Debuly
deepsec logo

deepsec

Open-source security review harness from Vercel that sends coding agents through a repository to find and re-check vulnerabilities.

Open source

What is deepsec?

deepsec is Vercel's open-source harness for security reviews, aimed at auditing the code of an existing repository. You run npx deepsec init from the repo root, and it builds a threat model, maps the security-sensitive parts of the codebase, uses local pattern matchers to pick candidate files, and then sends coding agents through those code paths. A separate revalidate step re-checks the findings to cut false positives; the docs put the rate after revalidation at roughly 10 to 29 percent on high-severity results. You choose the agent backend (Codex, Claude or Pi), pick a model, and pay for model calls through Vercel AI Gateway, your own OpenAI or Anthropic key, or a locally logged-in claude or codex CLI. Large scans can fan out across Vercel Sandbox microVMs, and every stage can be resumed after an interruption. The tool itself has no license fee, but the AI review stage is billed by the model provider: with Claude Opus, the FAQ estimates $25-60 for 100 files and $500-1200 for 2,000 files.

Use cases

  • Audit a repository for vulnerabilities
  • Find authorization bugs across files
  • Scan only changed files on pull requests
  • Run scheduled weekly security scans in CI
  • Re-check findings to cut false positives
  • Triage and export findings as markdown or JSON

Who it's for

  • Security engineers
  • Application developers
  • DevSecOps teams

Why use deepsec

  • The pattern scan is free and local, so you only pay for AI review on the files it flags.
  • Runs can be capped by cost or duration and resumed with the same command, which keeps spending predictable.
  • Revalidation and triage stages help separate real issues from noise before anyone acts on them.
  • Works on codebases in any language, since the AI stage reads any text source file.
  • You can use your own OpenAI or Anthropic key instead of a Vercel account.

deepsec features

  • Threat model and surface inventory generated at setup
  • Free local pattern scan to pick candidate files
  • AI investigation with Codex, Claude or Pi backends
  • Revalidate step that re-checks findings for false positives
  • Triage step that costs roughly 1 cent per finding
  • Incremental runs that only process pending files
  • Sandbox mode that fans work across Vercel Sandbox microVMs
  • Export to markdown files or JSON
  • Cost and time limits such as --max-cost-usd and --max-duration
  • Custom matchers for languages and code patterns

deepsec integrations

  • Vercel AI Gateway
  • Vercel Sandbox
  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • Claude
  • Codex

How to get started with deepsec

  1. From the root of the repository, run npx deepsec init.
  2. Pick a model and decide how to pay for model calls: AI Gateway, your own key, or a local subscription.
  3. deepsec writes a .deepsec folder, builds a threat model, runs the pattern scan and starts the AI review.
  4. Run revalidate to re-check high-severity findings and cut false positives.
  5. Export findings with deepsec export, for example as one markdown file per finding.

deepsec limitations

  • Model calls are billed by the provider and large scans can cost hundreds of dollars
  • Sandbox commands need a real API token such as AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY
  • Source snippets are sent to the configured model provider

deepsec pricing

deepsec is open source, so you can use and self-host it for free.

Prices can change and may vary by country or exclude tax. Check the official pricing page.

deepsec alternatives

The main deepsec alternatives listed on Debuly are Semgrep, DeepSource, Gecko Security, Nullify, Corgea and Corridor. The table compares pricing and platforms; order is A–Z.

deepsec compared with its alternatives
ToolPricingStarting pricePlatforms
deepsecOpen source—CLI, Self-hosted
CorgeaFreemium$39/moWeb, API, Cursor, IntelliJ
CorridorFree trial$20/moWeb, IDE extension
DeepSourceFree trial$24/moWeb, API, Self-hosted
Gecko SecurityFree trial$100/moWeb, API, Self-hosted
NullifyContact sales—Web, API
SemgrepFreemium$15/moWeb, VS Code, JetBrains, API
  1. Corgea

    AI-native application security platform that scans code, dependencies, containers and infrastructure and proposes fixes in pull requests.

  2. Corridor

    AI code security tool that reviews pull requests and steers AI coding agents toward secure code as it is generated.

  3. DeepSource

    AI code review platform that pairs static analysis with AI review and Autofix on every pull request, with a 14-day free trial.

  4. Gecko Security

    AI application security scanner that finds exploitable logic flaws in code, ranks them by attack path and opens fix pull requests.

  5. Nullify

    Autonomous product security platform that finds vulnerabilities, proves exploitability and opens merge-ready fix pull requests.

  6. Semgrep

    Application security platform for static analysis, supply chain and secrets scanning, with AI-assisted triage and fixes for developers and coding agents.

deepsec FAQ

How much does deepsec cost?

The tool has no listed price, but model usage is billed by your provider. The FAQ estimates $25-60 for 100 files, $130-300 for 500 files and $500-1200 for 2,000 files with Claude Opus, and says costs can swing 2 to 3 times. Triage is about 1 cent per finding.

Is there a free plan for deepsec?

There are no plans or tiers. The scan stage is free local pattern matching, while the process stage uses paid model calls. Use --limit 50 first to calibrate cost.

Is deepsec open source?

Yes. The source is published at github.com/vercel-labs/deepsec.

Does deepsec work with languages other than JavaScript?

Yes. The FAQ describes it as polyglot, covering TypeScript, Go, Python, Lua and Terraform, and the AI stage can read any text source file.

Is my code sent anywhere when I scan?

The agents send relevant snippets to your configured model provider. Through Vercel AI Gateway the docs say there is zero data retention, and deepsec itself sends no telemetry.

Can I run deepsec in CI?

Yes. The docs show a weekly cron full scan and a per-PR incremental scan on changed paths, and a headless mode that never prompts.

What are alternatives to deepsec?

Semgrep, GitHub CodeQL, Snyk Code and DeepSource are common code security tools to compare.

Sources & verification

Facts on this page come from the official sources below, each with the date we read it. Written by Debuly; the vendor did not review this page.

SourceTypeAccessed
deepsec.sh/official
github.com/vercel-labs/deepsecrepository
deepsec.sh/docs/faqdocs
deepsec.sh/docs/getting-starteddocs
deepsec.sh/docs/modelsdocs

Image credits

  • Logo: from assets.vercel.com · fetched · Vendor trademark, used only to identify the product; removed on request
  • Cover: none collected yet, so a generated tile is shown.

Spot an error? Report an issue with this listing. We also remove a logo or image on the owner's request.