Kingdom: Security Features

Software security is not security software. Here we're concerned with topics like authentication, access control, confidentiality, cryptography, and privilege management.

Key Management: Unencrypted Private Key

Python
Ruby

Abstract

Cryptographic encryption or signing private keys should not be stored in plain text.

Explanation

Private keys used for encryption or signing should be considered sensitive data and should be encrypted with a strong passphrase prior to storage. This prevents unauthorized access by both attackers in the event of theft or a leak, as well as by users with insufficient permissions.

Example 1: The following code exports an RSA private key using an unencrypted PEM format:


from Crypto.PublicKey import RSA

key = RSA.generate(2048)
f = open('mykey.pem','w')
f.write(key.exportKey(format='PEM'))
f.close()

References

[1] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration CWE ID 311

[2] Standards Mapping - DISA Control Correlation Identifier Version 2 CCI-000201, CCI-002450

[3] Standards Mapping - FIPS200 IA

[4] Standards Mapping - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Insufficient Data Protection

[5] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 4 IA-5 Authenticator Management (P1), SC-12 Cryptographic Key Establishment and Management (P1), SC-13 Cryptographic Protection (P1)

[6] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5 IA-5 Authenticator Management, SC-12 Cryptographic Key Establishment and Management, SC-13 Cryptographic Protection

[7] Standards Mapping - OWASP Application Security Verification Standard 4.0 2.6.3 Look-up Secret Verifier Requirements (L2 L3), 6.2.1 Algorithms (L1 L2 L3), 8.1.6 General Data Protection (L3)

[8] Standards Mapping - OWASP Mobile 2014 M6 Broken Cryptography

[9] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2004 A8 Insecure Storage

[10] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2007 A8 Insecure Cryptographic Storage

[11] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2010 A7 Insecure Cryptographic Storage

[12] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2013 A6 Sensitive Data Exposure

[13] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2017 A3 Sensitive Data Exposure

[14] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2021 A02 Cryptographic Failures

[15] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.1 Requirement 6.5.8, Requirement 8.4

[16] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.2 Requirement 6.3.1.3, Requirement 6.5.8, Requirement 8.4

[17] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 2.0 Requirement 6.3.1, Requirement 6.5.3, Requirement 8.4

[18] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.0 Requirement 6.3.1, Requirement 6.5.3, Requirement 8.2.1

[19] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.1 Requirement 6.3.1, Requirement 6.5.3, Requirement 8.2.1

[20] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2 Requirement 6.3.1, Requirement 6.5.3, Requirement 8.2.1

[21] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2.1 Requirement 6.3.1, Requirement 6.5.3, Requirement 8.2.1

[22] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 4.0 Requirement 3.5.1, Requirement 6.2.4, Requirement 6.5.3, Requirement 6.5.6

[23] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.0 Control Objective 7.2 - Use of Cryptography

[24] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.1 Control Objective 7.2 - Use of Cryptography, Control Objective B.2.3 - Terminal Software Design

[25] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.2 Control Objective 7.2 - Use of Cryptography, Control Objective B.2.3 - Terminal Software Design

[26] Standards Mapping - SANS Top 25 2009 Porous Defenses - CWE ID 259

[27] Standards Mapping - SANS Top 25 2010 Porous Defenses - CWE ID 311

[28] Standards Mapping - SANS Top 25 2011 Porous Defenses - CWE ID 311

[29] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.1 APP3210.1 CAT II, APP3350 CAT I

[30] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.4 APP3210.1 CAT II, APP3350 CAT I

[31] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.5 APP3210.1 CAT II, APP3350 CAT I

[32] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.6 APP3210.1 CAT II, APP3350 CAT I

[33] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.7 APP3210.1 CAT II, APP3350 CAT I

[34] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.9 APP3210.1 CAT II, APP3350 CAT I

[35] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.10 APP3210.1 CAT II, APP3350 CAT I

[36] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.2 APSC-DV-002010 CAT II

[37] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.3 APSC-DV-002010 CAT II

[38] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.4 APSC-DV-002010 CAT II

[39] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.5 APSC-DV-002010 CAT II

[40] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.6 APSC-DV-002010 CAT II

[41] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.7 APSC-DV-002010 CAT II

[42] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.8 APSC-DV-002010 CAT II

[43] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.9 APSC-DV-002010 CAT II

[44] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.10 APSC-DV-002010 CAT II

[45] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.11 APSC-DV-002010 CAT II

[46] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.1 APSC-DV-002010 CAT II

[47] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.1 APSC-DV-002010 CAT II

[48] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.2 APSC-DV-002010 CAT II

[49] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.3 APSC-DV-001820 CAT I, APSC-DV-002010 CAT II, APSC-DV-003100 CAT II

[50] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 6.1 APSC-DV-001820 CAT I, APSC-DV-002010 CAT II, APSC-DV-003100 CAT II

[51] Standards Mapping - Web Application Security Consortium Version 2.00 Information Leakage (WASC-13)

desc.structural.python.key_management_unencrypted_private_key

Abstract

Cryptographic encryption or signing private keys should not be stored in plain text.

Explanation


require 'openssl'

key = OpenSSL::PKey::RSA.new 2048
File.open('mykey.pem', 'w') do |file|
  file.write(key.to_pem)
end