I am sure every developer has encountered this question 'How to securely store the credentials?'. This article explains a method of securely storing & transiting the credentials and retrieving them when needed.
The Problem with Credential Storage
Storing credentials insecurely is one of the most common vulnerabilities in applications. Hardcoded passwords, plain-text storage, and weak encryption lead to breaches that can be catastrophic.
Common Anti-Patterns
- Hardcoding credentials in source code
- Storing passwords in plain text
- Using weak or reversible encryption
- Committing secrets to version control
- Sharing credentials via insecure channels
Best Practices for Credential Storage
- Use a Secrets Manager - HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, or Azure Key Vault
- Environment Variables - Store secrets in environment variables, not code
- Encryption at Rest - Use strong encryption (AES-256) for stored credentials
- Access Control - Implement least-privilege access to secrets
- Rotation - Regularly rotate credentials and API keys
Platform-Specific Solutions
- macOS - Use the Keychain Services API for secure storage
- Windows - Leverage the Credential Manager and DPAPI
- Linux - Use the libsecret library or encrypted files
- Mobile - iOS Keychain and Android Keystore
Transit Security
Credentials must also be protected during transmission:
- Always use TLS/SSL for network communication
- Implement certificate pinning for mobile apps
- Use secure protocols (SSH, HTTPS)
- Avoid passing credentials in URLs
Conclusion
Secure credential storage is fundamental to application security. By following these best practices, developers can protect sensitive credentials from unauthorized access.
At Incrux, we help organizations implement secure credential management. Contact us for security consulting.