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7.12. Remove a Sensitive String from the Password Vault

Overview

For security reasons it is best to remove sensitive strings from the Password Vault when they are no longer required. For example, if you are decommissioning an application, any sensitive strings used in datasource definitions should be removed at the same time.

Prerequisite

Before removing a sensitive string from the Password Vault, confirm if it is used in the configuration of JBoss EAP. One method of doing this is to use the ‘grep’ utility to search configuration files for instances of the masked string. On Red Hat Enterprise Linux (and similar operating systems), grep is installed by default but for Microsoft Windows Server it must be installed manually.

The Password Vault utility provides two modes: interactive and non-interactive. Interactive mode prompts you for each parameter’s value, where non-interactive mode requires you to provide all parameters’ values in a single command.

Procedure 7.11. Remove a Sensitive String Interactively

Use this method if you would prefer to be prompted for the value of each parameter.

  1. Run the Password Vault command

    Launch your operating system's command line interface and run EAP_HOME/bin/vault.sh (on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and similar operating systems) or EAP_HOME\bin\vault.bat (on Microsoft Windows Server). Start a new interactive session by typing 0 (zero).

  2. Provide Authentication Details

    Follow the prompts to input the required authentication parameters. These values must match those provided when the Password Vault was created.

    Note

    The keystore password must be given in plaintext form, not masked form.
  3. Enter 2 (two) to choose option Remove secured attribute.
  4. Enter the name of the vault block in which the sensitive string is stored.
  5. Enter the name of the sensitive string to be removed.
Result

If the sensitive string is successfully removed, a confirmation message like the following will be output. 

Secured attribute [VAULT_BLOCK::ATTRIBUTE] has been successfully removed from vault
If the sensitive string is not removed, a message like the following will be output. 
Secured attribute [VAULT_BLOCK::ATTRIBUTE] was not removed from vault, check whether it exist

Example 7.12.  Remove a Sensitive String Interactively 

**********************************
****  JBoss Vault  ***************
**********************************
Please enter a Digit::   0: Start Interactive Session  1: Remove Interactive Session  2: Exit
0
Starting an interactive session
Enter directory to store encrypted files:EAP_HOME/vault/
Enter Keystore URL:EAP_HOME/vault/vault.keystore
Enter Keystore password: 
Enter Keystore password again: 
Values match
Enter 8 character salt:1234abcd
Enter iteration count as a number (Eg: 44):120
Enter Keystore Alias:vault
Initializing Vault
Dec 23, 2014 1:40:56 PM org.picketbox.plugins.vault.PicketBoxSecurityVault init
INFO: PBOX000361: Default Security Vault Implementation Initialized and Ready
Vault Configuration in configuration file:
********************************************
...
</extensions>
<vault>
  <vault-option name="KEYSTORE_URL" value="EAP_HOME/vault/vault.keystore"/>
  <vault-option name="KEYSTORE_PASSWORD" value="MASK-5dOaAVafCSd"/>
  <vault-option name="KEYSTORE_ALIAS" value="vault"/>
  <vault-option name="SALT" value="1234abcd"/>
  <vault-option name="ITERATION_COUNT" value="120"/>
  <vault-option name="ENC_FILE_DIR" value="EAP_HOME/vault/"/>
</vault><management> ...
********************************************
Vault is initialized and ready for use
Handshake with Vault complete
Please enter a Digit::  0: Store a secured attribute  1: Check whether a secured attribute exists  2: Remove secured attribute  3: Exit
2
Task: Remove secured attribute
Enter Vault Block:craft
Enter Attribute Name:password
Secured attribute [craft::password] has been successfully removed from vault

Procedure 7.12.  Remove a Sensitive String Non-interactively

Use this method if you would prefer to provide all parameters' values at once. For a description of all parameters, see Section 7.4, “Initialize the Password Vault”.
  • Launch your operating system's command line interface and run the Password Vault command. Use EAP_HOME/bin/vault.sh (on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and similar operating systems) or EAP_HOME\bin\vault.bat (on Microsoft Windows Server).
    Substitute the placeholder values with your own values. The values for parameters KEYSTORE_URL, KEYSTORE_PASSWORD and KEYSTORE_ALIAS must match those provided when the Password Vault was created.

    Note

    The keystore password must be given in plaintext form, not masked form. 
    EAP_HOME/bin/vault.sh --keystore KEYSTORE_URL --keystore-password KEYSTORE_PASSWORD --alias KEYSTORE_ALIAS --remove-sec-attr --vault-block VAULT_BLOCK --attribute ATTRIBUTE --enc-dir ENC_FILE_DIR --iteration ITERATION_COUNT --salt SALT
Result

If the sensitive string is successfully removed, a confirmation message like the following will be output. 

Secured attribute [VAULT_BLOCK::ATTRIBUTE] has been successfully removed from vault
If the sensitive string is not removed, a message like the following will be output. 
Secured attribute [VAULT_BLOCK::ATTRIBUTE] was not removed from vault, check whether it exist

Example 7.13.  Remove a Sensitive String Non-interactively 

./vault.sh --keystore EAP_HOME/vault/vault.keystore --keystore-password vault22 --alias vault --remove-sec-attr --vault-block craft --attribute password --enc-dir ../vault/ --iteration 120 --salt 1234abcd
=========================================================================

  JBoss Vault

  JBOSS_HOME: EAP_HOME

  JAVA: java

=========================================================================

Dec 23, 2014 1:54:24 PM org.picketbox.plugins.vault.PicketBoxSecurityVault init
INFO: PBOX000361: Default Security Vault Implementation Initialized and Ready
Secured attribute [craft::password] has been successfully removed from vault
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