Snowflake API Keys & Secrets Exposure Remediation

Learn how to fix exposure of API keys, secrets, and tokens in Snowflake environments. Follow step-by-step guidance for SOC 2 compliance.

insecure APIs

SOC 2

snowflake

Why It Matters

The core goal is to identify and remediate exposed API keys, secrets, and tokens within your Snowflake environment before they lead to unauthorized access or data breaches. Fixing credential exposures in Snowflake is critical for organizations subject to SOC 2 audits, as it demonstrates proper access controls and secure credential management—mitigating the risk of unauthorized API access and potential data exfiltration.

Primary Risk: Insecure APIs leading to unauthorized access

Relevant Regulation: SOC 2 Security and Confidentiality Controls

A comprehensive remediation approach delivers immediate security improvements, ensuring credential hygiene and maintaining continuous compliance posture.

Prerequisites

Permissions & Roles

  • Snowflake ACCOUNTADMIN or SECURITYADMIN role
  • USAGE privileges on affected databases and schemas
  • CREATE SECRET and MANAGE GRANTS privileges

External Tools

  • Snowflake CLI or SnowSQL
  • Cyera DSPM account
  • Secrets management system (AWS KMS, HashiCorp Vault)

Prior Setup

  • Snowflake account provisioned
  • Network policies configured
  • Audit logging enabled
  • External stages and integrations identified

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 detects API keys, secrets, and tokens embedded in stored procedures, comments, and data fields within Snowflake, enabling rapid remediation of credential exposures before they can be exploited.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Rotate exposed credentials immediately

For any API keys or tokens identified as exposed, immediately rotate them at the source system. Update all dependent applications and services with new credentials before revoking the old ones.

-- Revoke access for compromised service accounts REVOKE ROLE data_loader_role FROM USER exposed_service_account;

2
Implement Snowflake Secrets management

Migrate hardcoded credentials to Snowflake's native Secrets functionality. Create secret objects for API keys and configure proper access controls using RBAC principles.

-- Create a secret for API authentication CREATE SECRET my_api_secret TYPE = PASSWORD USERNAME = 'api_user' PASSWORD = 'secure_password';

3
Update stored procedures and functions

Replace hardcoded credentials in stored procedures, UDFs, and external function definitions with references to secret objects. Test thoroughly to ensure functionality is maintained.

-- Reference secret in stored procedure CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE call_api() RETURNS STRING LANGUAGE JAVASCRIPT AS $$ var secret = snowflake.execute({sqlText: "SELECT SYSTEM$GET_SECRET('my_api_secret')"}); $$;

4
Configure monitoring and alerting

Set up continuous monitoring through Cyera to detect future credential exposures. Configure alerts for new secrets detected in data or code, and establish automated remediation workflows where possible.

Architecture & Workflow

Snowflake Information Schema

Source of metadata for procedures and functions

Cyera AI Engine

Scans content using NLP for credential patterns

Snowflake Secrets

Native secure credential storage

External Secrets Manager

Integration with enterprise secret stores

Remediation Flow Summary

Detect Exposure → Rotate Credentials → Migrate to Secrets → Monitor & Alert

Best Practices & Tips

Credential Hygiene

  • Implement regular credential rotation schedules
  • Use least-privilege principles for API access
  • Monitor credential usage patterns

Secrets Management

  • Leverage Snowflake's native Secrets functionality
  • Integrate with enterprise secret management systems
  • Implement proper RBAC for secret access

Common Pitfalls

  • Not updating all references when rotating credentials
  • Leaving old credentials active after migration
  • Insufficient monitoring of new credential exposures

References & Further Reading

Next Steps

🛡️ Prevent: Implement proactive credential protection 🔍 Detect: Set up continuous credential monitoring