Overview
This article explains why credentials may appear in clear text within browser developer tools during a login attempt. When inspecting network traffic using browser developer tools, the username and password submitted via a POST request to the /login endpoint might appear in clear text, raising security concerns.
Applies To
- Security
- Web Browsers
Solution
This behavior does not represent a security vulnerability. The browser’s developer tools show a local representation of the POST request before encryption occurs. The complete request, including credentials, is securely encrypted via HTTPS before transmission over the network. Intercepted traffic remains protected and cannot be deciphered without the appropriate decryption keys.