My Postmark Token leaked! What should I do?

What is a Postmark Token and how it is used?

A Postmark Token is a unique identifier provided by the Postmark email service that is used to authenticate and authorize API requests for sending emails.

When it comes to using the Postmark Token in development, there are three main use cases:

• Authentication: The Postmark Token is used for authenticating and authorizing requests to the Postmark API, ensuring that only authorized users can access and interact with the email delivery service.
• Email Sending: Developers use the Postmark Token to send transactional emails through the Postmark API, allowing for reliable and secure delivery of important messages to users.
• Tracking and Analytics: The Postmark Token enables developers to track email delivery metrics and analyze the performance of email campaigns, helping them optimize their communication strategies for better engagement and results.

How to generate a Postmark Token?

To generate a Postmark Token, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Postmark account.
2. Go to the "Account" section.
3. Click on "Tokens" in the left menu.
4. Click on the "Generate Token" button.
5. Enter a name for your token and select the permissions you want to grant.
6. Click on the "Create Token" button.

Your Postmark Token will be generated and displayed. Make sure to copy and securely store this token as it will be needed for authenticating API requests to Postmark.

My Postmark Token leaked, what are the possible reasons?

There are several reasons why a Postmark Token might have been leaked:

• Improper storage: If the token was stored in a public repository or in a file that was accessible to unauthorized users, it could have been leaked.
• Weak access controls: If the token was shared with individuals who did not have a legitimate need to access it, or if the access controls were not properly configured, it could have been leaked.
• Phishing attacks: If a developer fell victim to a phishing attack and unknowingly shared the token with a malicious actor, it could have been leaked.
• Accidental exposure: Developers may inadvertently include the token in logs, error messages, or other public-facing content, leading to its leakage.

What are the risks of leaking a Postmark Token

When it comes to the Postmark Token, it is crucial for developers to understand the risks associated with leaking this sensitive information. Here are some key points to consider:

• Postmark Tokens are used for authenticating and authorizing access to the Postmark email delivery service.
• Leaking a Postmark Token can lead to unauthorized access to your Postmark account, allowing attackers to send emails on your behalf.
• Attackers could abuse your Postmark account to send spam emails, phishing emails, or other malicious content, damaging your reputation and potentially leading to legal consequences.
• Exposing your Postmark Token in publicly accessible code repositories or configuration files can result in a data breach and compromise the security of your email communications.

By understanding these risks and following best practices for secret management, developers can help protect their Postmark Tokens and prevent unauthorized access to their Postmark accounts.

Postmark Token security best practices

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

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

Postmark Token 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 Postmark Token was used by malicious actors

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

Steps to revoke the Postmark Token

Generate a new Postmark Token:

• Log into your Postmark 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 Postmark 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.

How to understand which services will stop working

• Inventory of services: keep an inventory of all services and applications that utilize your Postmark 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.

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);
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• In CI environments (Circle CI, Travis CI, Jenkins CI, GitHub Actions, and many more);
• In Docker images.