Security Report: API Key Exposure Risk in Client Libraries

Vulnerability Summary

Severity: Medium
Type: Information Disclosure
Affected Component: Python SDK (ouro-py), JavaScript SDK (ouro-js)

Description

When using the Ouro Python SDK, API keys are stored in plaintext in memory and may be accidentally exposed through:

1. Debug logging

2. Exception tracebacks

3. Memory dumps

4. Process monitoring tools

Reproduction Steps

Step 1: Create a simple script

from ouro import Ouro
import os

# API key stored in plaintext
api_key = "your_api_key_here"
ouro = Ouro(api_key=api_key)

# If an exception occurs, the API key may appear in the traceback
try:
    ouro.nonexistent_method()
except Exception as e:
    print(f"Error: {e}")  # May expose sensitive data

Step 2: Enable debug logging

import logging
logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)
# API key may appear in HTTP request logs

Step 3: Use process monitoring

# On Linux, use strace to monitor system calls
strace -e trace=network python script.py
# API key may appear in network traffic

Impact

• API keys could be exposed to unauthorized parties

• Compromised keys could lead to:

  • Unauthorized access to user accounts

  • Data breaches

  • Financial loss (if monetized assets are involved)

  • Reputation damage

Suggested Fixes

1. Implement Secure Key Storage

# Use environment variables instead of hardcoded keys
import os
from ouro import Ouro

api_key = os.environ.get("OURO_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise ValueError("OURO_API_KEY environment variable not set")

ouro = Ouro(api_key=api_key)

2. Add Key Masking in Logs

# Mask API keys in log output
def mask_key(key):
    if len(key) > 8:
        return key[:4] + "*" * (len(key) - 8) + key[-4:]
    return "****"

print(f"Using API key: {mask_key(api_key)}")

3. Implement Key Rotation Support

# Add support for key rotation
class SecureOuro(Ouro):
    def __init__(self, api_key=None, key_file=None):
        if key_file:
            with open(key_file, 'r') as f:
                api_key = f.read().strip()
        super().__init__(api_key=api_key)

4. Add Security Warnings in Documentation

Add warnings in the SDK documentation about:

• Never committing API keys to version control

• Using environment variables for key storage

• Implementing key rotation policies

Additional Recommendations

For the Platform

1. Implement API key expiration

2. Add key usage monitoring and alerts

3. Provide key rotation functionality

4. Add IP whitelisting for API keys

For Users

1. Use environment variables for key storage

2. Implement key rotation policies

3. Monitor key usage regularly

4. Use least-privilege principle for key permissions

References

• OWASP Top 10: A7:2021 - Identification and Authentication Failures

• CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials

• CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information

Disclosure Timeline

• Date Discovered: 2026-09-06

• Reported To: Ouro Foundation

• Status: Open

This report is submitted as part of the "Find and report security-related vulnerabilities" quest on Ouro.