The State of Secrets Sprawl report 2024 is now live!

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My IBM COS HMAC Credential leaked! What should I do?

What is a IBM COS HMAC Credential and how it is used?

An IBM COS HMAC Credential is a set of credentials used to authenticate and authorize access to data stored in IBM Cloud Object Storage (COS) using Hash-based Message Authentication Code (HMAC) for secure communication.

Here are the main use cases for IBM COS HMAC Credential:

  • Secure Access: IBM COS HMAC Credential is used to securely access and interact with IBM Cloud Object Storage (COS) resources. Developers can generate HMAC credentials to authenticate their applications and securely access the COS API.
  • Data Integrity: HMAC credentials are used to ensure data integrity during interactions with IBM COS. By using HMAC credentials, developers can verify that the data has not been tampered with or altered during transit.
  • Authorization: HMAC credentials are essential for authorizing access to specific resources within IBM COS. Developers can control and manage access permissions by using HMAC credentials to authenticate requests and enforce access control policies.

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1. Code snippets to prevent IBM COS HMAC Credential hardcoding using environment variables

Using environment variables for IBM COS HMAC credentials in your code 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, making it more difficult for attackers to access the credentials directly from the code.
  • Environment variables can be managed more securely on the server or deployment platform, allowing for better control over who has access to the credentials.

How to secure your secrets using environment variables

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2. Code snippet to prevent IBM COS HMAC Credential hardcoding using AWS Secrets Manager

Using AWS Secrets Manager to manage IBM COS HMAC Credentials is a secure way to handle sensitive data. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages that demonstrate how to retrieve the IBM COS HMAC Credential from AWS Secrets Manager.

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3. Code snippet to prevent IBM COS HMAC Credential hardcoding using HashiCorp Vault

Using HashiCorp Vault for managing IBM COS HMAC Credentials is a great way to enhance security. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages for securely handling a IBM COS HMAC Credential 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 IBM COS HMAC Credential 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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How to generate a IBM COS HMAC Credential?

To generate an IBM COS HMAC Credential, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your IBM Cloud account.
  2. Go to the IBM Cloud Object Storage (COS) dashboard.
  3. Click on the service instance for which you want to generate the HMAC Credential.
  4. In the left-hand menu, navigate to "Service Credentials."
  5. Click on "New Credential" to create a new set of credentials.
  6. Choose "HMAC" as the credential type.
  7. Click on "Add" to generate the HMAC Credential.

For more detailed information and step-by-step instructions, you can refer to the IBM Cloud documentation on generating HMAC Credentials for IBM COS here.

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My IBM COS HMAC Credential leaked, what are the possible reasons?

There are several reasons why an IBM COS HMAC Credential might have been leaked:

  • Improper storage: Storing the credential in a plaintext file or hardcoding it in the source code can make it vulnerable to leaks.
  • Weak access controls: Inadequate access controls or sharing the credential with unauthorized users can lead to leaks.
  • Logging or debugging information: If the credential is accidentally logged or included in debugging information, it can be exposed.
  • Phishing attacks: Social engineering attacks or phishing emails targeting developers can result in the credential being compromised.
  • Insufficient monitoring: Lack of monitoring for unusual access patterns or unauthorized usage of the credential can result in leaks going unnoticed.

What are the risks of leaking a IBM COS HMAC Credential

Developers must understand the risks associated with leaking an IBM COS HMAC Credential, as it can have serious consequences. Here are some specific risks:

  • Unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in IBM COS: If the HMAC Credential is leaked, malicious actors could potentially gain access to the data stored in IBM COS, compromising its confidentiality and integrity.
  • Financial implications: Leaking the HMAC Credential could lead to unauthorized usage of IBM COS services, resulting in unexpected charges and financial losses for the organization.
  • Reputation damage: A security breach caused by a leaked HMAC Credential can tarnish the organization's reputation and erode customer trust, leading to long-term negative impacts.
  • Data manipulation and loss: Malicious actors with access to the HMAC Credential may manipulate or delete data stored in IBM COS, causing data loss and operational disruptions.

It is crucial for developers to prioritize the secure management of credentials and implement robust security measures to prevent the leakage of sensitive information like IBM COS HMAC Credentials.

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IBM COS HMAC Credential security best practices

  • Avoid embedding the secret directly in your code. Instead, use environment variables or secrets managers
  • Secure storage: store the IBM COS HMAC Credential 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 IBM COS HMAC Credential usage and improve the overall security of your IBM COS HMAC Credential implementations.

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

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IBM COS HMAC Credential 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 IBM COS HMAC Credential was used by malicious actors

  • Review Access Logs: Check the access logs of your IBM COS HMAC Credential 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 IBM COS HMAC Credential. This can give insights into any unauthorized use of your key.

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Steps to revoke the IBM COS HMAC Credential

Generate a new IBM COS HMAC Credential:

  • Log into your IBM COS HMAC Credential 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 IBM COS HMAC Credential:

  • 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 IBM COS HMAC Credential.
  • 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. 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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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.

Hide
Show
child attributes

type

enum

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.

Hide
Show
child attributes

type

enum

For some errors that could be handled programmatically, a short string indicating the error code reported.

payment_intent

nullable object

The PaymentIntent object for errors returned on a request involving a PaymentIntent.

setup_intent

nullable object

The SetupIntent object for errors returned on a request involving a SetupIntent.

Hide
Show
child attributes

type

enum

For some errors that could be handled programmatically, a short string indicating the error code reported.

Hide
Show
child attributes

type

enum

For some errors that could be handled programmatically, a short string indicating the error code reported.

CLIENT LIBRARIES

$ gem install stripe
$ pip install stripe
$ composer require stripe/stripe-php
MAVEN
<dependency>
  <groupId>com.stripe</groupId>
  <artifactId>stripe-java</artifactId>
  <version>24.16.0</version>
</dependency>

GRADLE
compile "com.stripe:stripe-java:24.16.0"
$ npm install --save stripe
$ go get github.com/stripe/stripe-go/v76
$ nuget install Stripe.net
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