Insecure Storage of Asymmetric Private Key #6

New Issue

irvine · 2025-03-10T10:21:17+01:00

irvine commented

2025-03-10 10:21:17 +01:00

Summary: The file 'privatekey.pem' contains an asymmetric private key, and its presence in an accessible location poses a significant security risk. Unauthorized access to this key may allow attackers to decrypt sensitive communications or impersonate the service.

Analysis: The private key is a critical component of encryption and authentication. Storing this key in a location that is accessible without strict access controls could lead to its misuse, resulting in unauthorized data decryption or service impersonation. The exposure of the private key undermines the security of encrypted communications and could potentially lead to broader security breaches.

Recommendation:

Move the 'privatekey.pem' file to a secure, non-public directory with strict access controls.
Restrict file permissions so that only necessary system processes or authorized users can access it.
Employ a secure key management system to store and access the key, such as using hardware security modules (HSMs) or dedicated key vaults.
Regularly audit key access logs and update permissions as required.

Impact Analysis:

Risk Level: High. Unauthorized access to the private key could lead to exploitation of decrypted sensitive data and impersonation attacks, potentially compromising the entire system and user data.

Limitations:
Due to limited contextual information, the exact extent of exposure and access controls in the environment cannot be fully assessed, but the presence of the private key in an accessible location represents a clear security vulnerability.

File information:

File path: privatekey.pem
Original line: 0

**Summary:** The file 'privatekey.pem' contains an asymmetric private key, and its presence in an accessible location poses a significant security risk. Unauthorized access to this key may allow attackers to decrypt sensitive communications or impersonate the service. **Analysis:** The private key is a critical component of encryption and authentication. Storing this key in a location that is accessible without strict access controls could lead to its misuse, resulting in unauthorized data decryption or service impersonation. The exposure of the private key undermines the security of encrypted communications and could potentially lead to broader security breaches. **Recommendation:** 1. Move the 'privatekey.pem' file to a secure, non-public directory with strict access controls. 2. Restrict file permissions so that only necessary system processes or authorized users can access it. 3. Employ a secure key management system to store and access the key, such as using hardware security modules (HSMs) or dedicated key vaults. 4. Regularly audit key access logs and update permissions as required. **Impact Analysis:** - **Risk Level:** High. Unauthorized access to the private key could lead to exploitation of decrypted sensitive data and impersonation attacks, potentially compromising the entire system and user data. **Limitations:** Due to limited contextual information, the exact extent of exposure and access controls in the environment cannot be fully assessed, but the presence of the private key in an accessible location represents a clear security vulnerability. **File information:** - File path: privatekey.pem - Original line: 0

Sign in to join this conversation.