Contents
Where should you store API keys?
Instead of embedding your API keys in your applications, store them in environment variables or in files outside of your application’s source tree. Do not store API keys in files inside your application’s source tree.
How do you save a secret on a server?
Storing API keys & secrets on servers
- encrypt them & store in the database (decrypt them when used)
- encrypt them & store them on a flat-file on the server (decrypt them when used)
- store them on a separate server with tighter security, and make a call to get the creds.
Should I Store API key in database?
The reason we need to store API keys is to make sure that the API key in the request is valid and issued by us (just like a password). A hashed value means that even if someone gains unauthorised access to our database, no API keys are leaked and it’s all safe.
Where are database API keys stored?
API keys are stored in your database, but they are also stored in whatever client is using the password.
How do you store a secret key?
1 Answer
- Create a key pair at your server, store public and private keys.
- Include the public key in your application;
- The application uses a secure random generator to create an AES key;
- The data is encrypted using CBC and PKCS#7 padding, also include a HMAC (possibly with yet another random AES key);
Where can I store JWT secrets?
To reiterate, whatever you do, don’t store a JWT in local storage (or session storage). If any of the third-party scripts you include in your page is compromised, it can access all your users’ tokens. To keep them secure, you should always store JWTs inside an httpOnly cookie.
Where to store a server side encryption key?
Type in the encryption key when you start up, store it in memory. This protects against offline attacks (unless they capture the key out of RAM, which is tougher to do). Similar to the option above, but also different. However, the server boots into an unusuable state, requiring you to manually supply the key before work can be done.
What happens if you store a secret on your computer?
You just allowed an important secret to be spread on every developer’s computer (or external drives), on your source control provider’s storage, on your CI provider’s server, etc. This highly increases the risk that this secret could leak.
What happens if a server’s secret is leaked?
It provides a mechanism for your server verify that the token that was provided to it is genuine and was supplied by your server. The signature generated via your secret is what provides for this. So, yes, if your secret is leaked somehow, that individual can generate tokens that your server would think are its own.
Which is the best way to store API keys?
This is obviously the most convenient method. You write your API key in your code as a constant, you then push it to your source control, and voilà! But, it’s also the least safe method.