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Vet a developer by starting with a bounded diagnosis, asking them to explain their reasoning, and agreeing in writing how the repair will be tested and accepted. A confident promise to “fix it” is not evidence that the person understands your app or can change it safely.
Start with diagnosis, not a promised rewrite
Describe the symptom and ask how the developer would reproduce it, what information they need from you, and what they would inspect before proposing a fix. A sound first step is to examine the relevant code and dependencies, trace the affected data flow, and identify a likely cause. That is different from committing immediately to a broad rewrite.
Consider paying for a small diagnostic phase with defined outputs: the reproduction steps, a short explanation of the likely cause, proposed repair options, and any risks or scope changes. This is a practical hiring approach informed by secure code review principles; OWASP does not prescribe it as a hiring method. The diagnostic should end with your approval before substantial additional work begins.
Ask questions that reveal how they think
OWASP’s secure code review guidance emphasizes examining context such as architecture, requirements, data flows, authentication, authorization, business logic, dependencies, and configuration. Use questions like these to see whether a candidate can connect a bug to the parts of the app it may affect. These are interview prompts, not a validated screening test.
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- 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 could the proposed fix affect authentication, authorization, sensitive data, or existing business logic?
- What tests will show both that the reported problem is fixed and that nearby behavior still works?
- Will any third-party libraries or services change, and how will you disclose those changes?
- What will you deliver: code changes, test results, deployment or configuration notes, and a list of remaining risks?
- If the diagnosis changes the scope or uncovers a security issue, how will we pause and agree on next steps?
Listen for specific reasoning and a verification plan, not just tool names or assurances. OWASP notes that manual review can find context-sensitive issues automated tools may miss. A scan can contribute evidence, but it cannot establish by itself that the app is secure.
Request evidence, then verify what it means
Ask for a relevant example the candidate is permitted to discuss. Useful evidence describes the original problem, how it was investigated, what changed, how the result was verified, and what the developer learned. Ask them to explain trade-offs and decisions rather than treating a portfolio, code sample, or confident presentation as proof they can repair your particular app.
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If a candidate cites a security credential, check the issuing organization, current status, scope, and what the credential actually assesses. OWASP’s Certified Secure Developer page describes OCSD as a proposed foundation-level certification, not an established universal credential. Its page states: “Writing secure code != testing the security of code with tools.” Separately, OWASP says it does not certify vendors, verifiers, or software under its Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS). A credential or assessment claim should therefore be understood narrowly and verified at its source: OWASP Certified Secure Developer and OWASP ASVS: Assessment and Certification.
Compare a repair with an independent review
The developer fixing the bug and an independent reviewer serve different purposes. A repair is targeted at the reported problem; a separate review can assess the change or examine a broader security baseline. An independent reviewer may bring more separation from the implementation, while a repair developer is positioned to make the agreed change. Neither path guarantees that every issue will be found.
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| Decision point | Repair developer | Independent reviewer |
|---|---|---|
| Primary scope | Diagnose and implement the agreed change | Assess the repair or a broader scope of code and security controls |
| Independence | Implements the work being evaluated | Can assess work separately from its implementation |
| Useful evidence | Code changes, reproducible tests, and deployment notes | Written findings, review scope, and supporting evidence |
| Access | Access needed for diagnosis and implementation | Access needed for the agreed assessment scope |
| Cost and turnaround | Depends on scope and provider; no general benchmark is established | Depends on scope and provider; no general benchmark is established |
For an app involving sensitive data, payments, authentication, or consequential actions, consider whether the repair needs a separate security-focused review. Depending on the agreed scope, that review may examine custom code, third-party components, system configuration, security requirements, and documented findings. OWASP’s Secure Code Review Cheat Sheet explains why human review can complement automated analysis.
Put scope, access, and acceptance in writing
Before work begins, record the practical terms in an agreement appropriate to your location. Include:
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- The symptoms, desired outcome, and work explicitly out of scope.
- The diagnostic phase, assumptions behind any estimate, and the approval point before added work.
- Which repository, hosting, and production access is needed, who owns the accounts, and who controls credentials.
- Expected code changes, tests, review findings, dependency disclosures, and deployment notes.
- Acceptance checks that you can reproduce, 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 scope changes.
Grant only the access needed for the approved phase. Keep control of the app’s accounts and credentials, and retain a backup before changes are made. Ask the developer to report requested access and dependency changes rather than making unapproved changes silently. Accept the work against the agreed, reproducible checks and documented results.
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OWASP’s Secure Software Contract Annex is a framework for discussing negotiated security obligations and deliverables, not a ready-made universal contract. OWASP’s 2025 security-program guidance notes that the annex is for US contract law. It recommends qualified legal advice; have terms reviewed for the jurisdiction that applies to your agreement. See OWASP Top 10 2025: Establishing a Modern Application Security Program.
Best Value
Warning signs that call for a pause
- The developer promises a fix before asking how to reproduce the problem or inspecting the relevant code.
- They cannot explain how the change might affect data flows, access controls, business rules, or dependencies.
- They offer tool scans or a certificate as proof that the entire app is secure.
- They resist a written scope, approval point, or reproducible acceptance checks.
- They request broad account access without explaining why it is needed for the current phase.
- They will not document what changed, what was tested, or what risks remain.
Any one sign is a reason to ask for clarification, not automatic proof of incompetence. If the answer remains vague or the requested access exceeds the agreed work, pause before proceeding.
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