CISA Exposed Credentials in Public GitHub Repository

A federal cybersecurity agency left plaintext passwords and cloud keys in a spreadsheet uploaded to a public GitHub repository. An independent researcher identified the exposure and reported it after the contractor did not respond.

GitGuardian security researcher Guillaume Valadon found reams of exposed plaintext credentials listed in spreadsheets, which had been made publicly accessible in a GitHub repository by an employee working for a CISA contractor. Valadon told Krebs that the exposed credentials were used for accessing systems belonging to CISA and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security.

Valadon said the credentials included access tokens, cloud keys, and other sensitive files. Valadon told Krebs that he tested some of the keys to verify that they were valid. He then reported the lapse to Krebs because the CISA contractor who maintained the GitHub environment did not respond to their alerts.

It is not clear if anyone found or used the credentials other than Valadon.

When reached by TechCrunch, a CISA spokesperson did not immediately comment or say if the agency has any evidence of a breach stemming from this exposure. TechCrunch asked if the agency has revoked and replaced the exposed credentials following the incident.

While the incident was traced back to an employee working for a CISA contractor, CISA is ultimately responsible for the security of its own network and systems, including contractors who work for the agency. The security lapse is particularly embarrassing for CISA because the U.S. government agency is responsible for cybersecurity across the civilian federal network.

The organization also advises on best cybersecurity practices, which includes storing passwords in secured password managers and not in unprotected spreadsheets.