Does deleting the file remove it from git history?

No. The value remains in prior commits and is recoverable by cloning the history. Rotation is the only way to be sure it's dead.

Do you scan full git history or just the current tree?

We scan the current tree always, and the commit history when it's available (zip uploads that ship a .git, or a git-URL scan with the 'scan my full git history' option enabled). Git-URL scans skip the deep pass by default for speed.

What's the fix for a secret already in history?

Rotate the key first, then consider history rewriting (e.g. filter-repo) if the repo is private and you can coordinate collaborators.

Secrets in code

Secrets in Git History Check — Are Deleted Keys Still Recoverable?

DevMeth checks the 48 known AI-code failure patterns — not a penetration test or a security guarantee.

What the issue is

A secret you deleted from code may still be sitting in git history, where cloning the repo — or the full history after a breach — hands it back to anyone. Deleting a line never removes the value from past commits.

Why AI tools generate it

AI-generated projects often have multiple quick iterations, so a key pasted in the first commit and 'fixed' in a later one lives on in history for the life of the repository.

How DevMeth detects it

A git-history scan (gitleaks, pinned) walks the commit history of your repository for the same secret formats as the tree scan, flagging values that exist only in old commits.

What a finding looks like

Critical

Deleted secrets are still recoverable from your git history

WHAT WE FOUND

commit abc123f — "add stripe secret" — rk_live_…Xy9z (masked)

Sample — illustrative and masked exactly as a real report shows it. Run a free scan to see your own results.

The fix, in three steps

Because a historic secret is already public, rotate it in the provider console, then optionally rewrite history. Our fix prompt spells out the rotation-first order in three steps.

Run a free scan and each finding carries a paste-ready fix prompt you can act on.

Try a free scan

FAQ

DevMeth checks the 48 known AI-code failure patterns — not a penetration test or a security guarantee. A clear result means each known pattern was checked and found clear or not applicable for your app; it is not a guarantee of security.