between workflows and users, reducing cross-workflow dependencies. When working with its built-in database, implement proper data validation and sanitization to guard against injection attacks.

Additionally, Latenode’s AI integration supports over 200 models, offering structured prompt management for secure data processing. Teams handling sensitive data can opt for Latenode’s self-hosting option, which provides full control over data storage and processing locations.

Monitoring workflow execution is straightforward with Latenode’s detailed logging and execution history. These tools help identify unusual activity, track resource usage, and confirm that security measures are working as intended. Latenode’s webhook capabilities also allow seamless integration with external security monitoring tools, enabling centralized alerts and incident response.

Conclusion

Security testing plays a crucial role in safeguarding your organization from breaches and compliance challenges. By following the structured checklist outlined earlier, teams can ensure a consistent and thorough approach to identifying vulnerabilities and addressing them effectively ^[7]^[8].

Data highlights a pressing need for proactive action: over 70% of breaches are caused by misconfigurations and weak access controls ^[5]. Applying a systematic testing process not only helps reduce these risks but also strengthens compliance efforts, accelerates remediation, and instills greater confidence in your systems ^[7]^[8]^[9]. This structured methodology ensures that no vulnerabilities are left unchecked during development cycles.

For teams using Latenode, additional security benefits come into play. Features like self-hosting and credential management make enforcing security measures more straightforward. Furthermore, Latenode's monitoring tools enable teams to track workflow execution in real time, quickly identifying and addressing potential security concerns.

These features are essential for creating secure low-code automation workflows. By integrating regular reviews, automated checks, and manual assessments, the checklist serves as a foundation for maintaining a strong security posture over time ^[7].

A well-structured security testing framework not only prevents incidents but also ensures compliance and protects your organization's reputation. Coupled with Latenode's built-in security tools, this approach provides robust protection for your data and automation infrastructure.

FAQs

What are the main security risks of low-code platforms, and how can teams address them?

Low-code platforms introduce certain security risks, including Shadow IT, data exposure, and vulnerabilities stemming from the abstraction of code. These issues can result in misconfigurations, unauthorized access, or compliance violations if not addressed effectively.

To tackle these risks, teams should adopt role-based access control (RBAC) to limit permissions, carry out regular security audits and penetration testing, and adhere to best practices such as secure API integration and static code analysis. Providing thorough training for users and maintaining visibility into all workflows are also key steps to strengthen the security of low-code environments.

Tools like Latenode can play a crucial role in these efforts by offering features to build secure workflows, safely integrate APIs, and retain full data control with self-hosting options.

What steps can teams take to securely manage credentials in low-code platforms and prevent unauthorized access?

To ensure secure credential management within low-code platforms, teams should adopt several key practices. Start by enforcing strong password policies to ensure all users create passwords that are difficult to guess. Pair this with multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security, making it harder for unauthorized users to gain access. Additionally, implementing role-based access controls (RBAC) ensures that users only have permissions relevant to their specific roles, reducing the risk of accidental or malicious misuse.

Regularly updating and rotating passwords and secrets is another essential step. This practice minimizes potential damage if credentials are ever compromised. Credentials should always be stored in encrypted formats, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected even if accessed improperly.

Further security measures include using session management to monitor and control user activity and applying IP whitelisting to restrict access to trusted networks only. These strategies work together to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen defenses against unauthorized access. By incorporating these methods, teams can uphold a strong security posture and safeguard their systems effectively.

How can teams secure third-party integrations in low-code workflows, especially when using AI models?

To ensure the security of third-party integrations within low-code workflows, particularly when incorporating AI models, it’s crucial to adopt several key practices. Start by applying least-privilege access controls, which limit permissions to only what’s necessary. Protect sensitive information by encrypting data both during storage and while it’s being transmitted. Regularly perform security audits on all integrated components to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

In addition, a strong security framework is essential. This should include continuous monitoring to detect threats in real time, runtime protections to safeguard active processes, and supply chain risk management to address potential weaknesses in external dependencies. When working with third-party APIs or AI models, always assess their compliance with your organization’s security policies. This ensures data integrity while reducing exposure to risks.