The State of Secrets Sprawl report 2024 is now live!

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My Plaid Key leaked! What should I do?

What is a Plaid Key and how it is used?

A Plaid Key is a unique identifier used to authenticate and authorize access to Plaid's API services. It is a crucial component in securely managing and protecting sensitive information exchanged between applications and Plaid's platform.

Here are the main use cases for the Plaid Key:

  • Securely authenticate and authorize API requests to Plaid services
  • Access and retrieve financial data from users' bank accounts
  • Integrate Plaid services into applications for financial data analysis and insights

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1. Code snippets to prevent Plaid Key hardcoding using environment variables

Using environment variables for storing sensitive information like Plaid API keys is a secure practice because:

  • Environment variables are not hard-coded in the codebase, reducing the risk of accidental exposure in version control systems.
  • Environment variables are stored outside of the codebase, making it more difficult for attackers to access them directly.
  • Environment variables can be easily managed and updated without changing the code, enhancing security and maintainability.

How to secure your secrets using environment variables

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2. Code snippet to prevent Plaid Key hardcoding using AWS Secrets Manager

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

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3. Code snippet to prevent Plaid Key hardcoding using HashiCorp Vault

Using HashiCorp Vault for managing Plaid Keys is a great way to enhance security. Here are code snippets in five different programming languages for securely handling a Plaid Key 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 Plaid Key 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 Plaid Key?

To generate a Plaid API key, developers need to sign up for a Plaid account on the Plaid website. Once signed up and logged in, they can follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Dashboard and select the "Keys" tab.
  2. Click on the "Create API Key" button.
  3. Choose the product access level for the key (development, production, or both).
  4. Click on the "Generate Key" button to create the API key.

After generating the API key, developers can use it to authenticate their applications with the Plaid API and access the desired functionalities. It's important to keep the API key secure and not expose it in public repositories or client-side code.

For more information and detailed instructions on generating a Plaid API key, developers can refer to the official Plaid documentation: Plaid Quickstart Guide.

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My Plaid Key leaked, what are the possible reasons?

There are several reasons why a Plaid Key might have been leaked:

  • Improper storage: If the Plaid Key was stored in a plaintext file or hardcoded in the code, it could have been easily accessed by unauthorized parties.
  • Weak access controls: Inadequate access controls on the system or repository where the Plaid Key was stored could have allowed unauthorized users to view or extract the key.
  • Phishing attacks: Developers or team members could have fallen victim to phishing attacks, leading to the disclosure of sensitive information such as the Plaid Key.
  • Malware or hacking: If the developer's system was compromised by malware or hacking attempts, the Plaid Key could have been stolen along with other sensitive data.
  • Insufficient security training: Lack of awareness or training on secure coding practices and the importance of protecting secrets could have led to the inadvertent leakage of the Plaid Key.

What are the risks of leaking a Plaid Key

Developers must understand the critical importance of safeguarding the Plaid Key, as its leakage can pose significant risks to the security of the system and the sensitive data it handles. Below are some key points to consider:

  • Unauthorized Access: If the Plaid Key is leaked, malicious actors can gain unauthorized access to sensitive financial data, compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the information.
  • Data Breaches: A leaked Plaid Key can lead to data breaches, resulting in financial losses, reputational damage, and legal implications for the organization.
  • Financial Losses: Unauthorized access to financial data through a leaked Plaid Key can result in financial losses for both the organization and its customers.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Failure to protect the Plaid Key can lead to non-compliance with industry regulations and data protection laws, exposing the organization to penalties and legal consequences.
  • Reputation Damage: A security incident caused by a leaked Plaid Key can severely damage the organization's reputation, leading to loss of customer trust and business opportunities.

It is crucial for developers to implement robust security measures to protect the Plaid Key and ensure that it is securely managed and accessed only by authorized personnel. By raising awareness about the risks associated with leaking the Plaid Key, developers can contribute to a more secure and resilient system architecture.

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Plaid Key security best practices

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

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

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Plaid Key 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 Plaid Key was used by malicious actors

  • Review Access Logs: Check the access logs of your Plaid Key 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 Plaid Key. This can give insights into any unauthorized use of your key.

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Steps to revoke the Plaid Key

Generate a new Plaid Key:

  • Log into your Plaid Key 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 Plaid Key:

  • 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 Plaid Key.
  • 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
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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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