# Directus Security Scanner — Find public-role collection leaks (`renzomacar/directus-security-scanner`) Actor

Probes a public Directus instance for misconfigured Public-role permissions. Detects collections readable without auth via /items/{collection}. Returns counts + curl reproducer. Counts only.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/renzomacar/directus-security-scanner.md
- **Developed by:** [Renzo Madueno](https://apify.com/renzomacar) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

Pay per usage

This Actor is paid per platform usage. The Actor is free to use, and you only pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-usage

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md):

```bash
npm install apify-client
```

In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md):

```bash
pip install apify-client
```

In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md):

````bash
# MacOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash
# Windows
irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex
```bash

In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md).

If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).


# README

## Directus Security Scanner — Find public-role collection leaks

> **Directus ships with a "Public" role enabled by default, and the only thing keeping your collections private is the read permissions assigned to it.** Most operators tighten Public on their main content collections but forget the internal ones — `directus_users`, `directus_files`, and any custom table created via the admin UI. **This actor finds those leaks in 30 seconds.**

Probes a public Directus instance for **collections readable by the Public role**. Sends `/items/{collection}?limit=1&meta=total_count` per collection. Returns row counts + a verbatim `curl` reproducer per finding. Counts only — never row data.

> 💸 **Found a leak?** I do turnkey Directus audits + Public-role hardening for **$99** ([Stripe](https://buy.stripe.com/00w9AT9TWdaW7yx9KkcAo01) — 48h, money-back if nothing actionable). Or **$29/mo** weekly auto-scans at [rls-monitor.vercel.app](https://rls-monitor.vercel.app/).

> ⭐️ **Solo dev competing with bigger Apify publishers.** A [30-second review](https://apify.com/renzomacar/directus-security-scanner#reviews) is the single thing that lifts ranking. Thank you.

### Why this exists

Directus's REST API exposes every collection at `/items/<name>`. The Public role's `read` permission is what decides who can list a collection without authenticating. Most Directus tutorials walk through enabling Public read on a demo collection (e.g., `articles`) and then forget to mention that **the Public role persists across schema changes** — so when you add a new collection it inherits no permission, but the patterns established by tutorial code often grant Public access opportunistically.

The biggest landmines:
1. **`directus_users`** — if Public read is on, every internal user's email, role, status, and login token field metadata is listable
2. **`directus_files`** — file metadata + download URLs leak even when individual files require auth
3. **Custom collections cloned from a "public" template** — the Public-role read permission carries over silently

This scanner probes ~35 collection names (common business names plus Directus system tables) plus any you pass as hints.

### How to run

Either:
1. **Leave inputs empty** + click **Run** for a DEMO sample report
2. **Provide your `directusUrl`** to scan your actual instance

```json
{
  "directusUrl": "https://directus.your-domain.com",
  "collectionHints": ["my-custom-collection"],
  "outputFormat": "both"
}
````

### What you get

- **HTML report** in the run's key-value store: severity-coded findings, copy-pasteable `curl` reproducers, exact Directus admin steps to fix
- **Dataset rows**: one structured row per finding

### Sample finding

```
[CRITICAL] directus_users — readable by Public role
Total records: 1,284
Sample columns: id, first_name, last_name, email, password, role, status, token, last_access
Sensitive columns detected: email, password, token

Reproducer:
curl 'https://directus.your-domain.com/items/directus_users?limit=1' -I
```

### How to fix (free, ~5 min)

1. Open Directus admin → **Settings → Access Control**
2. Click the **Public** role
3. For each leaky collection, set the `read` permission to **No Access**
4. Click **Save** on each change
5. Re-run this scanner to confirm zero anon-readable collections

If a collection **should** be public (blog content, marketing pages), set read to **Custom Access** and use field-level rules to hide sensitive columns from anon responses.

### Ethical use

- **Only scan instances you own** or have explicit permission to scan
- Probe queries use `?limit=1&meta=total_count` to confirm exposure without exfiltrating contents

### Related

- **Stripe audit ($99 one-time)**: [buy.stripe.com/00w9AT9TWdaW7yx9KkcAo01](https://buy.stripe.com/00w9AT9TWdaW7yx9KkcAo01)
- **Weekly auto-scans ($29/mo)**: [rls-monitor.vercel.app](https://rls-monitor.vercel.app/)
- **Sister scanners**: [Supabase](https://apify.com/renzomacar/supabase-rls-scanner), [Firebase](https://apify.com/renzomacar/firebase-security-auditor), [Strapi](https://apify.com/renzomacar/strapi-security-scanner), [Directus](https://apify.com/renzomacar/directus-security-scanner), [Payload CMS](https://apify.com/renzomacar/payload-security-scanner), [Convex](https://apify.com/renzomacar/convex-security-scanner), [Hasura](https://apify.com/renzomacar/hasura-security-scanner), [PocketBase](https://apify.com/renzomacar/pocketbase-security-scanner), [Appwrite](https://apify.com/renzomacar/appwrite-security-auditor), [Nhost](https://apify.com/renzomacar/nhost-security-scanner).

Built by [Renzo](https://github.com/Perufitlife).

# Actor input Schema

## `directusUrl` (type: `string`):

Your Directus instance URL, e.g. https://directus.your-domain.com. Must be publicly reachable. Leave empty + click Run for a sample report.

## `collectionHints` (type: `array`):

Beyond the default common collection names, list any schema-specific names. Directus collections are usually plural snake\_case.

## `outputFormat` (type: `string`):

JSON for programmatic use; HTML report saved to KV store under report.html.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "collectionHints": [],
  "outputFormat": "both"
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("renzomacar/directus-security-scanner").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("renzomacar/directus-security-scanner").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{}' |
apify call renzomacar/directus-security-scanner --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=renzomacar/directus-security-scanner",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

```json
{
    "openapi": "3.0.1",
    "info": {
        "title": "Directus Security Scanner — Find public-role collection leaks",
        "description": "Probes a public Directus instance for misconfigured Public-role permissions. Detects collections readable without auth via /items/{collection}. Returns counts + curl reproducer. Counts only.",
        "version": "0.1",
        "x-build-id": "MlYFuRywJghasmCpP"
    },
    "servers": [
        {
            "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2"
        }
    ],
    "paths": {
        "/acts/renzomacar~directus-security-scanner/run-sync-get-dataset-items": {
            "post": {
                "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-renzomacar-directus-security-scanner",
                "x-openai-isConsequential": false,
                "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.",
                "tags": [
                    "Run Actor"
                ],
                "requestBody": {
                    "required": true,
                    "content": {
                        "application/json": {
                            "schema": {
                                "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                "parameters": [
                    {
                        "name": "token",
                        "in": "query",
                        "required": true,
                        "schema": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "description": "Enter your Apify token here"
                    }
                ],
                "responses": {
                    "200": {
                        "description": "OK"
                    }
                }
            }
        },
        "/acts/renzomacar~directus-security-scanner/runs": {
            "post": {
                "operationId": "runs-sync-renzomacar-directus-security-scanner",
                "x-openai-isConsequential": false,
                "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.",
                "tags": [
                    "Run Actor"
                ],
                "requestBody": {
                    "required": true,
                    "content": {
                        "application/json": {
                            "schema": {
                                "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                "parameters": [
                    {
                        "name": "token",
                        "in": "query",
                        "required": true,
                        "schema": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "description": "Enter your Apify token here"
                    }
                ],
                "responses": {
                    "200": {
                        "description": "OK",
                        "content": {
                            "application/json": {
                                "schema": {
                                    "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema"
                                }
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        },
        "/acts/renzomacar~directus-security-scanner/run-sync": {
            "post": {
                "operationId": "run-sync-renzomacar-directus-security-scanner",
                "x-openai-isConsequential": false,
                "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.",
                "tags": [
                    "Run Actor"
                ],
                "requestBody": {
                    "required": true,
                    "content": {
                        "application/json": {
                            "schema": {
                                "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                "parameters": [
                    {
                        "name": "token",
                        "in": "query",
                        "required": true,
                        "schema": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "description": "Enter your Apify token here"
                    }
                ],
                "responses": {
                    "200": {
                        "description": "OK"
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    },
    "components": {
        "schemas": {
            "inputSchema": {
                "type": "object",
                "properties": {
                    "directusUrl": {
                        "title": "Directus Instance URL (leave empty for DEMO)",
                        "type": "string",
                        "description": "Your Directus instance URL, e.g. https://directus.your-domain.com. Must be publicly reachable. Leave empty + click Run for a sample report."
                    },
                    "collectionHints": {
                        "title": "Extra collection names to probe (optional)",
                        "type": "array",
                        "description": "Beyond the default common collection names, list any schema-specific names. Directus collections are usually plural snake_case.",
                        "default": [],
                        "items": {
                            "type": "string"
                        }
                    },
                    "outputFormat": {
                        "title": "Output format",
                        "enum": [
                            "json",
                            "html-report",
                            "both"
                        ],
                        "type": "string",
                        "description": "JSON for programmatic use; HTML report saved to KV store under report.html.",
                        "default": "both"
                    }
                }
            },
            "runsResponseSchema": {
                "type": "object",
                "properties": {
                    "data": {
                        "type": "object",
                        "properties": {
                            "id": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "actId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "userId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "startedAt": {
                                "type": "string",
                                "format": "date-time",
                                "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z"
                            },
                            "finishedAt": {
                                "type": "string",
                                "format": "date-time",
                                "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z"
                            },
                            "status": {
                                "type": "string",
                                "example": "READY"
                            },
                            "meta": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "origin": {
                                        "type": "string",
                                        "example": "API"
                                    },
                                    "userAgent": {
                                        "type": "string"
                                    }
                                }
                            },
                            "stats": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "inputBodyLen": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 2000
                                    },
                                    "rebootCount": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "restartCount": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "resurrectCount": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "computeUnits": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    }
                                }
                            },
                            "options": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "build": {
                                        "type": "string",
                                        "example": "latest"
                                    },
                                    "timeoutSecs": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 300
                                    },
                                    "memoryMbytes": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 1024
                                    },
                                    "diskMbytes": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 2048
                                    }
                                }
                            },
                            "buildId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "defaultKeyValueStoreId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "defaultDatasetId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "defaultRequestQueueId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "buildNumber": {
                                "type": "string",
                                "example": "1.0.0"
                            },
                            "containerUrl": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "usage": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATASET_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATASET_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 1
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "PROXY_SERPS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    }
                                }
                            },
                            "usageTotalUsd": {
                                "type": "number",
                                "example": 0.00005
                            },
                            "usageUsd": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATASET_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATASET_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "number",
                                        "example": 0.00005
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "PROXY_SERPS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    }
                                }
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}
```