Understanding the Security of git credential manager in Token Display

Discover how `git credential manager` ensures security despite displaying your credentials, and learn about its architecture and best practices. --- This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/66790341/ asked by the user 'Asif Kamran Malick' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/2915738/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/66790620/ provided by the user 'bk2204' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/8705432/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions. Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: How is git credential manager secure if it displays token Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/licensing The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license. If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com. --- Understanding the Security of git credential manager in Token Display If you've recently started using Git and its credential manager, you might find yourself puzzled by a seemingly loophole in security. You may have encountered a scenario where executing git credential fill allowed you to reveal your stored credentials or token. This raises an important question: How is git credential manager secure if it can display your token? Let's dive into this concern and uncover how Git manages credentials securely, even when they are visible in the console. The Problem: Revealing Credentials with Git When you use the command git credential fill, it's natural to be concerned about the implications of having your credentials displayed in plain text. This could lead to unauthorized access if someone else were to gain access to your console. Not to mention, it's vital for users to understand how secure credential storage truly is in Git. Steps to Reproduce the Issue To illustrate this, let's look at how you might confirm the credential helper in use, specifically with manager-core, and how you can reproduce the issue: Confirm the Credential Helper: Run the command git config --system --list. If you see credential.helper=manager-core, you are using the correct helper for Windows Credential Manager. Check your Git version, it should be 2.29 or later for manager-core to be displayed. Fill the Credentials: Execute the following commands in your console: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] This will output your credentials if they have been stored by the helper. Authentication Context: This command will display whatever credentials you used for authentication, for example, a GitHub personal access token. The Solution: Understanding the Security Mechanism Now, let's discuss why this display does not compromise the security of your credentials. Here are key aspects to understand: 1. Encrypted Storage Secure Configuration: When configured correctly, the Git credential manager stores your credentials in an encrypted format. This means even if someone were to access the underlying credential storage, they would not be able to read the credentials without the appropriate keys. Unlock Mechanism: Credentials are unlocked only when you log in or during an active session, ensuring that unauthorized users can’t retrieve them once you're logged out. 2. System-Specific Storage Solutions Windows Credential Manager: For Windows users, Git Credential Manager Core uses the built-in secret storage provided by Windows. This storage offers strong encryption and restricts access to only logged-in sessions. Linux Keychain: On the Linux side, something like libsecret may be utilized, where stored credentials are kept in the system keychain, also encrypted and accessible only after unlocking the keychain during login. 3. APIs and Access Control Although you can extract credentials through git credential fill, this is simply an interface to the existing API used by the credential manager. The ability to display credentials through this command does not expose them further than other means available on your operating system (e.g., secret-tool on Linux). Conclusion: Best Practices for Managing Credentials in Git Understanding how git credential manager secures your credentials can help you use Git confidently without fear of exposure. Here are some best practices: Keep Your System Updated: Always use the latest version of Git for the best security and features. Use Strong, Unique Tokens: Regularly update and use unique tokens for different applications or services. Stay Aware: Be cautious about who has access to your development environment and ensure that your console i