My Hugging Face user access token leaked! What should I do?
What is a Hugging Face user access token and how it is used?
A Hugging Face user access token is a unique string of characters that grants authorized access to the Hugging Face platform, allowing users to interact with the API and perform various tasks such as training models, deploying models, and accessing datasets.
Here are the main use cases for the Hugging Face user access token:
Authentication: The user access token is used to authenticate users and grant them access to Hugging Face's services and resources.
Authorization: It is used to authorize specific actions or operations that a user can perform within the Hugging Face platform, based on their permissions and roles.
API Calls: Developers use the user access token to make API calls to interact with Hugging Face's models, datasets, and other features securely and efficiently.
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1. Code snippets to prevent Hugging Face user access token hardcoding using environment variables
Using environment variables for storing sensitive information such as user access tokens is a secure practice for several reasons:
Environment variables are not hard-coded in the codebase, reducing the risk of accidental exposure through version control systems or code reviews.
Environment variables are stored outside of the codebase and are not accessible to unauthorized users who may have access to the source code.
Environment variables can be easily managed and updated without the need to modify the code, making it easier to rotate tokens and maintain security.
2. Code snippet to prevent Hugging Face user access token hardcoding using AWS Secrets Manager
Using AWS Secrets Manager to manage Hugging Face user access tokens is a secure way to handle sensitive data. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages that demonstrate how to retrieve the Hugging Face user access token from AWS Secrets Manager.
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3. Code snippet to prevent Hugging Face user access token hardcoding using HashiCorp Vault
Using HashiCorp Vault for managing Hugging Face user access tokens is a great way to enhance security. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages for securely handling a Hugging Face user access token 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 Hugging Face user access token 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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4. Code snippet to prevent Hugging Face user access token hardcoding using CyberArk Conjur
Using CyberArk Conjur to manage Hugging Face user access token is a secure way to handle sensitive data. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages that demonstrate how to retrieve the Hugging Face user access token from CyberArk Conjur.
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How to generate a Hugging Face user access token?
To generate a Hugging Face user access token, developers can follow these steps:
Go to the Hugging Face website and sign in to your account.
Click on your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
In the settings page, navigate to the "API" section.
Click on the "Generate API token" button to create a new access token.
Copy the generated access token and securely store it for future use in your applications.
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My Hugging Face user access token leaked, what are the possible reasons?
There are several reasons why a Hugging Face user access token might have been leaked:
1. Insecure storage: Storing the access token in plain text in code repositories, configuration files, or logs can lead to accidental exposure.
2. Vulnerabilities in the application: If the application has security vulnerabilities such as injection attacks or misconfigured permissions, it can result in access token leakage.
3. Phishing attacks: Users might fall victim to phishing attacks where they unknowingly provide their access token to malicious actors.
4. Third-party integrations: If the access token is shared with third-party services or libraries that are not secure, it can lead to leakage.
What are the risks of leaking a Hugging Face user access token
When it comes to secret management, it is crucial for developers to understand the risks associated with leaking a Hugging Face user access token. Here are some specific risks related to this token:
Unauthorized Access: If a Hugging Face user access token is leaked, unauthorized individuals may gain access to the user's account and sensitive data.
Data Breach: Leaking the access token can lead to a potential data breach, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of the user's information.
Abuse of Resources: Attackers could misuse the access token to perform malicious actions, such as making unauthorized API calls or tampering with the user's data.
Reputation Damage: A security incident resulting from a leaked access token can tarnish the reputation of the user and the organization associated with the token.
It is essential for developers to implement robust secret management practices and be vigilant about protecting access tokens to mitigate these risks and ensure the security of their applications and users.
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Hugging Face user access token security best practices
Avoid embedding the secret directly in your code. Instead, use environment variables or secrets managersā
Secure storage: store the Hugging Face user access token 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 Hugging Face user access token usage and improve the overall security of your Hugging Face user access token implementations.
How to check if Hugging Face user access token was used by malicious actors
Review Access Logs: Check the access logs of your Hugging Face user access token account for any unauthorized access or unusual activity. Pay particular attention to access from unfamiliar IP addresses (if you havenāt 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 Hugging Face user access token. This can give insights into any unauthorized use of your key.
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Steps to revoke the Hugging Face user access token
Generate a new Hugging Face user access token:
Log into your Hugging Face user access token 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 Hugging Face user access token:
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.
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How to understand which services will stop working
Inventory of services: keep an inventory of all services and applications that utilize your Hugging Face user access token.
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.
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What about other secrets?
GitGuardian helps developers keep 350+ types of secrets out of source code. GitGuardianās 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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Environment Variables
Environment Variables
Environment Variables
charge
nullable string
For card errors, the ID of the failed charge.
payment_method_type
nullable string
If the error is specific to the type of payment method, the payment method type that had a problem. This field is only populated for invoice-related errors.
doc_url
nullable string
A URL to more information about the error code reported.
request_log_url
nullable string
A URL to the request log entry in your dashboard.
charge
nullable string
If the error is specific to the type of payment method, the payment method type that had a problem. This field is only populated for invoice-related errors.
For some errors that could be handled programmatically, a short string indicating the error code reported.
charge
nullable string
If the error is specific to the type of payment method, the payment method type that had a problem. This field is only populated for invoice-related errors.