Before hiring someone to fix a vibe-coded app, ask them to diagnose the problem, explain their proposed change, and show how they will verify it. Start with a defined diagnostic phase rather than approving an open-ended rewrite. Then agree in writing on access, deliverables, tests, security reporting, and the point at which extra work needs your approval.
Start with diagnosis, not a promise to rewrite
Describe the symptoms, when they occur, and what you expected the app to do. Share relevant error messages, steps to reproduce the issue, and any recent changes you know about. Ask the developer what else they need before proposing a fix.
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A useful first engagement can be a small, paid diagnostic with a specific deliverable: a reproduction of the issue, an explanation of likely causes, a proposed scope, and the assumptions behind an estimate. This is a practical way to see how a candidate reasons; it is not a hiring method prescribed by OWASP or a guarantee of competence. Avoid approving a broad rewrite before the developer has investigated the app.
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Ask questions that reveal how they work
Use these prompts to start a technical conversation. They are interview questions, not a validated test; listen for clear reasoning and an ability to explain trade-offs in terms you can follow.
- How will you reproduce the bug, and what information do you need from me?
- What would you inspect first—architecture, data flow, dependencies, configuration, or the changed code—and why?
- How might your fix affect authentication, authorization, sensitive data, or existing business logic?
- What tests will demonstrate that the reported problem is fixed and nearby behavior still works?
- Which third-party libraries or services might change, and how will you report those changes?
- What will you deliver: code changes, test results, deployment or configuration notes, and any remaining risks?
- If the diagnosis changes the scope or reveals security issues, how will we pause and agree on next steps?
These questions reflect areas OWASP identifies as relevant to secure code review, including architecture, requirements, data flows, authentication and authorization, business logic, dependencies, and configuration. OWASP also notes that manual review can catch context-sensitive issues that automated tools may miss. See the OWASP Secure Code Review Cheat Sheet.
Request evidence, but judge the explanation too
Ask for a relevant example the developer is permitted to discuss. The most useful example walks through the original problem, investigation, change, verification, and what they learned. Ask what alternatives they considered and why they chose their approach.
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If a candidate cites a security credential or assessment, verify its issuer, current status, scope, and what it actually evaluates. OWASP describes its Certified Secure Developer program as proposed, not as an established universal credential; its page also distinguishes secure coding from testing code with tools: “Writing secure code != testing the security of code with tools.” OWASP Certified Secure Developer. OWASP also says it does not certify vendors, verifiers, or software under ASVS; an assessment should not be presented as an OWASP certification. OWASP ASVS: Assessment and Certification.
Put scope, access, and acceptance in writing
Before work begins, agree on what the developer is being asked to do, what they can access, how you will evaluate completion, and what happens if the investigation changes the estimate. Record at least:
- The symptoms, desired outcome, and what is out of scope.
- The diagnostic phase, estimate assumptions, and the point when additional work requires your approval.
- Which repository, hosting, and production systems they may access, for what purpose, and who controls the accounts and credentials.
- Expected deliverables: code changes, tests, review findings, disclosure of dependency changes, and deployment or configuration notes.
- Reproducible acceptance checks and how defects found during acceptance will be handled.
- How security findings and unresolved risks will be reported.
- Payment milestones and a process for approving changes to scope.
Grant only the access needed for the agreed phase. Keep control of your accounts and credentials, and make sure you have a current backup before production changes. Define acceptance around evidence you can reproduce, such as specified test results and the original problem no longer occurring—not simply a verbal assurance that the fix is complete.
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OWASP’s Secure Software Contract Annex offers a framework for negotiating security obligations and deliverables. It is guidance, not a ready-made contract, and recommends consulting a qualified attorney. OWASP’s 2025 application security program guidance says the annex is for US contract law; do not assume its sample language applies in another jurisdiction. OWASP Top 10 2025: Establishing a Modern Application Security Program.
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Decide whether the repair needs a separate security review
The repair developer and an independent reviewer serve different purposes. The developer diagnoses and changes the code; a separate reviewer can assess the repair or examine the app more broadly. For an app handling sensitive data, payments, authentication, or consequential actions, consider whether an independent security-focused review is warranted.
| Path | Typical scope | Independence | Evidence to agree on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repair developer | Diagnose and fix the reported issue, with related code or configuration as agreed | The person making the change evaluates their own work | Reproduction steps, code changes, tests, dependency disclosures, deployment notes, and unresolved risks |
| Separate reviewer | Assess the repair or a broader baseline, potentially including custom code, third-party components, configuration, and security requirements | Can provide an assessment separate from the implementation | Written scope, findings, review or test evidence, and remaining risks |
The right scope depends on the app and the risk; the cited OWASP guidance does not establish a standard price or turnaround for either path. Automated analysis can help, but a tool scan or a single review is not proof that an app is secure. Manual review matters where context and business logic affect whether a change is safe. OWASP’s contract annex and code-review guidance describe relevant review and security considerations.
Warning signs to treat seriously
- The developer proposes a large rewrite before explaining how they will reproduce or investigate the issue.
- They promise that a scan, certification, or one review will make the app “secure” without defining scope, evidence, or remaining risks.
- They cannot explain what access they need, or ask for broader access than the agreed work requires.
- They resist documenting deliverables, tests, dependency changes, acceptance criteria, or approval for scope changes.
- They cite a credential without identifying who issues it, what it covers, or whether it is current.
- They present an estimate as certain while key assumptions about the code, configuration, or cause remain untested.
A warning sign is a reason to ask for clarification or pause—not, by itself, proof that a developer is unqualified. Compare the answer with the evidence and terms they are willing to put in writing.
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