šŸ“Š NEW! Voice of Practitioners 2024: The State of Secrets in AppSec

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šŸ“Š NEW! Voice of Practitioners 2024: The State of Secrets in AppSec

READ REPORT
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My Neo4j Credential leaked! What should I do?

What is a Neo4j Credential and how it is used?

A Neo4j Credential is a set of credentials used to authenticate and access a Neo4j database, typically consisting of a username and password.

Here are the main use cases for Neo4j Credential:

  • Securely store and manage sensitive information such as passwords, API keys, and other credentials.
  • Authenticate and authorize access to Neo4j databases, ensuring only authorized users can interact with the data.
  • Facilitate secure communication between different components of an application by providing a secure way to exchange credentials.

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1. Code snippets to prevent Neo4j Credential hardcoding using environment variables

Using environment variables for Neo4j credentials in your code is a secure practice because:

  • Environment variables are not hard-coded in the codebase, reducing the risk of accidental exposure.
  • Environment variables are stored outside of the code repository, making it more difficult for attackers to access the credentials.
  • Environment variables can be easily managed and rotated without changing the code, enhancing security maintenance.

How to secure your secrets using environment variables

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2. Code snippet to prevent Neo4j Credential hardcoding using AWS Secrets Manager

Using AWS Secrets Manager to manage Neo4j Credentials is a secure way to handle sensitive data. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages that demonstrate how to retrieve the Neo4j Credential from AWS Secrets Manager.

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3. Code snippet to prevent Neo4j Credential hardcoding using HashiCorp Vault

Using HashiCorp Vault for managing Neo4j Credentials is a great way to enhance security. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages for securely handling a Neo4j 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 Neo4j 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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4. Code snippet to prevent Neo4j Credential hardcoding using CyberArk Conjur

Using CyberArk Conjur to manage Neo4j Credential is a secure way to handle sensitive data. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages that demonstrate how to retrieve the Neo4j Credential from CyberArk Conjur.

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How to generate a Neo4j Credential?

To generate a Neo4j credential, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your Neo4j instance.
  2. Click on the "Manage" tab.
  3. Under the "Security" section, select "Credentials".
  4. Click on the "Generate Credential" button.
  5. Enter a username and password for the new credential.
  6. Click "Save" to generate the credential.

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My Neo4j Credential leaked, what are the possible reasons?

There are several reasons why a Neo4j Credential might have been leaked:

  • Weak or easily guessable passwords
  • Storing credentials in plain text files or code repositories
  • Sharing credentials with unauthorized individuals
  • Accidental exposure through misconfigured permissions
  • Failure to regularly update or rotate credentials

What are the risks of leaking a Neo4j Credential

When it comes to Neo4j credentials, it is crucial for developers to understand the risks associated with leaking them. Neo4j credentials typically consist of a username and password that provide access to the Neo4j database. If these credentials are leaked, either intentionally or unintentionally, it can lead to serious security vulnerabilities and risks, including:

  • Unauthorized access to the Neo4j database: Leaking Neo4j credentials can allow unauthorized individuals to access and potentially manipulate sensitive data stored in the database.
  • Data breaches: Once unauthorized access is gained, attackers can steal, modify, or delete data, leading to data breaches and compliance violations.
  • Data manipulation: Attackers with access to the database can manipulate data, leading to inaccurate or fraudulent information being stored or retrieved.
  • Reputation damage: A data breach or unauthorized access due to leaked credentials can severely damage the reputation of the organization, leading to loss of trust from customers and stakeholders.
  • Legal implications: Depending on the nature of the leaked data and the regulations applicable to the organization, there may be legal consequences and penalties for failing to protect sensitive information.

Therefore, it is essential for developers to prioritize the protection of Neo4j credentials by implementing secure storage mechanisms, using encryption, and following best practices for secret management to prevent leaks and unauthorized access.

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Neo4j Credential security best practices

  • Avoid embedding the secret directly in your code. Instead, use environment variables or secrets managersā€
  • Secure storage: store the Neo4j 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 Neo4j Credential usage and improve the overall security of your Neo4j Credential implementations.

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

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Neo4j 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 Neo4j Credential was used by malicious actors

  • Review Access Logs: Check the access logs of your Neo4j Credential account for any unauthorized access or unusual activity. Pay particular attention to access from unfamiliar IP addresses (if you havenā€™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 Neo4j Credential. This can give insights into any unauthorized use of your key.

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Steps to revoke the Neo4j Credential

Generate a new Neo4j Credential:

  • Log into your Neo4j 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 Neo4j 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 Neo4j 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. GitGuardianā€™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
SHOW
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