Security Comparisons
Windsurf vs Cursor: Security Comparison
Both Windsurf and Cursor are AI-powered IDEs that generate code for you. But which one is more secure? We compared data privacy, code generation security, extension risks, and enterprise features side by side.
The bottom line
Neither Windsurf nor Cursor is inherently more secure. Both send your code to external servers, both generate code with similar vulnerability patterns, and both require you to review generated code for security issues. The real risk is in the code they produce, not the IDE itself.
Data Privacy
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Code sent to cloud | Yes, to OpenAI/Anthropic/custom | Yes, to Codeium servers | Both send code externally |
| Local/offline mode | No native offline mode | No native offline mode | Tie -- both require internet |
| SOC 2 compliance | SOC 2 Type II certified | SOC 2 Type II certified | Tie -- both certified |
| Data retention policy | No training on user code (paid) | No training on user code (paid) | Tie -- similar policies |
Code Generation Security
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generates auth correctly | Often skips server-side validation | Similar gaps in auth patterns | Both need review |
| Secret handling | Sometimes puts secrets in code | Sometimes puts secrets in code | Both risky -- always review |
| Dependency suggestions | May suggest outdated packages | May suggest non-existent packages | Windsurf slightly riskier |
| SQL injection prevention | Usually parameterizes queries | Usually parameterizes queries | Tie -- both generally ok |
Extension & Plugin Security
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCP server support | Yes -- can run arbitrary tools | Yes -- Cascade workflows | Both introduce MCP risks |
| Extension sandboxing | VS Code extension model | VS Code fork extension model | Tie -- same base model |
| Custom rules files | .cursorrules -- can enforce patterns | .windsurfrules -- similar support | Both support security rules |
| Terminal access | Full terminal access for agent | Full terminal access for Cascade | Both -- review commands |
Enterprise Security
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSO support | Available on Business plan | Available on Enterprise plan | Both support SSO |
| Audit logs | Business plan only | Enterprise plan only | Tie -- enterprise only |
| Self-hosted option | No | No | Neither offers self-hosting |
| IP allowlisting | Not available | Not available | Tie -- neither supports it |
Security risks unique to each
Cursor-specific risks
- Multi-model routing: Code may be sent to OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google depending on settings. More vendors = more attack surface.
- Composer agent: Can create/modify files and run terminal commands autonomously. A compromised prompt could execute arbitrary code.
- .cursorrules injection: Malicious repos can include .cursorrules files that alter code generation behavior when cloned.
Windsurf-specific risks
- Cascade persistence: Cascade maintains context across sessions. A prompt injection in one session could affect future sessions.
- Codeium telemetry: Windsurf collects usage data for model improvement. Review their data processing agreement for your compliance needs.
- Supercomplete feature: Proactively suggests code changes that may introduce security issues if accepted without review.
How to secure code from either IDE
Run automated security scans on every commit, regardless of which IDE generated the code
Use .cursorrules or .windsurfrules to enforce security patterns (e.g., "always use parameterized queries")
Review all generated authentication and authorization code manually before deployment
Check that suggested npm packages actually exist and are maintained
Enable Supabase RLS or Firebase security rules -- both IDEs skip this by default
Related Comparisons
Secure code from any AI IDE
VibeEval scans the output of Cursor, Windsurf, and every other AI coding tool. It does not matter which IDE you use -- what matters is catching vulnerabilities before deployment.
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