My Basic Auth String leaked! What should I do?

What is a Basic Auth String and how it is used?

Basic Auth String is a method of authentication where a username and password are combined into a single string, separated by a colon, and then encoded in Base64 format. This string is typically included in the Authorization header of an HTTP request to authenticate the user.

Basic Auth String is used for:

Authentication: Basic Auth String is commonly used to authenticate users when accessing a web application or API. It involves sending a base64-encoded username and password in the HTTP headers to verify the identity of the user.
Access Control: Basic Auth String can be used to control access to specific resources or endpoints within an application. By requiring users to provide valid credentials in the Basic Auth String, developers can restrict access to sensitive information or functionality.
Integration with Third-Party Services: Basic Auth String is often used when integrating with third-party services or APIs that require authentication. By including the necessary credentials in the Basic Auth String, developers can securely communicate with external systems.

1. Code snippets to prevent Basic Auth String hardcoding using environment variables

Using environment variables for storing Basic Auth Strings in your code is a secure practice for the following reasons:

Environment variables are not hard-coded in your code, making it more difficult for attackers to access sensitive information.
Environment variables are stored outside of your codebase, reducing the risk of accidental exposure through version control or code sharing.
Environment variables can be managed securely by the system administrator, ensuring proper access control and encryption.
Environment variables are easy to update without changing the code, allowing for quick rotation of credentials in case of a security breach.

How to secure your secrets using environment variables

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import os

basic_auth_string_host = os.getenv('BASIC_AUTH_STRING_HOST')
basic_auth_string_password = os.getenv('BASIC_AUTH_STRING_PASSWORD')
basic_auth_string_username = os.getenv('BASIC_AUTH_STRING_USERNAME')

2. Code snippet to prevent Basic Auth String hardcoding using AWS Secrets Manager

Using AWS Secrets Manager to manage Basic Auth Strings is a secure way to handle sensitive data. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages that demonstrate how to retrieve the Basic Auth String from AWS Secrets Manager.

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import botocore 
import botocore.session 
from aws_secretsmanager_caching import SecretCache, SecretCacheConfig 

client = botocore.session.get_session().create_client('secretsmanager')
cache_config = SecretCacheConfig()
cache = SecretCache( config = cache_config, client = client)

basicauthstring = cache.get_secret_string('BASICAUTHSTRING')

3. Code snippet to prevent Basic Auth String hardcoding using HashiCorp Vault

Using HashiCorp Vault for managing Basic Auth Strings is a great way to enhance security. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages for securely handling a Basic Auth String using HashiCorp Vault.

Remember to replace the VAULT_ADDR and VAULT_TOKEN with your Vault server address and authentication token. The snippets assume that the Basic Auth String is stored under the api_key field within Vault. The specifics of the Vault path and field names should be adjusted to match your Vault setup.

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import hvac
import os

# Get the Vault URL and token from environment variables
VAULT_URL = os.getenv('VAULT_URL')
VAULT_TOKEN = os.getenv('VAULT_TOKEN')
VAULT_PATH = os.getenv('VAULT_PATH')

# Create connection
client = hvac.Client(url=VAULT_URL, token=VAULT_TOKEN)

# Read the secret
BASIC_AUTH_STRING = client.secrets.kv.v2.read_secret_version(path=VAULT_PATH)['data']['data']['BASIC_AUTH_STRING']

4. Code snippet to prevent Basic Auth String hardcoding using CyberArk Conjur

Using CyberArk Conjur to manage Basic Auth String is a secure way to handle sensitive data. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages that demonstrate how to retrieve the Basic Auth String from CyberArk Conjur.

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import requests
import os


# CyberArk credentials
ID_TENANT_URL = os.getenv("ID_TENANT_URL")
PRIVATE_CLOUD_URL = os.getenv("PRIVATE_CLOUD_URL")
PAM_USER = os.getenv("PAM_USER")
PAM_PASS = os.getenv("PAM_PASS")


def get_auth_token() -> tuple[str, str]:
    url = f"{ID_TENANT_URL}/oauth2/platformtoken"
    response = requests.post(
        url,
        data={
            "grant_type": "client_credentials",
            "client_id": PAM_USER,
            "client_secret": PAM_PASS,
        },
    )  # Use verify=True in production
    if response.status_code == 200:
        data = response.json()
        return data["token_type"], data["access_token"]
    else:
        raise Exception(
            f"Failed to authenticate: {response.status_code} {response.text}"
        )


def get_account_id(account_name: str) -> str:
    token_type, access_token = get_auth_token()
    url = f"{PRIVATE_CLOUD_URL}/PasswordVault/API/Accounts"
    headers = {"Authorization": f"{token_type} {access_token}"}
    response = requests.get(url, params={"search": account_name}, headers=headers)
    if response.status_code == 200:
        accounts = response.json()["value"]
        return accounts[0]["id"]
    else:
        raise Exception(
            f"Failed to get account: {response.status_code} {response.text}"
        )


def get_secret(secret_name: str) -> str:
    token_type, access_token = get_auth_token()
    account_id = get_account_id(secret_name)
    url = (
        f"{PRIVATE_CLOUD_URL}/PasswordVault/API/Accounts/{account_id}/Password/Retrieve"
    )
    headers = {"Authorization": f"{token_type} {access_token}"}
    response = requests.post(
        url, json={"reason": "automatic retrieval"}, headers=headers
    )
    if response.status_code == 200:
        return response.text
    else:
        raise Exception(f"Failed to get secret: {response.status_code} {response.text}")


BASIC_AUTH_STRING = get_secret("BASIC_AUTH_STRING")

How to generate a Basic Auth String?

To generate a Basic Auth String, developers need to follow these steps:

Concatenate the username and password with a colon (e.g. "username:password").
Encode the concatenated string using Base64 encoding.
Prepend the encoded string with "Basic " to form the Basic Auth String (e.g. "Basic base64EncodedString").

My Basic Auth String leaked, what are the possible reasons?

There are several reasons why a Basic Auth String might have been leaked:

1. Hardcoding: Developers sometimes hardcode sensitive information, such as Basic Auth Strings, directly into their code or configuration files, making it easier for attackers to access.
2. Version Control: Storing sensitive information, including Basic Auth Strings, in version control systems like Git without proper precautions can lead to accidental exposure.
3. Logging: Insecure logging practices may inadvertently include Basic Auth Strings in log files, which can be accessed by unauthorized users.
4. Third-Party Services: Integrating with third-party services that require Basic Auth Strings without securely managing and protecting them can increase the risk of leakage.
5. Code Reviews: Lack of thorough code reviews or security audits may overlook the presence of Basic Auth Strings in the codebase, leaving them vulnerable to discovery.

What are the risks of leaking a Basic Auth String

When it comes to Basic Auth String, it is crucial for developers to understand the risks associated with leaking this sensitive information. Below are some specific risks to be aware of:

Unauthorized Access: If a Basic Auth String is leaked, unauthorized individuals could potentially gain access to protected resources or sensitive data.
Data Breaches: Leaking a Basic Auth String could lead to a data breach, exposing user credentials, personal information, or other confidential data.
Security Vulnerabilities: Exposing a Basic Auth String can create security vulnerabilities in the application, making it susceptible to attacks such as man-in-the-middle or brute force attacks.
Reputation Damage: A data breach or security incident resulting from a leaked Basic Auth String can severely damage the reputation of the developer, organization, or application.

It is important for developers to implement proper secret management practices and ensure that Basic Auth Strings are securely stored and transmitted. Regularly auditing and monitoring for any potential leaks or unauthorized access to these sensitive credentials is also essential in maintaining a secure application environment.

Basic Auth String security best practices

Avoid embedding the secret directly in your code. Instead, use environment variables or secrets managers‍
Secure storage: store the Basic Auth String in a secure location, such as a password manager or a secrets management service.
Regular rotation: periodically rotate the API key to minimize the risk of long-term exposure.
Restrict permissions: apply the principle of least privilege by only granting the key the minimum necessary permissions.
Monitor usage: regularly check the usage logs for any unusual activity or unauthorized access attempts.
Implement access controls: limit the number of users who have access to the secret and enforce strong authentication measures.
Use a secrets manager: utilize secret management tools like CyberArk or AWS Secrets Manager for enhanced security.

By adhering to the best practices, you can significantly reduce the risk associated with Basic Auth String usage and improve the overall security of your Basic Auth String implementations.

Exposing secrets on GitHub: What to do after leaking Credential and API keys

Basic Auth String leak remediation: what to do

What to do if you expose a secret: How to stay calm and respond to an incident [cheat sheet included]

How to check if Basic Auth String was used by malicious actors

Review Access Logs: Check the access logs of your Basic Auth String account for any unauthorized access or unusual activity. Pay particular attention to access from unfamiliar IP addresses (if you haven’t set up a specific allow list) or at odd hours.
Monitor Usage Patterns: Look for anomalies in the usage patterns, such as unexpected spikes in data access or transfer.
Check Active Connections and Operations: Review the list of active connections and recent operations on your database. Unusual or unauthorized operations might indicate malicious use.
Audit API Usage: If possible, audit the usage of your API key through any logging or monitoring services you have integrated with Basic Auth String. This can give insights into any unauthorized use of your key.

Steps to revoke the Basic Auth String

Generate a new Basic Auth String:

Log into your Basic Auth String account.
Navigate to the API section and generate a new API key.

Update Services with the new key:

Replace the compromised key with the new key in all your services that use this API key.
Ensure all your applications and services are updated with the new key before deactivating the old one.

Deactivate the old Basic Auth String:

Once the new key is in place and everything is functioning correctly, deactivate the old API key.
This can typically be done from the same section where you generated the new key.

Monitor after key rotation:

After deactivating the old key, monitor your systems closely to ensure that all services are running smoothly and that there are no unauthorized access attempts.

How to understand which services will stop working

Inventory of services: keep an inventory of all services and applications that utilize your Basic Auth String.
Communication and documentation: Ensure that your team is aware of which services are dependent on the key. Maintain documentation for quick reference.
Testing: before deactivating the old key, test your services with the new key in a staging environment. This helps in identifying any services that might face issues post rotation.
Fallback strategies: Have a fallback or emergency plan in case a critical service fails after the key rotation. This might include temporary measures or quick rollback procedures.

In summary, the remediation process involves identifying potential misuse, carefully rotating the key, and ensuring minimal disruption to services. Being proactive and having a well-documented process can greatly reduce the risks associated with a compromised API key.

What about other secrets?

GitGuardian helps developers keep 350+ types of secrets out of source code. GitGuardian’s automated secrets detection and remediation solution secure every step of the development lifecycle, from code to cloud:

On developer workstations with git hooks (pre-commit and pre-push);
On code sharing platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket;
In CI environments (Circle CI, Travis CI, Jenkins CI, GitHub Actions, and many more);
In Docker images.

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CLIENT LIBRARIES

$ gem install stripe

STRIPE-RUBY

$ pip install stripe

STRIPE-PYTHON

$ composer require stripe/stripe-php

STRIPE-PHP

MAVEN
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  <artifactId>stripe-java</artifactId>
  <version>24.16.0</version>
</dependency>

GRADLE
compile "com.stripe:stripe-java:24.16.0"

STRIPE-NODE

$ npm install --save stripe

STRIPE-NODE

$ go get github.com/stripe/stripe-go/v76

STRIPE-NODE

$ nuget install Stripe.net

STRIPE-NODE

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