Welcome, code sorcerers, to a realm where secrets aren't just confined to source code - they venture into artifacts, and containers, and even dance through build logs, creating a symphony of chaos. They make their way into Confluence, Jira, and several other developer systems and tools. Code is often kept private and guarded by other security measures, but containers and artifacts are sometimes inadvertently made public, posing a bigger risk to the secrets in these resources being exploited. Recognizing the extensive presence of secrets in your environment and the impact of even one leaked secret calls for a more comprehensive approach to secret scanning and management.

It Only Takes One Secret

Misconfigured CI systems and secrets mishandled in Docker images can turn this playground into a battleground, where secrets might accidentally reveal themselves to the world. The drama unfolds when these containers and artifacts, thought to be safe, take an unexpected stage dive into the public eye, putting your secrets at risk. Recent incidents serve as stark reminders of the dangers that secrets can pose and how code exposure can result in even more devastating outcomes if secrets are present. A number of high-profile security incidents and breaches in the past couple of years highlight the extreme risk that secrets in code can pose.

Toyota: An Accidental Upload Led to A 5-Year Data Exposure

The Toyota data breach serves as a stark reminder that secrets aren’t safe in private repositories. When a subcontractor working for Toyota accidentally uploaded source code to his own public repo, the credentials for a database containing customer information present in the code were made publicly accessible. This stayed online for 5 years, allowing anyone access to this sensitive information.

Codecov: A Google Cloud Storage Key Slipped Through The Cracks

The Codecov software supply chain attack affected thousands of users who downloaded a malicious version of Codecov’s Bash Uploader script that extracted users’ sensitive information. But how was the attacker able to alter and upload the malicious script? It seems that they managed to extract Codecov’s Google Cloud storage key from a public docker image.

Uber: A GitHub Repo Opens The Floodgates to A Teen

The infamous 2016 Uber data breach started with an 18-year-old attacker gaining access to a private Uber GitHub repository, but all the damage that followed was made possible due to the fact the repository contained hard-coded credentials. The attackers discovered that the developers had committed Amazon Web Services (AWS) credentials. With these credentials, the hackers were able to access a treasure trove of sensitive data, including the personal information of millions of users and drivers.

Unlike many vulnerabilities, exposed secrets pose an immediate data security risk, whether it’s your own internal data or your customers’. The damage is immediate and in many cases doesn’t require much more than the secret itself. The scale of this issue far exceeds the awareness of many organizations that put 100% of the focus on application security, underscoring the critical need to address the risk that secrets in code and other developer assets can have on their data.

How To Get It Right

A trustworthy secrets scanner should lean towards maintaining a zero-risk policy of missing genuine secrets but with the ability to provide solutions for quickly analyzing and triaging to optimize efficiency. A well-implemented secrets discovery and protection solution holds an array of benefits, empowering organizations to protect sensitive internal and customer data to secure their SDLCs and uphold regulatory requirements. When properly executed, it promotes the swift and secure release of software, enabling developers to focus on innovation without compromising security.

For an in-depth look at what to look for in a secrets scanner, read Best Practices for Securing Secrets in Software Development.

Legit Security: Solving the Secrets Conundrum

It’s imperative for organizations to recognize the problem that secrets can pose and take proactive steps to fortify their defenses. Legit Security offers a comprehensive secrets management solution with the tools and capabilities needed to tackle this critical issue head-on. With the capability to scan a wide array of secret types across every facet of your CI/CD resources, it ensures a comprehensive and continuous approach to secrets management. To delve deeper into how Legit can enhance your organization’s security posture, we invite you to request a complimentary Rapid Threat Assessment.