T09 · Insecure Skill Coding Practices
Warning
- Location
scripts/fetch_data.py:66- Finding
API Key Exposure Through Command-Line Arguments in Data Retrieval Script
- Content
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--method [--api-key ] ``` ```python elif args[i] == "--api-key": api_key = args[i+1] ``` ### Technical Analysis The script advertises and accepts the Bing Webmaster API key as a command-line argument. Command-line secrets may be exposed through shell history, process listings, process-monitoring utilities, diagnostic collectors, audit logs, or automation logs. Although the script also supports the `BING_WEBMASTER_API_KEY` environment variable, retaining the command-line option creates an unnecessary secondary credential channel. It exceeds the minimum credential-handling privileges needed for the declared functionality because the integration can operate using the environment variable alone. ### Attack Path 1. A user invokes the script using `--api-key SECRET`. 2. The complete command is stored in shell history or exposed in the process command line while the script runs. 3. Another local user, monitoring process, support bundle, or log collector reads the command. 4. The exposed key is replayed against the Bing Webmaster API. 5. The attacker obtains whatever access the compromised key grants. Successful exploitation requires local process visibility, access to command history, or access to logs that capture command-line arguments. ### Impact Assessment An attacker could use the API key to retrieve Bing Webmaster information available to the associated account, including search queries, traffic statistics, crawl information, and URL-submission quota. The precise scope is limited to the permissions and verified sites associated with the compromised key. This flaw does not independently provide operating-system privilege escalation. ]]>- Remediation
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