Let’s move away from API keys!

API Key Management

This is the first part of a series on security practices in Azure.

That’s a pretty scary statement, it means that the service is being misused and data is being actively stolen.

Let’s take a look at why the API key concept is problematic and how to get out of it.

Are you having trouble using your API key?

API keys are really convenient to use. Once you receive the key and communicate with the API, wouldn’t you be able to have a productive and happy day?

From a developer perspective, it’s definitely a great experience, it’s fast and it works well.

// Define the API endpoint and the API key
const apiEndpoint="https://api.example.com/data";
const apiKey = 'your_api_key_here';

// Function to call the API
async function fetchData() {
    try {
        const response = await fetch(apiEndpoint, {
            method: 'GET',
            headers: {
                'Content-Type': 'application/json',
                'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}`
            }
        });

        if (!response.ok) {
            throw new Error(`HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
        }

        const data = await response.json();
        console.log(data);
    } catch (error) {
        console.error('Error fetching data:', error);
    }
}

// Call the function to fetch data
fetchData();

However, there are some security drawbacks.

Using API keys can pose several security risks if not managed properly. Here are some of the main issues:

exposure

API keys can accidentally be exposed on public repositories like GitHub, leading to unauthorized access. This is a common problem when keys are hardcoded into source code.

But can’t you change your API key frequently?

that Decrease Turning the key is dangerous, but there are other problems as well. If you use this key, Often happens Full access to the API or more access than intended.

Static characteristics:

API keys are often static, meaning they don’t change unless you manually update them. This means they can be misused if they fall into the wrong hands.

As soon as we knew they were exposed I turned the key, that’s for sure. Is it enough?

There may be a script running all the time, scanning large repositories, and harvesting keys in a matter of minutes. Do you know how long it was exposed? Think about how much damage the bad actor could have done in that time.

Lack of detailed control

API keys typically provide broad access to an API, but lack the fine-grained permissions that more secure methods like OAuth provide.

I can generate different types of keys for different parts of the API. Is there no API?

yes, You can do that, but there is a solution that makes it easier to create users, groups, and permissions. A common security adage is, “If you’re not a security company, don’t do security yourself.”.

mensecure storage

Storing your API keys in unsecure locations, such as within your app code or in unencrypted files, can make it easy for malicious actors to extract your API keys.

Secret Diffusion

API keys can be spread across multiple apps and services, increasing the risk of exposure and making them difficult to manage and secure effectively.

Yes, API keys can be reused for multiple purposes. location, Rotating your API keys quickly enough can be a hassle depending on how you set them up.

This leads to the following:

Okay, so what does all this lead to? And why is this so important?

From a security perspective, these issues can lead to:

• Data Breach: Compromised API keys can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data.
• Escalation of privileges: An attacker can use the exposed key to gain higher levels of access within the system.
• Service interruption: Malicious use of API keys can result in: denial of service Attack or other disruptive action.

How do I solve this?

To mitigate these risks, we recommend using dynamic credentials:

• OOTI An open standard for access delegation.. OAuth allows users to authorize third-party applications to access their information in other services without sharing their credentials. Instead of sharing passwords, OAuth uses access tokens. These tokens are issued by an authorization server and contain specific permissions for the data that the third-party app can access. OAuth also defines scopes that specify the level of access allowed. In conclusion, bBy not sharing passwords, OAuth reduces the risk of credentials being stolen. Even if tokens are compromised, they are limited in scope and can be easily revoked.
• Keep your secrets safe, Keys, and common secrets, ~not to do Belonging to source code or files ~is Checked into version control, if possible, stored in a service like Azure. Key bolt
• Turn the key regularly. Make sure your API key is regularly replaced with a new key. Know how long it has been since you last replaced the key and check if there are any services that depend on this API key. ~is Managed.
• Apply cloud provider recommendations Introducing the best services to protect your secrets and cloud resources.

References

In the next section, we will learn about managed identities in Azure.