Leaked NPM Token Fix: Step-by-Step Guide for Vibe-Coded Apps

Quick answer

If you've leaked an npm token in your vibe-coded app, immediately revoke it via npm's website or CLI (npm token revoke <token-id>), then rotate any secrets the token had access to (e.g., private packages, CI/CD variables). Scan your entire codebase—including .env files, commit history, and AI-generated configs—for hardcoded tokens. Use a secret leak scanner to catch any remaining exposures automatically.

What to check first

Before you panic, run through this checklist to contain the damage:

Step-by-step fix

1. Revoke the leaked token

Do this first—every second counts. Use the npm CLI:

# List all tokens to find the leaked one
npm token list

# Revoke the specific token
npm token revoke <your-token-id>

Or go to npm settings > tokens and delete it manually.

2. Rotate any secrets the token had access to

If your npm token had publish or read/write access to private packages, create a new token with the same permissions:

npm token create --read-only   # For CI/CD read access
npm token create --publish     # For publishing packages

Then update all services that used the old token:

3. Scan your entire codebase

Vibe-coded apps often scatter secrets in unexpected places. Run a thorough scan:

# Using OverMCP secret leak scanner (free)
# Or use trufflehog locally
npx trufflehog git --since-commit HEAD~10 --only-verified

Check these common spots:

4. Prevent future leaks

Add a pre-commit hook to block tokens before they hit your repo:

# Install husky and lint-staged
npm install --save-dev husky lint-staged
npx husky install

# Add a hook to run secret scanning
npx husky add .husky/pre-commit "npx --yes secretlint **/*"

Or use OverMCP's continuous security monitoring to automatically scan every commit and PR.

5. Update your `.gitignore` and `.npmignore`

Ensure these files exist and include:

# .gitignore
.env
.env.local
.env.*.local
*.log
npm-debug.log*
node_modules/

# .npmignore (if publishing a package)
.env
.git
__tests__

Common mistakes

AI-built apps make these errors repeatedly:

Common mistakes

AI-built apps make these errors repeatedly:

FAQ

How do I find all places where my leaked npm token was used?

Check npm audit logs for any package publishes or access events from unknown IPs. Also search your repo's git history, CI/CD logs, and hosting platform environment variables. Use a secret leak scanner to automate this.

Can I remove a leaked npm token from git history?

Yes, use git filter-branch or the BFG Repo-Cleaner tool. But note that if the token was ever public, assume it's compromised even after removal from git—revoke it first.

Do I need to revoke all my npm tokens after a leak?

Only the leaked token needs immediate revocation. But as a best practice, rotate all tokens that share the same permissions or were created around the same time, especially if you're unsure which one leaked.

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This guide is part of OverMCP's security resources for vibe-coded apps. For automated scanning, try our [free AI app security scanner](https://www.overmcp.com/).