VibeKit’s built-in redaction system automatically identifies and removes sensitive information from coding agent outputs by intercepting HTTP traffic through a proxy server that applies pattern-based filtering.

How It Works

VibeKit runs a proxy server that sits between coding agents and their API endpoints. All HTTP/HTTPS traffic flows through this proxy, where responses are processed in real-time to detect and redact sensitive data before it reaches you.

Proxy-based Redaction

# VibeKit automatically starts proxy server
vibekit claude "Show me API integration code"

# Traffic flows: Claude API → Proxy (redaction) → Your terminal
# Sensitive data is replaced before you see it

Pattern Detection

The redaction system uses comprehensive pattern matching from rules-stable.yml that includes hundreds of patterns for:
  • AWS: Access keys (AKIA…), ARNs, API Gateway URLs, RDS endpoints
  • OpenAI: API keys (sk-…), organization keys, project keys
  • GitHub: Personal access tokens, app tokens
  • Google: API keys, service account keys, OAuth tokens
  • Database: Connection strings, credentials
  • Generic: Email addresses, credit card numbers, phone numbers

Configuration

Settings Management

Control redaction through the VibeKit settings:
# Open settings interface
vibekit settings

# Toggle redaction on/off in the proxy section

Settings File

Located at ~/.vibekit/settings.json:
{
  "proxy": {
    "enabled": true,
    "redactionEnabled": true
  }
}

How Patterns Work

Patterns are loaded from packages/cli/src/utils/rules-stable.yml:
patterns:
  - pattern:
      name: OpenAI API Key
      regex: sk-[a-zA-Z0-9]{48}
      confidence: high
  - pattern:
      name: AWS Access Key ID Value
      regex: (A3T[A-Z0-9]|AKIA|AGPA|AROA|AIPA|ANPA|ANVA|ASIA)[A-Z0-9]{16}
      confidence: high

Real-time Processing

Stream Processing

Redaction happens as data flows through Transform streams:
  • HTTP responses are processed in chunks
  • Pattern matching occurs on buffered content
  • Sensitive data is replaced with [PATTERN_NAME_REDACTED] tokens
  • Modified responses are sent to your terminal

Example Output

# Original API response:
# "Configure with API key sk-1234567890abcdef..."

# What you see:
# "Configure with API key [OPENAI_API_KEY_REDACTED]..."

Current Capabilities

What’s Implemented

  • Proxy Server: Intercepts HTTP/HTTPS traffic
  • Pattern Matching: 200+ predefined patterns for common secrets
  • Real-time Processing: Redacts responses as they stream
  • Settings Integration: Toggle redaction on/off
  • Multiple Agents: Works with Claude, Gemini, Codex, etc.

Default Patterns Include

  • AWS access keys, secret keys, ARNs
  • OpenAI API keys and organization keys
  • GitHub personal access tokens
  • Google API keys and service accounts
  • Database connection strings
  • Email addresses and phone numbers
  • Credit card patterns

Proxy Server Management

Automatic Operation

The proxy server starts automatically when needed:
# Proxy starts automatically with redaction enabled
vibekit claude "Generate secure API client"

Manual Control

# Start proxy server manually
vibekit proxy start --port 8080

# Stop proxy server
vibekit proxy kill --port 8080

Limitations & Current State

What’s Not Yet Implemented

  • Custom pattern definition through CLI
  • Redaction reporting and analytics
  • Retroactive log processing
  • Sensitivity level controls
  • Whitelist management

Fallback Behavior

If pattern loading fails, the system falls back to basic patterns:
  • Email addresses: [a-z0-9._%+-]+@[a-z0-9.-]+\.[a-z]{2,}
  • Credit cards: [0-9]{13,19}

Best Practices

Security

  • Keep redaction enabled in settings
  • Regularly review proxy logs for sensitive data
  • Monitor pattern matching effectiveness
  • Update VibeKit for new pattern definitions

Development

  • Test with dummy secrets to verify redaction works
  • Check settings periodically to ensure redaction is enabled
  • Be aware that redaction only works through the proxy server
Built-in redaction provides an essential security layer by intercepting and filtering sensitive data from AI coding agent responses, helping prevent accidental exposure of secrets and credentials.