AWS API Keys / Secrets / Tokens Exposure Remediation

Learn how to fix exposed API keys, secrets, and tokens in AWS environments. Follow step-by-step guidance for PCI-DSS compliance and secure remediation.

insecure APIs

PCI-DSS

aws

Why It Matters

The core goal is to quickly identify and remediate all exposed API keys, secrets, and authentication tokens within your AWS environment before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Fixing exposed credentials in AWS is critical for organizations subject to PCI-DSS compliance, as it helps prevent unauthorized access to payment systems and sensitive cardholder data—eliminating the risk of credential-based attacks and data breaches.

Primary Risk: Insecure APIs leading to unauthorized access and data exfiltration

Relevant Regulation: PCI-DSS Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard

Rapid remediation delivers immediate security improvements, preventing credential misuse and establishing proper secrets management practices for ongoing protection.

Prerequisites

Permissions & Roles

  • AWS administrator or security role
  • IAM permissions for Secrets Manager
  • Access to Systems Manager Parameter Store

External Tools

  • AWS CLI configured
  • Cyera DSPM account
  • Git access for code repositories

Prior Setup

  • AWS account with proper billing
  • CloudTrail logging enabled
  • Security Hub configured
  • Multi-factor authentication enabled

Introducing Cyera

Cyera is a modern Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) platform that discovers, classifies, and continuously monitors your sensitive data across cloud services. Using advanced AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, Cyera automatically identifies exposed API keys, secrets, and tokens through pattern recognition and contextual analysis, enabling rapid remediation before credentials can be exploited in your AWS environment.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify and catalog exposed credentials

Use Cyera's AI-powered scanning to locate all exposed API keys, secrets, and tokens across EC2 instances, Lambda functions, container images, and code repositories. Review the findings dashboard to prioritize high-risk exposures.

aws secretsmanager list-secrets --region us-east-1

2
Immediately revoke compromised credentials

For each exposed credential, immediately disable or delete the compromised keys through AWS IAM. Create new credentials with minimal required permissions and update applications to use the new keys.

3
Migrate to AWS Secrets Manager

Move all hardcoded secrets to AWS Secrets Manager or Systems Manager Parameter Store. Configure automatic rotation where possible and implement proper access controls using IAM policies.

4
Implement monitoring and prevention

Set up CloudWatch alarms for unusual API activity, enable AWS Config rules to detect hardcoded secrets, and integrate with Cyera for continuous monitoring. Establish incident response procedures for future exposures.

Architecture & Workflow

AWS Secrets Manager

Centralized storage for API keys and tokens

Cyera Connector

Scans AWS resources for exposed credentials

IAM Policies

Controls access to secrets and rotation

CloudWatch & Config

Monitoring and compliance validation

Remediation Flow Summary

Scan & Identify → Revoke & Replace → Migrate to Secrets Manager → Monitor & Prevent

Best Practices & Tips

Immediate Response

  • Revoke compromised credentials within 1 hour
  • Update applications before revoking old keys
  • Document all credential changes for audit

Long-term Prevention

  • Implement automated secret rotation
  • Use IAM roles instead of access keys
  • Enable least-privilege access policies

Common Pitfalls

  • Forgetting to update all application instances
  • Not checking Git history for exposed secrets
  • Failing to enable CloudTrail for audit logging

References & Further Reading

Next Steps

🛡️ Prevent: Implement proactive secret management 🔍 Detect: Set up continuous monitoring for exposed credentials