How to Apply RBAC to Cursor

Why rbac matters for Cursor

Many teams think that granting a single API token to Cursor automatically enforces role‑based access control. In reality the token is shared, and Cursor cannot differentiate who is issuing a request. The result is a flat permission model where any user who can invoke the assistant can read, modify, or delete code that should be restricted to a specific role. Without rbac, a junior engineer can inadvertently expose production secrets, and an automated script can execute privileged operations without any human oversight.

Most organizations already have the building blocks for a more granular model: they use OIDC or SAML identities, assign users to groups, and provision service accounts with the least‑privilege permissions required for a job. The system verifies those identities before a request reaches the backend, but the request still travels directly to Cursor. The gateway that sits between the user and the AI service does not inspect the payload, does not mask sensitive data in responses, and does not capture who ran which command. The missing piece is a data‑path enforcement layer that can apply rbac policies, request approvals, and audit every interaction.

Enforcing rbac with hoop.dev

hoop.dev sits in the data path between identities and the Cursor service. It acts as a Layer 7 gateway that proxies the HTTP calls made by the assistant. When a user authenticates via an OIDC provider, hoop.dev validates the token, extracts group membership, and maps those groups to rbac roles defined for Cursor. Because the gateway intercepts the request, it can enforce the following outcomes:

• Command‑level authorization: each API call is checked against the user’s rbac role before it is forwarded.
• Just‑in‑time approval: operations that exceed a role’s baseline permissions trigger an approval workflow, pausing the request until a designated approver grants consent.
• Inline data masking: responses that contain secrets are redacted in real time, ensuring that only authorized roles ever see sensitive fields.
• Session recording: every interaction is logged and replayable, giving auditors a complete picture of who did what and when.

hoop.dev provides all of these controls because it sits in the data path. The underlying identity system alone cannot provide them, and the Cursor service itself does not have built‑in rbac enforcement. By placing the gateway at the protocol layer, hoop.dev guarantees that no request can bypass the policy, even if a compromised client tries to talk directly to the service.

Implementation steps

The high‑level workflow to apply rbac to Cursor looks like this:

1. Deploy the hoop.dev gateway using the getting‑started guide. The quick‑start runs the gateway in Docker Compose and configures OIDC authentication out of the box.
2. Register Cursor as a protected connection in the hoop.dev console. Provide the endpoint URL and the service credential that the gateway will use to talk to Cursor; users never see this credential.
3. Define rbac roles in the hoop.dev policy UI. Map OIDC groups (for example, engineers‑prod or data‑scientists) to the set of Cursor operations they are allowed to invoke.
4. Configure approval policies for high‑risk actions such as code generation that writes to production repositories. hoop.dev will pause those calls and route them to the designated approver.
5. Enable inline masking for fields that contain API keys or database passwords. The gateway rewrites the response before it reaches the client.
6. Turn on session recording. hoop.dev records each session and retains the audit trail so you can query it later for audit purposes.

Once the gateway runs, every request to Cursor flows through hoop.dev, where hoop.dev automatically performs the rbac checks, approvals, masking, and recording.

FAQ

Does hoop.dev replace the need for identity providers?

No. hoop.dev relies on an OIDC or SAML provider to authenticate users. It adds a layer of enforcement on top of that identity, turning group membership into actionable rbac policies for Cursor.

Can I use hoop.dev with existing Cursor deployments?

Yes. The gateway works as a transparent proxy, so you point your client at the hoop.dev endpoint instead of the raw Cursor URL. The underlying service remains unchanged.

How does session recording help with compliance?

hoop.dev captures all interactions with user identity and timestamps. You can query this evidence to demonstrate who accessed which code generation feature, satisfying audit requirements for standards such as SOC 2.

For a complete walkthrough, see the learn section and the hoop.dev GitHub repository for the source code and contribution guide.