Secret Rotation with Ansible

1. Introduction

Secret rotation is essential for maintaining security in any system. With Ansible, we can automate the process of rotating secrets (like passwords or API keys) to ensure that they are frequently updated and less susceptible to unauthorized access.

2. Key Concepts

Key Definitions

**Secrets**: Sensitive information that must be protected, such as passwords and tokens.
**Ansible Vault**: A feature in Ansible that allows you to encrypt sensitive data.
**Rotation**: The process of changing secrets regularly to reduce the risk of exposure.

3. Step-by-Step Process

Steps to Rotate Secrets

**Identify the secrets**: Determine which secrets need to be rotated.
**Create a script for rotation**: Write an Ansible playbook that specifies how to rotate the secrets.
**Use Ansible Vault**: Encrypt the secrets using Ansible Vault to ensure they are stored securely.
**Schedule regular rotations**: Use cron jobs or Ansible Tower to automate the rotation process.

Example Playbook


- hosts: all
  tasks:
    - name: Rotate secret
      ansible.builtin.command: /usr/bin/rotate_secret_script.sh
      register: result

    - name: Update Ansible Vault with new secret
      ansible.builtin.command: ansible-vault encrypt_string '{{ result.stdout }}' --name 'new_secret'
      register: vault_result

    - name: Save new secret to the vault
      ansible.builtin.copy:
        content: "{{ vault_result.stdout }}"
        dest: /path/to/your/vault.yml
      when: vault_result.changed

4. Best Practices

Important Tips:

Always use Ansible Vault to encrypt your secrets.
Regularly review and test your secret rotation scripts.
Document the secret rotation process for your team.

5. FAQ

Why is secret rotation important?

Secret rotation reduces the risk of unauthorized access by ensuring that secrets are changed frequently, making it harder for attackers to exploit leaked data.

How often should I rotate secrets?

It depends on your security policy, but a common recommendation is to rotate secrets every 30-90 days.

Can I automate secret rotation with Ansible?

Yes, Ansible provides tools such as playbooks and cron jobs to automate the secret rotation process effectively.